HELP - My Corals are Not Doing good in my new tank

[Reefer-Don]

Setup: IM Fusion 20 Desktop, BKRS titanium heater + InkBird controller,MightyJet 326 GPH Return Pump, Nero 3 Powerhead, AI hydra 32 HD, 2x VCA Rfg’s, special grade arag alive sand (15-20lbs), Carib sea life rock (12-15lbs), recently added galaxy pods from algae barn, refugium light with chaeto in the back of the tank. Running a filter sock on the other side of my filtration setup.

Can anyone give me some direction to take from here?

Long story short:
New tank 1 month old just gone through Dr.Tim’s fish-less cycle, clownfish pair introduced around 16 days in. Shortly thereafter I introduced 5-6 frags being 1 Acan and 7 different kinds of zoas (ridiculous deal I couldn’t pass up knowing my tank wasn’t established but read zoas/acans are hardy), but most are doing poorly in my eyes. I attached a video of the corals and my parameters that I had tested at LFS. Also a slideshow of stills from the video. The first part of the video is how my corals were set up last week and the second part show them in the new placement I have arranged. I was recommended to try and place them in lower light.

YouTube Video

Parameters according to LFS paid test:
ALK 103 (LFS recommended dose of 7ml Red Sea alk so I did)
PH 7.8
PHOS 0.0
Ca 386 (LFS recommended dosing 15ml Red Sea calc so I did)
Mg 1323
AMMO 0.0
NITRITE 0.0
NITRATE 13 (Retested at home and showing 5-10)
SALINITY 1.026
Temp 76-78 consistently throughout the day.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Calcium slightly low
Alk ?? Should be 7-11dkh
Temp 77-78
Tank may not be quite mature to introduce coral

Your readings- are you by chance using api test kits?

 

[Reefer-Don]

Calcium slightly low
Alk ?? Should be 7-11dkh
Temp 77-78
Tank may not be quite mature to introduce coral

Your readings- are you by chance using api test kits?

Hey I am using Red Sea test kit. I will adjust the temp to 77-78. If the tank is too new for corals, but parameters are in check, what exactly would cause something like this? Is it a lack of nutrients? I just want to learn a little more

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hey I am using Red Sea test kit. I will adjust the temp to 77-78. If the tank is too new for corals, but parameters are in check, what exactly would cause something like this? Is it a lack of nutrients? I just want to learn a little more

I would have to see pics to determine what you actually have but in general, some causes are :
- Alkalinity spike
- Temperature spike
- Salinity spike
- Low dissolved oxygen
- Poor water quality related with phosphate levels up to 5 ppm
- Change in water flow
- Additions of sand
- Changes in brand of salt
- Bad test kits giving faulty results
- Levels of minor elements such as Iodine, Potassium, Strontium
- Light intensity
- - Changes in water flow
- Addition of new corals
- - Pesticides
- Airborne Contaminants or sprays

 

[Reefer-Don]

I would have to see pics to determine what you actually have but in general, some causes are :
- Alkalinity spike
- Temperature spike
- Salinity spike
- Low dissolved oxygen
- Poor water quality related with phosphate levels up to 5 ppm
- Change in water flow
- Additions of sand
- Changes in brand of salt
- Bad test kits giving faulty results
- Levels of minor elements such as Iodine, Potassium, Strontium
- Light intensity
- - Changes in water flow
- Addition of new corals
- - Pesticides
- Airborne Contaminants or sprays

I posted a video where you can see the zoas clearly had you seen it?

what would you recommend I do to mitigate losses? Most of what I read online says not to overreact and go adding things.

 

[Tamberav]

The phosphate test from the spin test is not useful imo. I would get a real test kit for that one. You do not want 0 but the spin test isn't accurate so can't tell if it is 0 assuming that is what you used.

Alk is ppm? So that would make 5.7 dkh

Where do you get your water? or are you mixing it yourself?

Parameters seem off (low) for a tank that is one month old and had no consumption.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I posted a video where you can see the zoas clearly had you seen it?

what would you recommend I do to mitigate losses? Most of what I read online says not to overreact and go adding things.

Didnt see video but I did now. for starters, elevate the zoas to the lower third of tank orff sand. There are a number of factors why zoas close up. Some are water movement/flow as zoas do not require the consistent high flow conditions . I would consider a moderate flow environment ideal but Zoanthids, like most corals, can adapt to low or high flow. In high flow, you will typically see polyps grow closer to the rock with shorter stalks. Another is lack of feeding and food as infrequent feeding and ultra low nutrient conditions can lead to entire colony meltdowns. Target feeding is not a requirement as Zoanthids are photosynthetic. I have found that target feeding Zoanthids always provides mixed results, when a food particle falls onto the polyps.

Back to parameters, good water quality is a must.
dKH: 8.0 - 11.0
Calcium: 400 - 440
Magnesium: 1300 - 1350
Iodide: Maintained via regular water changes or manually at small dosages
Temperature: 78-79 degrees
pH: 8.1-8.3
Phosphates: .04 - .06
Nitrates < 10