[oops]

Hi All

I have what I think is an oxypora and it has started to show skeleton on the edges.

I had it in a QT tank for 8 weeks and it was fine. After it was in the main tank for a couple of weeks the problem started. I had it placed on the side of the rock near the bottom under 400watt 20k lights. It was slightly shaded. I was told on another forum that it needed more light. I haven't moved it higher, but it is not shaded anymore, but it is getting worse. Do these need high or low lighting and what kind of flow do they need. It was at least five feet away from a 13000 litre an hour stream and I had my suspicions at first that it was being forced off its skeleton as it was the edge that was catching the flow. It is not in high flow now but it is getting worse.

Any ideas.

Thanks

[chriss]

How long did had it been in the main tank before it started to deteriorate? Could it have started whilst in your 'qt' tank? What were the water conditions etc in the qt tank?

Post up some system specs and your latest readings along with a photo of the tank/coral

Chris

[oops]

Hi

It had been in the main tank for about 2 weeks when it started. It was okay after leaving the QT tank. Everything in the QT is fine, all levels have been okay. It was in the qt tank with a Cat and some echniophyllia frags. They are doing fine in the main tank, although I did loose one of the frags. I currently have sps corals in the QT and they are fine.

The main tank is 6 x 2 x 2. For flow I have 2 tunzes, one is 13000 litres an hour the other is 6000. I also have the largest seio which is 10000 litres. Lights are 2 400 watt 20K. Skimmer is ATI bubblemaster 250. I have a 200 litre sump with cheato and aragamud.

Will put up pictures later, when I can get hubby to do them.

Tests on tank done Sunday are

Nitrate 5
Phos 0.008
Cal 410
DKH 9.3
Mag 1320
SG 1.025
Temp 25.5 - 26.5

Thanks

[oops]

A couple of pics.

http://www.marines.ukfsn.org/coral.jpg

http://www.marines.ukfsn.org/tank.jpg

[chriss]

OK, a few un-educated guesses here.

Firstly, I'm guessing that the lighting in your qt tank may not have been so strong, it really looks like it's getting blasted with plenty of light there, that maybe one possible cause, light shock and too much light to begin with.

Your water tests seem fine. Now, I don't know anything about your system, so don't take this the wrong way, but it looks like a fairly new system, and I wonder if just a lack of maturity is part of the problem.

If I was going to try anything, it might be to move it out of the light some more, maybe put it right on the bottom but keep the receded areas off the sand to avoid any infection. If it doesn't improve, it might be worth putting it back in the qt tank, if it survived for eight weeks there then it must have been happy so it's worth a try.

I expect someone with a bit more experience will be along shortly and correct everything I said no doubt!

Chris

[oops]

Thanks for the reply. The tank is actually just over 2 years old. I had a wipeout due to velvet just after christmas which is why I only have 2 fish in there. They have been back in the tank for several weeks now. I used to have corals in the tank, but had decided last year to go fish only. But then after seeing Jasons corals and losing my non reefsafe fish in the wipeout, I decided I would have corals again.

The oxypora was placed on the bottom of the tank for the first week, and then I decided to move it up onto the side of the rock so it was slighly shaded. I only have my halides on for 5 hours a day at the moment, because I am building the lighting period up slowly. I thought it would be okay. So really instead of placing it in more light as I was told, I should have placed it in less. I will move it again tommorow.

Thanks for your help

Anita

[oops]

Okay I have moved it to about 2 " off the sand bed and straight away my Regal Tang came and had a nibble. I haven't seen her do this before, so will have to keep an eye on her. Maybe she is the problem after all.