Coral Confusion

[ftuti01]

1. Type & how long you have had it: 5 years-12 gal nano
2. Current lighting & Bulb Age: 1 month old -k2 viper
3. Nitrate:0
4. Calcium:-
5. Phosphate:0
6. Alkalinity:-
7. pH:8.0
8. Salinity:1.021
9. Temperature:78
10. Liquid or strip test kits: both
11. Location in tank: low
12. Current amount of flow: no additional flow other then filter pump
13. Current tank dosing regimen: B-Ionic- Calcium and Alkalinity daily
14. Nearby coral:mushroom, xenia, orange polys
15. Explanation of problem:

The problem I'm having is with my pulsing xenia. It will not pulse or growing and most of the time it is very small. I'm a little over due for a new chemi-pure filter media though. I'm so confused because my tanks perimeters are almost prefect. I have one ricordea mushroom and its even looking bad. I had a problem with aiptasia for awhile but I use Red Sea Aiptasia-X but they just keep coming back, I actually had one eat my peppermint shrimp which I couldn't even believe. I have coraline algae all over my tank and I though that was a sign of well established tank but I never have any luck with corals. Any suggestions? Thank you

 

[Sniperhank]

Pulsing Xenia doesn't always pulse. The pulsing is believed to actually be assisting with oxygenating the water and that having a "dirtier" water is what they prefer, rather than the pristine conditions we aim for in our reef tanks.

 

[ftuti01]

You think LED are better than metal halides?

 

[Sniperhank]

Personally, yes.

 

[ftuti01]

I also noticed some white stringy stuff (looks like a spider web) attaching to corals and rocks, any suggestion on this?

 

[mr_X]

Google "Vermetid snail".
I would say you need more flow in the tank for starters. You should raise your salinity to 1.025-1.026 also.
You can't possibly need to dose 2 part daily with your current corals. Have you tested for calcium and alk? I would stop this immediately and do a few water changes to get levels back to normal.

 

[ftuti01]

That's what they first sold me was that combination, they want to me use iodine now. The petstore I go too.

 

[ftuti01]

I no im not suppose to supplement anything unless I test it first but the petstores are very quick to sell you a supplement.

 

[Sniperhank]

So stop doing it.

 

[ftuti01]

Anything natural to get rid of Aiptasia it just comes back.

 

[Sniperhank]

More aiptasia-x.