[Solved] Unhappy Corals Despite Good Parameters

[SaltedCarmel]

I was wondering if I could get some input on my reef tank situation.

Parameters are as follows:
- Nitrate: 5 ppm
- Phosphate: 0.03 ppm
- Salinity: 1.025
- Temperature: 79 F

After an issue about a month ago, where I had my temp swing up to 81 F, my hammer coral has been slowly closing further and further. I’ve also been having a surprising issue where my mushroom corals are not fully extending either, but some are doing better than others.

The species that are still staying open and look healthy are my toadstool mushroom, 2 photosynthetic gorgs, and my candy cane colony.

One additional factor is that I do have a cherub angel that eats zoas, but I wouldn’t think he would mess with the sting of euphyllia. I also had him for 6 months while they were extended without issue.

Pics:

 

[NAS]

Need a bit more info on alk, mag, calc as well. Good idea is to see what an ICP test would show seeing if any minor elements are low. Also have you had any brown jelly on the torches. And angels can certainly nip at anything even torches. I would keep an eye on it.

 

[project1004]

If your parameters are good but having an issue, I would do a close to 100% water change with same parameters to change out the water in your system including the sump water. And start from there. Your fishes usually pick at healthy corals and not dyeing ones usually.

Edit: are you using activate carbon? Don’t need to use it all the time but does help with situations like this.

Edit: above suggestion about doing 100% water change is for those matured tank and not new ones. ^^;

 

[SaltedCarmel]

If your parameters are good but having an issue, I would do a close to 100% water change with same parameters to change out the water in your system including the sump water. And start from there. Your fishes usually pick at healthy corals and not dyeing ones usually.

Edit: are you using activate carbon? Don’t need to use it all the time but does help with situations like this.

Edit: above suggestion about doing 100% water change is for those matured tank and not new ones. ^^;

Yeah this tank is over 2 years old and has plenty of coralline, so I would say its fairly mature. I have some activated carbon, but haven't ran it in a while. It's a good idea if they're being stressed by any toxin in the water. Think I might try a bigger water change than I typically do and see how everything reacts.

 

[SaltedCarmel]

Need a bit more info on alk, mag, calc as well. Good idea is to see what an ICP test would show seeing if any minor elements are low. Also have you had any brown jelly on the torches. And angels can certainly nip at anything even torches. I would keep an eye on it.

No brown jelly, that was my first thing I checked. Still going to monitor because I know it can appear after stressful events. You're right about needing more alk, mag, and calc info.

 

[SaltedCarmel]

Figured it out. I got an InkBird temp controller and found out that my thermometer was reporting the temp at 2-3 degrees lower than the actual. Turns out the reef was sitting at 81-82 instead of 78-79. Corals haven’t fully recovered, but most have extended much further than previously since I’ve brought the temp back down.

 

[Hunna]

That’s exactly why I have one of these. I don’t trust digital anything anymore.