Acro Help for Newb Please !!

[matt210G]

Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 15

acro help.... pls
I recently decided to try a few sps in my lps dominated mixed reef. Tank perameters as follows. 2 yr old 75 g, 30g sump, 20g refugium. I lighting is 2 x 250w 20k radiums and 2 x 96w cf 50/50. CF run 10 hrs, mh 8 hrs. Flow is provided by 4 koralia 4s that are on a controller that creates a random flow. I Run a Uv, gfo and carbon in tlf reactors. Dose 2 part bionic 2 x weekly.
Chemistry
Sal - 1.026, temp 75.5-78, Nat, nit, am, phos all read 0/undetectable. Ca 480, alk 9, PH 8.2

Frags placed in QT for observation and after 5 days noticed that 1 green acro has developed white areas. All seamed well yesterday and two other frags (plating acro and digi) doing fine. Being a newb to SPS I am not sure where to begin.
Inspected with mag glass and do not see any aefw. Qt tank uses 2 x 54w T5 mounted about 6" above water. Rack keeps SPS right below water line

I have done a coral rx dip and placed frag in dt at mid level. I am hoping that stable perameter in dt will be my allie.
Feeding phyto, cyclopeeze.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks in advance

 

[Met3112]

Well, the first thing that comes up in my mind is the 2 part dosing. Acros need VERY stable water conditions, especially Alkalinity. Dosing 2 part only two times a week is probably sending your alk on a rollercoaster ride. It's at 9 dkh now but is it always there?

 

[matt210G]

I will keep a close eye on it. Thanks for the suggestion. How frequently do you recommend testing ? Also I am currently using the API test kits as It is what I have. It measures Alk in whole numbers only (1 drop = 1dkh) I question the accuracy however I am not really in a position to make a big investment into another method at this point. Can I assume that at the vey least, these kits will provide stable "inaccurate" results ?

 

[karsseboom]

IMO alk the the most important thing to watch on an sps tank.

 

[ingtar_shinowa]

+1 I pretty much abuse all my sps but the only time i suffered tissue loss is the two times i've had alk swings!

 

[divewsharks]

Since you are just starting out with SPS, you should be testing daily. If 9 is the number you are with, it should be 9 every time you test.

 

[matt210G]

Thanks for your help...I think you folks are correct. I was dosing 2 x per week doing Alk day 1 and Calc day 2 and repeating this 2 times per week ( as instructed by LFS). Testing daily has shown that my Alk does indeed drop to between dosings....After visiting another LFS on the weekend, they suggested that I dose both Alk and Calc on the same day (30 mins between) testing every day at the same time IE Dose more frequently with less supplement until stability is reached.

 

[divewsharks]

I might have missed it above, but do you test your Mag as well? The stability of the ALK/CA will also help your LPS too.
As you continue down this path you will very likely find yourself dosing quite often. My controller doses my tank every 2hrs 24/7.

 

[matt210G]

I now have two small colony that are experiencing tissue loss. Arrrgh. Do I allow them to recover/ die or try and frag what is remaining. How do I know when the specimen is beyond recovery.? As an aside, I have very little coraline growth .... I am sure this is related. Live rock is quite purple but have never had to scrape the glass in 3 years..power heads and the like have some coraline growth but nearly as much as other tanks that are as old as mine. Yet calc and alk readings seam within normal range. I guess I will stabilize and take it from there. No more SPS until I get this figured out.

 

[matt210G]

I have been testing everyday, once in the am and once in the evening. Measurements are stable at alk 9 and Cal at 480. Every test shows same results ( I had one that was 8 but I think that was user error hence my previous post). I think the green slimer is done for. 4 of the 8 branches appear to have no tissue left. This evening I noticed a very small crab 1/8" in the base that I did not notice before. Lfs Said to leave acro crabs but is it possible a crab could kill the coral in 1 Week? I cannot find a mag test kit, but will test as soon as I get one. Any other suggestions.?.....

 

[RynosReef]

The corals are still in the QT? And the parameters you mentioned in the original post are for the QT or display? I agree that it's likely alk swings. If you're maintaining you alk now consistently at 9 now that's great. I test alk everyday. Sometimes even after I dose just to double check that it rose the amount I intended. Alk stability is very important for sps. If you've stabilized your alk (don't be afraid to over test alk if your using a two part, it's worth a $20 test kit to keep some critters alive!) really find out what your mag is asap. Have them test it at the LFS if possible, if you have to wait a week for an online delivery. Mag is a buffer for alk and calcium. It helps keep the other two in check at supersaturated levels. If your mag (the unknown as of now) is off, ca and alk will keep dropping and you'll have to keep dosing a lot to maintain them, causing swings and die off.

A silly analogy i heard to make it fun to understand: A bar full of guys= no fun. Everyone wants to leave. Add the right amount of girls... = a good time. Mag is the girls. Without it at the proper levels your Ca and Alk will drop off quick.

Also how do you maintain salinity? through an ato? and how do you test phosphates?

 

[divewsharks]

I now have two small colony that are experiencing tissue loss. Arrrgh. Do I allow them to recover/ die or try and frag what is remaining. How do I know when the specimen is beyond recovery.? As an aside, I have very little coraline growth .... I am sure this is related. Live rock is quite purple but have never had to scrape the glass in 3 years..power heads and the like have some coraline growth but nearly as much as other tanks that are as old as mine. Yet calc and alk readings seam within normal range. I guess I will stabilize and take it from there. No more SPS until I get this figured out.

If the tissue is still receding, then you need to frag and save what you can.

 

[matt210G]

Thanks to everyone for your help !!
I fragged the green slimer last night and got 2 good frags from it. I removed the crab as it was hairy and other posts were so so on the acro safety of the lil guy. When in doubt ..get it out !
I have ordered the Mag test kit...so hopefully I can get a few more "girls at the bar" ... still not entirley sure...do I wear the stuff ? And what about my wife ???