New 20gal long reef tank

[Jaden9933]

I set this tank up around 4-5 months ago and have been doing a ton of research sense! I always try to find threads pertaining to my concerns, but figured I’d get the best answers with a personalized thread. Any advice on care for the coral (mostly the ricordea and anemone) or even pairing the clownfish with the anemone would be awesome!

My green star polyps unexpectedly closed yesterday and only a few have opened back up. i haven’t tested calcium or alk since putting them in a few days ago, but there are no high demanding corals in the tank that absorb high levels of either, so I assumed that daily dosing would keep it stable. GSP not being opened makes me worry about the others.

the video is from yesterday at 6:00am when the lights turned off. The polyps closed a few hours later and didn’t open the rest of the day. Only a couple are open as of now. My clownfish has also been laying in the corner of the tank. However, nitrates, nitrites, and ammonia are all at 0. Ph is 8.3 and salinity is 1.025. I’ve read this is normal behavior for new clowns, but I’d like to be sure.

One more, less important, question. What is the coral next to my GSP? Are they just called palyps?

 

[Peace River]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!!!

 

[ChaosAquaculture]

I set this tank up around 4-5 months ago and have been doing a ton of research sense! I always try to find threads pertaining to my concerns, but figured I’d get the best answers with a personalized thread. Any advice on care for the coral (mostly the ricordea and anemone) or even pairing the clownfish with the anemone would be awesome!

My green star polyps unexpectedly closed yesterday and only a few have opened back up. i haven’t tested calcium or alk since putting them in a few days ago, but there are no high demanding corals in the tank that absorb high levels of either, so I assumed that daily dosing would keep it stable. GSP not being opened makes me worry about the others.

the video is from yesterday at 6:00am when the lights turned off. The polyps closed a few hours later and didn’t open the rest of the day. Only a couple are open as of now. My clownfish has also been laying in the corner of the tank. However, nitrates, nitrites, and ammonia are all at 0. Ph is 8.3 and salinity is 1.025. I’ve read this is normal behavior for new clowns, but I’d like to be sure.

One more, less important, question. What is the coral next to my GSP? Are they just called palyps?

I like your tank! For corals that would be appropriate for your tank I would recommend more zoas (the coral next to your gsp) mushrooms, leathers, Xenia, and other softies. Soft coral don’t require the calcium and alkalinity that hard coral do, so they aren’t consuming it. Therefore you shouldn’t have a reason to be dosing your tank, if the alkalinity or calcium is to high for the soft corals such as gsp they can become upset and close up a bit. What are your parameters? - kali

 

[Jeffcb]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

 

[BaysEndReef]

Welcome to R2R!! Always here to help!!

 

[Billldg]

Welcome to R2R!!!

 

[Fred2482]

Welcome!

 

[dedragon]

y at 6:00am when the lights turned off. The polyps closed a few hours later and didn’t open the rest of the day. Only a couple are open as of now. My clownfish has also been laying in the corner of the tank. However, nitrates, nitrites, and ammonia are all at 0. Ph is 8.3 and salinity is 1.025. I’ve read this is normal behavior for new cl

The clown is concerning, you also have a lot of majano anemones (pests that sting corals) on the same rock as the gsp and is probably stinging and killing the gsp

 

[PeterC99]

Welcome to R2R! You will get great advice on this site!

 

[Jaden9933]

I like your tank! For corals that would be appropriate for your tank I would recommend more zoas (the coral next to your gsp) mushrooms, leathers, Xenia, and other softies. Soft coral don’t require the calcium and alkalinity that hard coral do, so they aren’t consuming it. Therefore you shouldn’t have a reason to be dosing your tank, if the alkalinity or calcium is to high for the soft corals such as gsp they can become upset and close up a bit. What are your parameters? - kali

Thank you! I definitely planned on getting some more colorful zoas eventually as well more mushrooms! The simple color was part of the the reason I didn’t think mine were zoas. That’s good to know about dosing though!
Alk - 17 dKH
Calcium 360ppm
PH - 8.3
Sal - 1.025
Nitrates - 0
Nitrites - 0
Ammonia - 0

 

[Jaden9933]

The clown is concerning, you also have a lot of majano anemones (pests that sting corals) on the same rock as the gsp and is probably stinging and killing the gsp

I’m not sure why the clown has been there and it hasn’t eaten either. It’s been in the tank for almost two weeks now and was swimming around fine the night before yesterday. Is the majano anemone the one poking near the bottom in the center?

 

[|Frank|]

Welcome to R2R!!

 

[Poof No Eyebrows]

Welcome

 

[PeterC99]

Thank you! I definitely planned on getting some more colorful zoas eventually as well more mushrooms! The simple color was part of the the reason I didn’t think mine were zoas. That’s good to know about dosing though!
Alk - 17 dKH
Calcium 360ppm
PH - 8.3
Sal - 1.025
Nitrates - 0
Nitrites - 0
Ammonia - 0

Are you sure the ALK is correct at 17 dKh? Seems very high!

 

[Jaden9933]

Are you sure the ALK is correct at 17 dKh? Seems very high!

Yes I tested it twice and thought the same thing! Is that a problem?

 

[PeterC99]

Yes I tested it twice and thought the same thing! Is that a problem?

Big problem - usually anywhere between 7 and 11.

17 dKh will burn out many corals.

 

[Jaden9933]

Big problem - usually anywhere between 7 and 11.

17 dKh will burn out many corals.

Oh wow so I’m assuming a water change is my only solution?

 

[dedragon]

Best option is water changes, have you been dosing alkalinity? I would also check the parameters of your NSW to make sure it isnt a bad batch

 

[ShepherdReefer]

Hello and welcome to the channel.

 

[dedragon]

also what test kits are you using? some are better than others. Nitrates and phosphates shouldnt be at zero for zoas and soft corals as well.
Just want to help you on the path for success in the hobby, steep learning curve for reef tanks