Frogspawn

[qwiksilver]

54g reef, ammonia - 0, nitrite - 0, nitrate - undetectable, phosphate - undetectable, ph - 8.4, s.g. - 1.025, kH - 14 gdh, calcium - 425, 70lbs live rock, 2 x 96W compacts, 4 x 3' T5's actinic, 3 x 3' NO actinic, 20g refugium. Water change 20 - 30 % once a week. Tank is 6 months old.

The problem is the frogspawn I bought 3 months ago as a frag hasn't grow one bit. In fact, it only has one row of polyps protruding in a ring around the mouth around both heads which were splitting apart when I bought it and still are. The single polyps only stick out about 3mm. In other words it looks like a really pissed off torch . I have tried moving it to different areas of the tank and do notice that in certain areas it shrivels up more, but it just will not extend or grow, whereas I have a hammer and it is growing no matter where it is. I feed every other night with DT's, and once to twice a week I feed the frogspawn and hammer brine and mysis. The hammer usually lets them go but will sometimes eat, but the frogspawn closes up and won't eat them. The other night I was feeding my doughnut some chopped krill and decided to try it, and my frogspawn ate the krill. Could it be that it hasn't been getting enough food :?:

Any help would be appreciated :!:

 

[Len]

Frogspawns are a lot more finicky then hammers. It's really hard to figure out why it's unhappy, although I do not think it's a matter of solid foods, but if it'll eat krill, I say continue to feed it and hope that does the trick. My frogspawn was sensitive to water issues and water changes always perked it back up. What are you changing your water with? If you're not using RO/DI, that's where I'd look first.

 

[R_S_C]

i'd say too many water changes...cut that down to 5-10 % weekly.

 

[Anonymous]

i'd say too many water changes...cut that down to 5-10 % weekly.

According to Advance Aquarist online, 5-10% water changes are almost pointless.

I agree with the too many part though. Keep doing 20-30% but do it once a month, not once a week.

 

[Ben_Wilson]

Once a month is enough, however your alk seems a little high for frogspawn. How much flow is it in? Frogspawn does well in med to low flow.
_____________
Ben

 

[qwiksilver]

First off, I don't run a skimmer which is why I do more wc than most people. The nutrients have to be exported somehow, so for now I just stick with water changes. Regarding RO water, this is Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Not Clinton or Jackson Mississippi (where I lived for a number of years by the way) where you can actually see the junk swirling around in your cup. I also lived in Macon, Chatanooga, Charlotte, Atlanta, Columbus, Detroit, Lookout Mountain, Grey and many other places in the states and I have to say that this city's water is by far the best one I've ever had. You know those little "tornadoes" you can make with a two liter coke bottle, well, in Jackson we didn't have to add any dirt or debris, it was already there :!: :lol: Seriously though, I have tested the tap water and it is better than RO for my purposes cause it has no silicates (which the RO I was buying here did), no phosphates or nitrates and has calcium and other minerals. Everyone here uses tap water for the most part. So, I know it is not the tap water (plus we are talking one coral not really growing out of 15, and algae isn't a problem).

I have been moving it around and leaving it in spots for a while to see a reaction, but nothing really positive yet. Don't get me wrong, it's not all shrivled up and wrapped tightly like saranwrap around it's skeleton. But it is supposed to be a frogspawn and all I can see right now is little nubs resembling torch polyps. I will try some lower flow areas, but do you think my lighting is the problem? Is it too low maybe?