25 Nano Help!

Photosnowman · #1 01/03/2008, 08:11 PM

I have a 25 gallon Nano cube and I have nothing but soft coral in it now. I plan to only have coral in it but the few corals I have in there now just don't seem healthy. I have what I believe are pretty simple corals. Red mushroom and green polyps. They just don't seem to open up at all. I have a nano remora skimmer running on it and a K2 viper light, about 15 pounds live rock, and I also add WM calxmax two parts twice a week. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

ozyreefa · #2 01/03/2008, 08:20 PM

what lights are you using?

ozyreefa · #3 01/03/2008, 08:22 PM

sorry, i mean how many watts

Photosnowman · #4 01/03/2008, 08:27 PM

The type of lighting I'm using is.

JBJ K-2 Viper HQI Clamp on Lamp Lighting Fixture
150watt
Kelvin lamp: 14,000K

ozyreefa · #5 01/03/2008, 09:56 PM

hmm sounds ok, just wondering if maybe they are receiving too much light, how close is your fixture to the tank and how are the mushrooms placed high up or down low?

Toddrtrex · #6 01/03/2008, 10:26 PM

What are you actual water parms?

Photosnowman · #7 01/03/2008, 10:36 PM

The light is about 4-5in away from the surface. The polyps are up high and the mushrooms are down low. I also have a small pump circulating the water.

Photosnowman · #8 01/03/2008, 11:28 PM

Readings after resent test

PH-8
Nirite-<0.3mg
Nirate-12.5mg
Ammonia-0mg

I'm thinking a water change is needed here?

zotzer · #9 01/03/2008, 11:37 PM

What mechanical filtration media do you have in there? Sponges, ceramic rings, bioballs?

Tracy

Photosnowman · #10 01/03/2008, 11:45 PM

I have a sponge in the center chamber.

ozyreefa · #11 01/04/2008, 12:34 AM

A water change wouldnt hurt, try picking up a bottle of "seachem stability" to help get your nutrients under control, but i dont think this is the problem, your lighting sounds ok so the only other immediate thing I can think of is perhaps having too much current. I know you said you have a small powerhead for circulation, what is the output of the power head and is it pointed at the corals?

Photosnowman · #12 01/04/2008, 03:46 PM

The pump I have in there is a very small 4.5 watt pump that I've moved constantly from pointed right at the corals to just grazing them to now not near them at all.

tigereye37 · #13 01/04/2008, 03:58 PM

You might want to increase the amount of LR in the tank. 15#'s in a 25g doesn't sound like alot if that is your primary filtration. I believe most people recommend 1-1.5 lbs per gallon of water.

ozyreefa · #14 01/04/2008, 04:19 PM

how many gallons per hour does the pump push though?