Blotchy / patchy white discoloration at bases, not aefw, what is going on?

[Koralcrazy]

I've had Aefw in a previous tank and can recognize bite marks....however this is different, tissue is just white and blotchy, and smooth discoloration on bases of corals. Tissue isn't actually dead, but splotches are whitish......very weird and has me worried.

I also feel my sps tissue is weak or thin, for example I was basting these corals for aefw, none flew off, but some tissue lightened from the basting....I baste around corals all the time to clear out crap, but never noticed the sps tissue being so fragile....something is up and not sure what?

Ideas guys? Man my tank can't catch a break.

Big three
Alk 9.8
Ca 390
Mag 1060 (yes currently raising, problem seems more complex than this)

 

[Koralcrazy]

No comments? I did some searches and found only a few threads that all had dead endings.... Any ideas anyone?

 

[Koralcrazy]

Okay, here are some pictures, maybe these will generate some responses, sorry not greatest quality, a couple with flash only and lights off.

Again, just want to reiterate, this isn't aewf, hence look at the plating montipora (colored picture), and this isn't STN/RTN, although I fear it will go that way. Tissue is extremely thing, brittle, and has patchy paleness at bases....corals in general have good polyp extension, etc, but seem really fragile....any ideas?? Its like if I barely touch or baste the corals, tissue color just fades immediately....algae doesn't grow, so there isn't complete necrosis, just a state of the end is near! I fear my tank is in an extremely fragile state for some odd reason....

Here are pics

Plating montipora right here....so not AEFW, other pests? sea spiders, chronic low mag?

 

[GroktheCube]

After some research, I tied blotchy, thin tissue on my Monti mollis to high mg, and slightly high Ca relative to alk. Mine looked the worst at old growth, which I suppose would be equivalent to the base of a branching coral. Now that my Mg is getting closer to NSW levels, I can see the tissue that was thin/pale coloring up on a daily basis.

Edit:This suggests to me that abnormal Mg levels may cause tissue to thin/pale on some corals. That might be your issue.

 

[Koralcrazy]

Thanks for the input, had my mag double checked at LFS and it has been at 1320 for the last few days....anybody else? Looking for some more expert advice? Anyone experience something like this?

 

[TheReefKeeper]

Almost looks like alk burn my alk does that to my SPS if it's to high. I like to keep it around 8 after that they start to look unhappy.
Your Ca is a bit low I would have it 400min-450.
And yes your Mag. is low but 1320 would not do this IMO.

I would also Check your Salinity with more than one test. What are you checking it with now?

 

[Koralcrazy]

Okay, I'll try and boost my calcium by 30, thanks for the advice

 

[Acronic]

Pull an acro out that is affected and smell it. It will have a pungent, dirty mint/canned corn smell. For what I know about this it is three possible causes. Acro eating welks (easy to spot the welks. If there is no necrosis, it's likely not welks), internal black parasitic copepod (potentially a secondary infection due to the parasite, these can be seen under the tissue of pale corals at magnification) or AEFW.

My usual corse of action is 3 hours with peppermint shrimp and a dip in coral RX triple strength for 15 min with heavy basting (smooth skinned deep waters will die at this concentration, max 2x strength for them) followed by a day or two rest. Once rested, dip in Furan 2 for 20 mins with heavy basting.

This is just my opinion. I must say I am still considering the possibility of this being a bacterial infection, hence the Furan 2. I have never lost a coral to Furan.

 

[animalkingdom]

I've noticed similar conditions lately with my stags, torts, and deepwaters. are all your acros affected? in my case nana's, microlades, validas, millis, hyancinths, and other species are fine. its just the stags, torts, and deepwaters with the frail looking thin skin and is mostly close to the tips or base. My calcium is 410 and alk is 8.1 and its been a while since i tested mag. i guess ill test that tonight.

 

[Koralcrazy]

I've noticed similar conditions lately with my stags, torts, and deepwaters. are all your acros affected? in my case nana's, microlades, validas, millis, hyancinths, and other species are fine. its just the stags, torts, and deepwaters with the frail looking thin skin and is mostly close to the tips or base. My calcium is 410 and alk is 8.1 and its been a while since i tested mag. i guess ill test that tonight.

Yes, just my stags, torts, and deepwaters are affected...just now realized this as you mentioned that. However, my plating montipora seems to affected, as well as my superman. My valida, milies, stylophoras, etc....are fine.

I have raised my mag to 1320 from 1060, but it has only been a few days, I think I will wait things out before doing anything drastic.

I'd be interested to hear what your mag levels were...

 

[animalkingdom]

Yes, just my stags, torts, and deepwaters are affected...just now realized this as you mentioned that. However, my plating montipora seems to affected, as well as my superman. My valida, milies, stylophoras, etc....are fine.

I have raised my mag to 1320 from 1060, but it has only been a few days, I think I will wait things out before doing anything drastic.

I'd be interested to hear what your mag levels were...

ill try and test tonight...i've got a salifert and red sea pro kit...do you care which i use?
i dont really test mag too often. I just dump some in when ever I make up alk or calc.
also are you using instant ocean salt? that is what i use and its low in calc

 

[Koralcrazy]

yes, I use instant ocean salt, my mag test is red sea...I had the LFS double check using salifert and it tested a little higher...so try your redsea ....yes the shake and wait 15 seconds times 5 is annoying...

 

[animalkingdom]

ok here are my numbers as of tonight:
alk 7.7
Calc 410
Mag 1200-1240 somewhere in there Red Sea

Update on my coral... stags and torts are getting worse. thinner sicker and on one blue tort now algae is growing as skeleton is getting exposed. looks kind of like when you blast tissue off with very strong direct flow.
sick tort (notice the algae growing and pale thin skin):