Green tentacle plate and Orange Plate

[AJinNY]

For those who read on another thread, I had a problem with my long tentacle green plate.

Well I also had an orange plate coral. Within a couple of days the plate turned white. i took my water to get tested and EVERYTHING was fine.

The ONLY problem I have with my tank is the temperature. The temp is like 83 degrees. The guy at the lfs told me that could be lethal to corals. Is THIS what killed my plates?

Im going to pull off part of my glass top and replace with a crate of some sort to allow the heat to escape from the tank. Its so warm that my heater has never been on.

Any other ideas on how to cool down the water?

As usual, thanks for the input. I love this site.

AJ

[Curtswearing]

That is pretty warm for a plate. Different corals liive in different areas of the "reef complex". Some corals live near the top of the water and need lots of flow and very bright lighting and can handle 83 degrees. Other corals, like plates, don't actually live on the reef proper. They live deep in the sandy subzone of the lagoon where it gets more food from the water, less light, and cooler temperatures.

A lot of people wire computer fans into custom hoods and blow over the top of the water to cool it down.

BTW....if it hasn't lost it's tissue yet, twice-daily feedings of meaty seafood might help you. It might have just expelled it's zoox so it is going to be almost 100% dependent on outside food sources. However, if it is sliming or melting in any way, you will want to put it in it's own tank so it doesn't foul the water in your main tank while it's recovering.

Here's a great link on coral reef zonation.

Zonation is a very important concept when considering any ecosystem, with coral reefs being no exception. A particular ecosystem will typically be divided into zones, each one having a particular set of physical parameters, such as light intensity, that set it aside from any other part of the ecosystem. A zone is defined by its physical parameters and location within the ecosystem. Within a particular zone, various organisms will have evolved such that they are adapted to thrive under those specific conditions that are present within that zone. It can undoubtedly live somewhere else, in a similar zone or sometimes even one vastly different, but there is always one in which it will be perfectly suited and as a result out-compete any other organisms that occupies that niche in the food web.

[AJinNY]

Thanks, Curt.

I can pull off the front hinge on the glass cover on my bowfront, but what can I put on top in its place that would fit? I dont want to find my fish laying on the floor.

[Curtswearing]

Go to Home Depot, Lowes, or any hardware store that sells eggcrate. It's a grid of plastic that people put in drop ceilings under flourescent lights. It can be cut to fit.

[mps9506]

Just use the eggcrate under your lights. That glass not only cuts down on light reaching the corals but also limits gas exchange at the water surface. In addition it prevents evaporative cooling as you have probably learned. The glass isn't doing anything to help your tank, just ditch the whole peice and get some eggcrate.
Mike

[AJinNY]

ahhh - so youre saying forget about removing the one hinge....youre saying get rid of the entire glass top...put the eggcrate in its place and the lights on top....But wont it get the light fixture dirty not to mention the cap I have on my bowfront?

also I dont think the hardware store will have the eggcrate in the shape of my 46 bowfront. ;-)

I'll talk to the guy at the lfs and see what he says.

Thanks and any other suggestions are more than welcome.

[mps9506]

what kind of lights are you running?
My halides are 8.5 inches above the water line and I wipe the bulbs and reflector down with vinegar monthly. It would be an easier job if I did it weekly. But still only take about 10 minutes max.
Just cut the eggcrate to fit.
Mike

[AJinNY]

Well luckily I have a sliding glass thing-a-ma-jig that covers the bulbs on the lights, so it shouldnt be too bad.

When I do this, how long would it take for the temperature to drop?

[mps9506]

Only one way to find out

[AJinNY]

thats true. I'll try it out and report back with my results.