Can't keep ricordeas alive

Shaunv

Sting ray
M.A.S.C Club Member
#1
So, for the life of me, I can't seem to keep ricordeas alive. This is such a bummer to me because I think ric's are beautiful and I'd love to be able to keep them. A little history... In my 17 gallon with no sump, fuge or any type of filtration, except for weekly water changes, I put 3 ricordeas in at Reefed last year. In about 3 days, two of the three died from brown brown jelly disease. Within a month, the third died of the same cause. A few months later, I tried a Yuma. It too died within a month. I have since started a 40 breeder and picked up a $10 ric at MACNA. It has shrunk in size and is now on the brink of death being a quarter the size it was when I got it. I don't know why. I have tried moving the ric to different areas of my tank about 3 times since MACNA. Here are my parameters.

Temp: 79
Salinity: 1.025
Alk: 9
pH: 8.2
Nitrites: 0
Nitrates:0
Ammonia: 0
Calcium: 440
Magnesium: 1300
phosphates: 0

I use API test kit for most tests except Calcium and Magnesium which I use Salifert.
all of my mushrooms and other corals seem to be doing well. They are growing and show polyp extension.

I use a Kessil 350w LED with blues at about 60% whites at about 25% and 2 T5 bulbs, 1 pure actinic and 1 actinic+

any suggestions as as to how I can keep this coral alive would be greatly appreciated.
 

SynDen

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#3
Ya they like really low flow at that, I have mine in a bottom corner where they barely get any flow and they seem to much prefer it that way, If I move them out in slightly more flow they tend to shrivel a bit
 

Shaunv

Sting ray
M.A.S.C Club Member
#4
Thanks for the responses. I will see if I can find a spot in my tank with even lower flow than it's getting currently. It's hard though, my tank has pretty decent flow through out. I'm sure I can find somewhere for it though.
 

Munch

Reef Shark
M.A.S.C Club Member
#5
I had similar issues with my tank, under Kessil a350s as well...
 

Shaunv

Sting ray
M.A.S.C Club Member
#6
About 5 days ago I moved it over to an area of my tank that doesn't get hit much by my Kessil but still gets good T5 light.
 

MuralReef

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#7
I think it might be LEDs. I remember one of the vendors that always has rics said their colors pop more under led but they grow better under MH or fluorescents.
 

SilverSurfer

Butterfly Fish
M.A.S.C Club Member
#9
mine are doing fine under led, they are somewhat under a shelf and light flow I see the lowest one on the rich move a tiny bit with the wave.
 

lkoechle

Cleaner Shrimp
#10
Aside from what others said about flow and lighting, I fed mine and they exploded in growth. I would feed them the bigger chunks in rods. Crazy to watch them eat too.
 

fc_reefer

Cleaner Shrimp
#11
If you haven't, check your iodine/iodide levels. I had some problems with softies due to those low levels. Softies and inverts use that up. After I corrected my iodide levels my shrimp started molting more and my zoas stopped shriveling. Other softies thrived as well.
 
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