Biocube 32...Work in Progress

[ReeferFive-0]

I've had my Biocube 32 set up for over 2 years now with many ups and downs along the way. I have recently got more disciplined about my water changes, testing parameters, and getting it back on track. I have the In Tank media basket with mechanical and biological filtration and a skimmer in the second chamber. I added some chaeto to the bottom section of the media basket this week along with a small 12 watt refugium light. My goal is to be able to keep nitrates below 10 ppm and phosphate under 0.1 with 10% weekly water changes, which has been a struggle. I also upgraded to an AI Prime 16HD Reef light with the Kraken lid (with evaporation cover). I have seen some good coloration and expansion of most of my existing corals when I made the switch and some corals that I was sure were goners are coming back from almost nothing, including entrusting montipora. However a couple corals do no look great and a couple new ones have either died (Stylophora) or look to be on the way out (Montipora digitata). The stylophora that's been in there for years is doing great. I have the light set to the BRS recommended settings at 70% intensity. I'm going to ramp it up to 80% over the next 30 days in acclimation mode. Besides keeping up with water changes and parameters; what else could I do to help the new corals out? Or is this just a case where they may not take to my parameters and not make it despite my best efforts? I'll attach a video and pictures to this post.

Video

 

[ReeferFive-0]

I'm specifically wondering if these montipora digitata are too far gone or if they can come back. They have lost most of their color and tissue is dying back. I use Reef Crystals mixed to 1.025-1.026. I keep alkalinity around 9 and calcium and mag tend to run high. I attempt to keep nitrate less than 10, but it can run as high as 15. My goal for phosphates is 0.1, but it can hit 0.2 or higher before doing a large water change to bring it back down. Temp is around 78-79 F. I'm slowly increasing the light intensity as well. Any other recommendations?

 

[steveschuerger]

I'm specifically wondering if these montipora digitata are too far gone or if they can come back. They have lost most of their color and tissue is dying back. I use Reef Crystals mixed to 1.025-1.026. I keep alkalinity around 9 and calcium and mag tend to run high. I attempt to keep nitrate less than 10, but it can run as high as 15. My goal for phosphates is 0.1, but it can hit 0.2 or higher before doing a large water change to bring it back down. Temp is around 78-79 F. I'm slowly increasing the light intensity as well. Any other recommendations?

The ones in the top pic might be salvageable by braking/cutting the good part, but I’d say in the bottom pic they’re done for. Digis are pretty resilient if given a chance.

 

[ReeferFive-0]

The ones in the top pic might be salvageable by braking/cutting the good part, but I’d say in the bottom pic they’re done for. Digis are pretty resilient if given a chance.

Thanks for the reply. Looking at them in person I thought the opposite though. The one in the bottom picture has pink flesh that has not receded as much as the other one. The other one had vivid green polyps and they have since faded to brown with much of the flesh dying off. I'm not sure if they were stressed during shipping/acclimation or what, but I put a bubblegum stylophora on the same rock as my thriving stylophora and it lost all flesh and died within a week. Here is a picture of the corals in question right after they were put in.