Fishy Business

A classic - torches are melting

Archaic37

Archaic37

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Hi I have had multiple torches melt, there’s been a few factors of alk swings (from 9 to 7 over 3 days) while I was away, since then I set up a doser to stabilize it and have been still dialing the daily alk. I also had a heater failure off while I was away and left the tank around 66 for multiple days.

Other than that these torches have been in moderate flow on the sand bed and just slowly recede to death. I’ve been dipping with coralrx on arrival with no signs of pests.

These torches have come from 3 different sources.

My nitrates are near 0 with Red Sea tests and I’ve been dosing live phyto, brine shrimp, oyster feast and using reef crystals with 0 tds rodi.

My other euyphilia ( 4 different hammers) have not had this issue.

Is this mostly the alkalinity swings?
 

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Archaic37 said:
My nitrates are near 0
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I don't like this personally. I like them closer to 20-30, and I run mine closer to 80 at times.

Temp swing aren't great, get an Inkbird thermostat and a titanium heater.

Alk swings aren't great, sounds like you got a doser.

I think when torches melt fast, it is often a bacterial infection.
 
H2OPlayar said:
I don't like this personally. I like them closer to 20-30, and I run mine closer to 80 at times.

Temp swing aren't great, get an Inkbird thermostat and a titanium heater.

Alk swings aren't great, sounds like you got a doser.

I think when torches melt fast, it is often a bacterial infection.
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I have one head that is threatening to also die off. Id did seem to spread to the torches one by one. Should I try to dip it with iodine, coralrx, h2o2?
 
H2OPlayar said:
I don't like this personally. I like them closer to 20-30, and I run mine closer to 80 at times.

Temp swing aren't great, get an Inkbird thermostat and a titanium heater.

Alk swings aren't great, sounds like you got a doser.

I think when torches melt fast, it is often a bacterial infection.
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Also I do have an inkbird with titanium heater. Either the outlet switch was bumped off before I left or when the ato module fell off the wall and knocked it off. Either way was off for a few days but cold isn’t as big of a killer as heat
 
Photos? Could be BJD if it’s wiping them out fast

Edit: just scrolled up. Somehow missed them

I’m worried about your low nitrate readings and your temp swing. If you already set up a doser then alk will be more stable in the future.

What are you using to measure nitrate?

Agree that you should use a temperature controller of some kind, especially one that can alert you if something is amiss
 
tribbitt said:
Photos? Could be BJD if it’s wiping them out fast

Edit: just scrolled up. Somehow missed them

I’m worried about your low nitrate readings and your temp swing. If you already set up a doser then alk will be more stable in the future.

What are you using to measure nitrate?

Agree that you should use a temperature controller of some kind, especially one that can alert you if something is amiss
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There hasn’t been any jelly coming out of them just straight melting.

I do have an inkbird it was just switched off at the outlet on accident. Somewhat of a mystery on how.

I have Red Sea for nitrates and it’s a new kit. I have old reagents for a Hanna but haven’t used it
 
Would be easier to help with a tank journal.
There’s lots of factors you haven’t mentioned.
As such I’m not gonna throw out guesses.
Nitrate near zero is a no no for me.
66 for a few days could be trouble as well, especially when you start piling on things that aren’t right like all swings as well
 

A Macro Cube

Hi BAR! Been a while since my last tank which was short lived, hoping to keep this one for longer. Equipment: fluval 207 Ai hydra 32 Mp10 Inkbird 200w titanium Trying to keep a minimal build with macro algae, LPS!
www.bareefers.org

I had advice to do corals only first and added a bi color blenny a month ago, and my nitrates have been consistently near zero despite feeding daily brine shrimp, oyster feast, live phytoplankton.

The tank is young, and it is probably my downfall.

I need to pick up a phosphate kit and was potentially going to dose Neo phos from Brightwell.
 
In the past month, I’ve had 8 hour power outage, alkalinity swing from 9.5 to 7 over three days, heater outage for three days, low nitrates, and a young tank.

I feel like the general conclusion is just too early for torches and stressful events
 
Close up pics of the torches would help.

How long have you had the torches?
Do you have older pictures to compare to how they are now?
How long has your tank been running?

What type of Lighting, what equipment for flow, tank type, size etc' describe filtration/ sump if you have one, automatic top off?
Full tank shots?

How much par are the corals getting

How are other types of corals doing?
Pictures of the hammers you mentioned?



A tank journal would definitely help as far as information. Consider making one.

There is alot not included with your orginal post here hence the suggestion of a tank journal.

Temp swings and alk swings are definitely not helpful but I wouldn't say that's issue without more back ground. As are the 0 nitrates.

What test kits are you using to test the tank?

Whats your, calcium, magnesium, currently alkalinity salinity and temperature at?

You said above no brown jelly? Have you noticed anything similar near the torches? Also have you inspected any of them closey for flat worms are eggs?

Tons if questions I know. But the more information you provided better picture it paints and advice or input your are likely to get.
 
Archaic37 said:
In the past month, I’ve had 8 hour power outage, alkalinity swing from 9.5 to 7 over three days, heater outage for three days, low nitrates, and a young tank.

I feel like the general conclusion is just too early for torches and stressful events
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No way alkalinity goes from 9.5 to 7 in 3 days beyond you being loaded up with sps. My sps tank could, not very likely for a mix reef that not overflowing with corals in my opinion.

I would question my test kits. Or if I made a error testing. Any crazy reading I always Retest right away to confirm.
 
Fastest way to massively swing alk would be a major salinity swing. You mentioned an ATO fall, does that imply a salinity swing too? ATO off would raise salinity which would raise the alk reading. Dumping a bunch of water in would drop salinity and drop alk.

I think the gotcha on this one is for your list of things, if asking which could cause corals to die the answer is "Yes".

Things that could cause coral issues (in my vote of descending order):
  • temp swings, especially staying that cold for days I'm kinda surprised anything is still alive
  • alk swing up (common when starting dosing, especially if you were trying to go back towards 9 from 7)
  • alk swing down
  • no flow during power outages
  • dosing N or P and causing nutrient surges
  • low N
That's not the only things that could cause failures, but all of those in isolation could. If you've had all of these, I'd consider it a blessing and success that some things are still up!

I'm pro adding coral early, but when doing so it's important to keep in mind it's possible (probable?) that coral may die. Coral are hard to keep, and new tanks tend to have issues due to getting the setup right (IMO the 6month+ guidance is really just about getting all the equipment stable).

I'd ride this one out personally, leaving things alone and focusing on stabilizing, if other things are healthy. I would double check salinity as well. If anything beyond that, water changes with matched salinity + temp + alk are commonly safe, but given your reported issues, probably not required here.
 

A Macro Cube

Hi BAR! Been a while since my last tank which was short lived, hoping to keep this one for longer. Equipment: fluval 207 Ai hydra 32 Mp10 Inkbird 200w titanium Trying to keep a minimal build with macro algae, LPS!
www.bareefers.org

Thought I posted the link earlier.

The alk swing could definitely come from bacteria consuming it due to a new tank.

richiev said:
Fastest way to massively swing alk would be a major salinity swing. You mentioned an ATO fall, does that imply a salinity swing too? ATO off would raise salinity which would raise the alk reading. Dumping a bunch of water in would drop salinity and drop alk.

I think the gotcha on this one is for your list of things, if asking which could cause corals to die the answer is "Yes".

Things that could cause coral issues (in my vote of descending order):
  • temp swings, especially staying that cold for days I'm kinda surprised anything is still alive
  • alk swing up (common when starting dosing, especially if you were trying to go back towards 9 from 7)
  • alk swing down
  • no flow during power outages
  • dosing N or P and causing nutrient surges
  • low N
That's not the only things that could cause failures, but all of those in isolation could. If you've had all of these, I'd consider it a blessing and success that some things are still up!

I'm pro adding coral early, but when doing so it's important to keep in mind it's possible (probable?) that coral may die. Coral are hard to keep, and new tanks tend to have issues due to getting the setup right (IMO the 6month+ guidance is really just about getting all the equipment stable).

I'd ride this one out personally, leaving things alone and focusing on stabilizing, if other things are healthy. I would double check salinity as well. If anything beyond that, water changes with matched salinity + temp + alk are commonly safe, but given your reported issues, probably not required here.
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when the ato failed I tested prior to adding rodi and then over the course of hours brought it back from 1.027 to 1.025.

Other things are definitely suffering from the temp swing but not as bad.

The power outage I tried my best to manual circulate water but it’s nothing compared to a wave maker.

I’m going to ride this out but getting ideas on what to correct vs natural evolution of the tank is critical so I don’t over index on anything.

Regarding testing I have been obsessively testing alk sometimes 2-3 a day and retest if I didn’t feel like it was right.
 

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what else is in the tank and not doing well? IME torches can be quite sensitive and the extended low temp (stacked with the other items on the list.....). While low temp is better than high temp - the extended time doesn't do anything any favors.
Doing corals only to start can definitely be done (i've done that numerous times over the years); but selective of the corals chosen to start with since there could potentially be swings.
 
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