Fungia repanda plate coral issues

[_bloomer]

Hard to tell in the second pic due to different lighting. But tentacles not extended and looks paler (whiter) than yesterday. Low to med flow. Maxspect lighting short photo period. In tank two days, on the sand. Drip acclimated for 1 hr.

Salinity- 1.026
Temp- 78.7
Nh4 - 0
No3 - 3
No2 - .3
Ph - 8.3
Kh - 8.1
Ca - 470
Po4 - .11
Mg - 1520

I'm really concerned, want to save the little guy, any help would be great.

[rileyon]

I'm not seeing anything that's jumping out at me as a major issue, but I'm viewing this on my phone. The tentacles just look retracted to me - I've got several plates and they all do this from time to time, no rhyme or reason. Sometimes it's at night, sometimes after feeding or maintenance, and sometimes just because. They always extend them again, though. My plates often look like this at night, and they still eat just fine.

Two days in, I think it's just still getting acclimated - that's been my experience, anyway. It's in a good spot, and your parameters look fine, but I do want to point out that you should be seeing zero measurable nitrites. Is this a mature, post-cycle tank? If you're not processing ammonia properly, that could be a problem - and is your test kit accurate?

If you're seeing tissue recession with significant skeleton showing, a gaping mouth, or a refusal to eat after multiple attempts (just give it some time, though), then you've got a problem on your hands. But from what I'm seeing, I think you're probably okay. The loss of color vibrancy is pretty normal when the tentacles are retracted, so just be patient - chances are it'll be open and ready to eat before long. Have you tried feeding it yet?

[rileyon]

Considering the PO4 level, I'd work on bringing that down - not necessarily for the Fungia's sake, but more to prevent algae growth. Any algae on the rim's a no-go. Keep an eye on it, and good luck.

[_bloomer]

I'm not seeing anything that's jumping out at me as a major issue, but I'm viewing this on my phone. The tentacles just look retracted to me - I've got several plates and they all do this from time to time, no rhyme or reason. Sometimes it's at night, sometimes after feeding or maintenance, and sometimes just because. They always extend them again, though. My plates often look like this at night, and they still eat just fine.

Two days in, I think it's just still getting acclimated - that's been my experience, anyway. It's in a good spot, and your parameters look fine, but I do want to point out that you should be seeing zero measurable nitrites. Is this a mature, post-cycle tank? If you're not processing ammonia properly, that could be a problem - and is your test kit accurate?

If you're seeing tissue recession with significant skeleton showing, a gaping mouth, or a refusal to eat after multiple attempts (just give it some time, though), then you've got a problem on your hands. But from what I'm seeing, I think you're probably okay. The loss of color vibrancy is pretty normal when the tentacles are retracted, so just be patient - chances are it'll be open and ready to eat before long. Have you tried feeding it yet?

Thanks reef frog, I feel a bit better now. I brought my Fungia home on Saturday, and on Sunday it looked pretty happy, but today when I got home from work, it just looks sick compared to the day before.

My tank is still pretty new, only 7 weeks old, but it has cycled. I recently turned on my GFO reactor, actually just this past weekend, after I measured a 0.56 PO4 with my Hanna checker - that's why I'm a bit concerned. I'm going to recheck my nitrates now, thanks again for the reassurance.

[rusticore]

It's probably just light acclimation. I think your lighting's stronger than what it's used to, and it's reacting to that. I agree, the PO4 is too high, but I don't think that's the main issue here. Give it a couple weeks to adjust, and if you don't see any improvement then you might have a problem. For now though, it doesn't look too bad.

[_bloomer]

Light acclimation makes sense, I had the same thought initially. Just tested the phosphate levels again, and it's down to zero now, so the GFO reactor is working as it should. Still getting 0.3 nitrites though, so I'll keep a close eye on that. Appreciate the input.

[_bloomer]

Every time I walk by the display tank, that darn peppermint shrimp is on the coral. It's becoming a real issue. I've put a small plastic bowl over the coral temporarily until I can relocate this pesky shrimp to the fuge.

[_bloomer]

That peppermint shrimp is proving to be a sneaky little thing. Keep finding it on different corals. Sump you go, I swear.