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Everything seems off. All the LPS corals I've added - elegance, torch, and bubble corals - were fully open for the first two-three days, but then they started to recede:

1. Elegance coral: fully retracted for the past 5 days
2. Bubble coral: not fully open, very small bubbles
3. Torch coral: partially open

I came across something in a book about LPS corals having a "photo adaptation" period when they adjust to new lighting conditions. I'm wondering if that's what's going on here, or if it's due to poor water quality. On the other hand, all my soft corals are doing great.

Here are my current water parameters:
1. PO4: 0.1 PPM
2. NO3: 25-50 PPM (I used Salifert, but the color was hard to read, so I'm assuming it's around 50 PPM)
3. Organic matter: I don't know how to test for it, but I suspect it's a problem since I have a lot of red algae growing in my refugium - I think it's cyano.

Any comments would be really appreciated:uzi::uzi::uzi:

Something's not right in your tank if every LPS starts strong then withers after a few days. Nitrate levels seem high to me. What's the status on salinity, calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium?

Some things just aren't adding up here. Typically, corals should look better after you add them to a tank with good params, considering most stores don't exactly have ideal conditions. There's a lot that could be off, including stray voltage. Start by ruling out the obvious stuff first, see where that takes you.

reefkeeper1 wrote: ↑Sun Apr 13, 2025 3:00 am Everything seems off. All the LPS corals I've added - elegance, torch, and bubble corals - were fully open for the first two-three days, but then they started to recede:

1. Elegance coral: fully retracted for the past 5 days
2. Bubble coral: not fully open, very small bubbles
3. Torch coral: partially open

I came across something in a book about LPS corals having a "photo adaptation" period when they adjust to new lighting conditions. I'm wondering if that's what's going on here, or if it's due to poor water quality. On the other hand, all my soft corals are doing great.

Here are my current water parameters:
1. PO4: 0.1 PPM
2. NO3: 25-50 PPM (I used Salifert, but the color was hard to read, so I'm assuming it's around 50 PPM)
3. Organic matter: I don't know how to test for it, but I suspect it's a problem since I have a lot of red algae growing in my refugium - I think it's cyano.

Any comments would be really appreciated:uzi::uzi::uzi:

I think any coral can benefit from some time to adjust, depending on your lighting setup. Your lights could be the issue here. What kind are you using, and how high are they above the tank? How long are they on for, and if you've got dimmable lights, what intensity are they running at?

You should probably start by addressing those nitrates, though - 25-50 ppm is way too high, and that's likely contributing to your problems, or at the very least, that cyno in your refugium.

PO4 is on the higher end as well, that might be another factor to look into, alongside the nitrates.

I'm with the rest of you, seems like something's off. Could be worth checking out this link, might shed some light on things: http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-01/atj/index.php

I'd say it's unlikely the issue is with lighting. Typically, changes in lighting intensity would cause bleaching, and a change in photoperiod might just offset their opening schedule for a day or two, but they should still open up fully.

My top three guesses for what's going on are:

1) Poor water quality, with high NO3 and PO4, which are bi-products of high organic matter levels in the water column. I'd look at feeding, filtration, and your water change schedule. Cutting back on spot feeding your LPS would be a good start, as they're photosynthetic and don't require it. A consistent water change schedule is key for LPS, as they thrive under stability.

I've found that LPS do best with massive levels of filtration and consistent water changes. People say softies and LPS "like dirty water", but that's not true - they like high nutrient levels. Dirty water is high in organic waste, while high nutrient levels mean regular feedings. To feed large quantities, you need high levels of filtration. A refugium is great, as macro feeds on waste bi-products without taking food out of the water column. A skimmer is also a must, in my opinion.

2) Flow issues - most LPS like moderate and indirect flow. If they're getting direct flow or high flow, they won't extend fully to avoid damaging their soft tissue.

3) Tank parameters must be stable and at decent levels. Based on your LPS not acclimating well, your parameters are likely very different from where they're being purchased. If your parameters are good, they should look better in your tank than they did in the place of purchase. Aim for 9-11 dKH, 1250-1350 magnesium, and calcium 400-450. These parameters should be stable, with no dramatic shifts.

A high-quality salt is key for stability in parameters, making dosing easier. Use RO/DI water and consistent topoffs, especially in smaller tanks.

If your parameters are correct, your pH may be low, but it will be stable, so the acclimation time should be relatively short.

I've found that following these guidelines has been key to success with every LPS I've dealt with. Just make sure you don't have any tank inhabitants that pick at LPS, and watch out for damaging their tissue, as this can lead to disease.