purple tip frogspawn tip are getting smaller

[maymond]

I have a purpletip frogspawn. I noticed over the last month or so . Some not all of the tips are getting smaller in diameter than they used to be. The heads come out pretty good but im cocerned about some of the heads.

sal 1.024
nitrate 0
nitrite 0
alk 9.8 dkh
ph 8
amn 0
mg 1400
cal 400

any reason why its doing this? its a pretty big frogspawn. Like 30 plus heads. I noticed little heads growing off of all the branches. Can it hurt that its getting too big and im need to frag it? or does that even matter

[sealey13]

Any changes in flow?

[maymond]

I did adjust my power heads a little bit . Could that be it ?

[sealey13]

Yeah could have irritated the coral. Give it a couple of days to see if things get better.

[maymond]

It has been at least 3 weeks since I have changed the flow . I've found a bunch of vermited snails all over the base of the heads . Could this be the problem ?

[sealey13]

Do you have a picture?

[Aquarist007]

Check your nitrate and phosphate levels

[Vgyoung]

When the vermited snail released y's net it made my frogspawn close up but he quickly came back out

[maymond]

I have too buy a phosphate test . I actually have never checked my phosphate levels since I've had the tank :( what are some of the signs of high phosphate levels ?

[Aquarist007]

I have too buy a phosphate test . I actually have never checked my phosphate levels since I've had the tank :( what are some of the signs of high phosphate levels ?
Frogspawn torch and hammer corals not doing well;)

[maymond]

What's the best way to lower phosphate ?

[BlueCursor]

GFO is fastest. Chaeto algae in refugium is great. Biopellets to some extent.

Get a test kit though. You don't want to lower it too quickly.

[Aquarist007]

What's the best way to lower phosphate ?
Check your nitrates and phosphates first. If both are present consider carbon dosing of some form
If only phosphates are present then run a gfo product as suggested above

[maymond]

Ok thanks . I have cheato in my fuge . I noticed it stopped growing as fast as it was . Could this be why ?

[Docdiggy]

I've been using caulerpa. Grows much faster. I have never had an issue using it. I know some have.

[maymond]

Ok tested my water really good tonight . Bought a phosphate test and it's near zero . How ever my alk and ph are really down . I added buffer tonight . But I'm constantly fighting low ph and alk . Please tell me the safe and most effective way to maintain ph and alk ? Like I said on constantly battling this

[Xavibear]

You posted that your alk is 9.8. That is fine. Don't worry about the ph if the alk stays stable.

What test kits are you using? What is near 0 for you PO3?

[maymond]

Well I tested everything again . And with a different alk test and did it twice . It was 3.5 this last time . I must of got a false reading with the first one somehow .

[Art13]

you need to slowly bring it up to about 9 and your ph should follow, i would try to raise it about .3 in the morning and .3 in the afternoon, if your schedule allows maybe one more dose during mid day.

[maymond]

How long will it take for the frogspawn to come back once my parameters are correct . I've been slowly raising my alk . It's now at 7.5 Dkh . I'm just wondering because it still looks bad . Not bad to where it's dieing . It's just staying shriveled up . It's extending in and out . The tips are just not full like they used to be . It's a big frogspawn so that's the reason I'm so worried about it . Everything else in my tank seems to be very happy . I'm gonna start dosing soon .

[maymond]

Also it's been a couple of weeks since I've done a water change . I've been doing 5 gallons . I used to do 8 gallons . I have a 60 gallon tank with a 20 gallon sump . Y'all think i should do a large water change ?

[Aquarist007]

Also it's been a couple of weeks since I've done a water change . I've been doing 5 gallons . I used to do 8 gallons . I have a 60 gallon tank with a 20 gallon sump . Y'all think i should do a large water change ?
A large water change will not bring the alk back up that much
Keep with 10 percent weekly that way you don't alter other parameters that quickly.
It's rapid change that affects coral more then a high or really low level.

[Aquarist007]

How long will it take for the frogspawn to come back once my parameters are correct . I've been slowly raising my alk . It's now at 7.5 Dkh . I'm just wondering because it still looks bad . Not bad to where it's dieing . It's just staying shriveled up . It's extending in and out . The tips are just not full like they used to be . It's a big frogspawn so that's the reason I'm so worried about it . Everything else in my tank seems to be very happy . I'm gonna start dosing soon .

That sounds like a flow issue. Frogspawn do not like a lot of flow nor do they like direct flow
Also you might want to feed it some reef roids

Also, also what is the exact phosphate reading.. It should be less than .03