frag question

namman

New Member
when I receive frags should I cut them off their base and glue them to a rock? Or do I simply put them on a rock and hope they spread? I have had 2 frags just die and was worried about the others, ANY advice would be greatly appreciated.
 

tropills

Member
Originally Posted by namman
when I receive frags should I cut them off their base and glue them to a rock? Or do I simply put them on a rock and hope they spread? I have had 2 frags just die and was worried about the others, ANY advice would be greatly appreciated.

what find of frags ?? what lighting do you have ? where are you placing them in the tank ? how old is your tank ? need a little more info.
WELCOME TO THE BOARDS

Greg
 

namman

New Member
Lighting is HO T-5 actinic and 10k ultra daylight. In a 1 yr old 120 with 100 lbs. LR. I have them placed pretty high on rock to give them the most light possible. Frags are very small 2 inch squares of assorted zoanthids.
Most are doing well but perhaps some became too cold due to being shipped in the cold weather...
All my parameters are within normal range except the temp is at 80 degrees...Maybe need to drop it down a bit?
 

acrylic51

Active Member
Temp is fine, it more about consistency IMHO......You don't want a major swing throughout the day. You might try starting them lower in the tank to let them adjust. They need an acclimation period to your lighting system.....You have to remember they are shipped in total darkness for a period and then being subjected to light right away is a shock.
You say your parameter are within normal range? What is normal?
 

namman

New Member
Well, normal for me is
Temp:80
ammonia 0
trites 0
trates 10
salinity 1.025 (slowly raised from 1.023 to benefit corals)
calcium 400
pH 8.2
I test daily and use ro water I keep premixed with Instant Ocean crystals.
I have been reading on the boards that there may be a better salt mix for reefs. I am going very slow when adding new things.

I may be a little high on salinity, but I thought corals needed a slightly higher concentration.
 

volcom69

Member
All your parm are fine salinity is fine is i keep mine at 1.026-1.027 everything is else seems fine. Do u test for alk in ur tank at all? How long did u acclamate them for also to much of a temp swing is not good for any coral so just make sure u do that correct. Other then that could have been a zoa eating snail or something not sure.
 

namman

New Member
No I do not test for alk.....I have overlooked something that should have been so obvious..
Thank you for pointing this out.... Can I ask what the correct alk. should be? Or better yet, What do most of you keep yours at?
 

namman

New Member
Ok....I just found the good old test strips I have had for over a year and it shows the alkalinity at around 300...unless I am color blind and it may be as low as 180........Gotta luv strips.
 

harris28

Member
I keep my alk around 3.5 to 4.0 me/ql or 7-12 DkH and my calcium at 420. For your alk to read 300 or 180 I think it is the wrong test.
 

namman

New Member
the strips chart shows the color to match 300 (KH) ppm.
I have individual testers for ph, salinity,tds,calcium,ammonia.....I have to use the 5 tests in one strip kit to check the alk... The color match shows it to be "ideal" and the corresponding number matches to the above stated...
 

g_dobbs

Member
Test strips do expire, so you may want to buy a new set if they have been sitting around for a year.
 
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