What’s wrong

Jeremey’s reef

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I purchased some coral at the expo last week and I’m sad to say I’m not seeing them florist. They spend most of there time closed up and are not responding well to my feeding regiment. I also purchased some rock flower anemone’s and they on the other hand are doing well. I purchased a bowerbanki mushroom, 2 sets of zoanthids (4polyps), and another mushroom neither of these guys seem to be happy within my tank. What can I be doing wrong?
 
Sorry you're livestock isn't all thriving. If you can you supply a bit more information I'm sure someone can help, here are some questions: What size tank, what type filtration, what substrate, how long has it been set up, what are the water parameters - at minimum ammonia, nitrates, nitrites, temperature, salinity, Ph, and alkalinity, also calcium, phosphate, and magnesium may be helpful. How much flow, what livestock - fish, inverts, and coral, and what type lighting on what schedule?
 
I think me pics would help us identify the issue. How's your water chemistry?

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My tank has been setup for 3 months now I have a Picasso Trigger, banded moray eel two shrimp (cleaner and fire shrimp), sand sifting sea star, 20+ lbs of live rock and 1” of sand for my substrate. I have a 100w heater that came with my tank but I was thinking of upgrading to 300w as my water seems to be ice cold even though my thermometer says otherwise. I have a 29g aqueon 30” in length and 12” in width. Two Nicrew full spectrum lights (920 lumens per) color temperature (7000 k) and two small wave makers also the filter that came with the aquarium from Petco
 

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Honestly your tank is a little new for coral in general. It takes time and stability for success with coral, a mature tank will have more than just good test values.

The trigger you have is also not reef safe, he will eat your coral.

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I'm unfamiliar with those lights but a quick Google search and I'd wager they aren't strong enough for coral. I also dont think they have the right spectrum for coral.

That's also a a big bioload for a 29 imo, especially at this early date. I'd be interested in the ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels. If you're running a HOB filter with stock cartridges you will be fighting with nitrates constantly I fear. Also, usually the HOBs that come with tanks are not the greatest quality. I'd switch to an aqua clear if you want to stay with a HOB.

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Great points from both replies, I'll also add the trigger will eat your shrimp too as well as snails and small fish. Agree that the tank needs more time to mature for coral, and especially for the sea star, I fear more for the sea star and anemones than the mushrooms and zoas, I suggest re-homing them quickly before they perish.
 
Salinity is at 128
I don't understand this, do you mean 1.028?. You can measure this with a Hydrometer or Seawater refractometer. For coral, most people use a concentration of 35 parts per thousand which is a specific gravity of 1.026. The salinity refractometers are more accurate and available on Amazon or eBay for about $20, of you use a hydrometer make sure you check it fir accuracy at your live fish store.
 
Wow, that's a lot to take in. The Trigger will out grow that tank in short order. They can grow up to a foot in length and need a 180 gallon at the minimum. The Moray Eel will grow to almost the lenght of that 29 gallon when full grown. Those two fish alone will produce a lot of waste as they grow and it will be very difficult to keep the organics down (NO3 & PO4) but most important it will also be a problem to keep the ammonia down if you add anything else as the amount of rock and filtration isn't sufficient to process that bioload. When that happens the ammonia will burn their gills and they will die.

The salinity number you gave isn't right, like Steve said. I keep my tanks at 1.025 specific gravity but up to 1.0264 is ok too. 33.3ppt-35ppt. For the 1st 6-9 months I had my tank up and running I couldn't keep and zoas for some reason. The would close right up, stay closed and melt away. After the 9 month mark they've been fine and I can't kill them now. With coral, you want to wait at least 4 to 5 months before trying to keep them. The tank is just too new to support them. That's not to say it can't be done for someone experienced, but your chances of success will be much better by waiting.

@Mom2Many is very good at keeping smaller tanks and can help you with your stocking options and create a thriving system. Also, have you been visiting any local fish stores beyond Petco? They are usually very good at giving better advice to help get you started, unless you happen to get the right person at a Petco. There are a few but it's rare.
 
I don't understand this, do you mean 1.028?. You can measure this with a Hydrometer or Seawater refractometer. For coral, most people use a concentration of 35 parts per thousand which is a specific gravity of 1.026. The salinity refractometers are more accurate and available on Amazon or eBay for about $20, of you use a hydrometer make sure you check it fir accuracy at your live fish store.
Yes sorry 1.028 off my refractor
 
I would be glad to help in any way I can. I recently redid my 20 long tank and started it over. So it is now concidered a very young tank. I am having to do more to keep things stable than I did in my four year old tank that I broke down, so my larger colonies dont suffer or die in this young system. A reef tank takes a good year to really come into its own and support large amounts of corals and more fish. Going slow helps you to slowly build up your bactieria load to accomidate what you added, so adding one apporpreate fish and waiting a short while or a frag or two hardy frags at a time and waiting a while is best. Stability is key to success in any tank but especially reef tanks. I do have a youtube channel on creating and caring for nano tanks and smaller systems, inexpensivly and successfully (by the grace of God) but there is tons of information out there on the internet. Here is a short video I did a while back for my followers on secrets of success if your interested. Feel free to pm me if you need anything. ;) Blessings and Happy Reefing!

 
Wow, that's a lot to take in. The Trigger will out grow that tank in short order. They can grow up to a foot in length and need a 180 gallon at the minimum. The Moray Eel will grow to almost the lenght of that 29 gallon when full grown. Those two fish alone will produce a lot of waste as they grow and it will be very difficult to keep the organics down (NO3 & PO4) but most important it will also be a problem to keep the ammonia down if you add anything else as the amount of rock and filtration isn't sufficient to process that bioload. When that happens the ammonia will burn their gills and they will die.

The salinity number you gave isn't right, like Steve said. I keep my tanks at 1.025 specific gravity but up to 1.0264 is ok too. 33.3ppt-35ppt. For the 1st 6-9 months I had my tank up and running I couldn't keep and zoas for some reason. The would close right up, stay closed and melt away. After the 9 month mark they've been fine and I can't kill them now. With coral, you want to wait at least 4 to 5 months before trying to keep them. The tank is just too new to support them. That's not to say it can't be done for someone experienced, but your chances of success will be much better by waiting.

@Mom2Many is very good at keeping smaller tanks and can help you with your stocking options and create a thriving system. Also, have you been visiting any local fish stores beyond Petco? They are usually very good at giving better advice to help get you started, unless you happen to get the right person at a Petco. There are a few but it's rare.
I buy my live stock from saltwaterfish.com and The Fish Store in Chamblee
 
I buy my live stock from saltwaterfish.com and The Fish Store in Chamblee
I don't know much about The Fish Store, I've only been there once. I do know the other stores like Atlanta Aquarium, Nemo, Pure Reef, Premier... all would have advised against those two fish if you asked them for help and gave them your tank size. I would hope The Fish Store would have too.
It's kinda like getting a Great Dane and keeping it in an appartment then only letting it out tiny 10'x10' area. Only the Dane won't die from it's own waste like the fish will.
 
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