Blueberry Shortcake Acropora - Dying?
- Thread starter Chitownpw
- Start date
SPS Galore
New member
It seems like it is getting stressed. Maybe phosphates
Chitownpw
New member
my phosphates are at 0/negligible. my salinity did dip (from 31.4 to 30.1) but that occurred yesterday and it has been brown longer.
it isn't directly under my radions (a little shade) but in a strong flow area.
Chitownpw
New member
i've generally tried to keep my salinity in the 1.024-25 specific gravity range; however, that is a little misleading b/c salinity and specific gravity are not hand and hand - you have to take into account temp, etc.
Anyways - my salinity was up in that range until yesterday and i'm correcting today. with that said, the coloration issue existed before that.
Anyways - my salinity was up in that range until yesterday and i'm correcting today. with that said, the coloration issue existed before that.
Dapg8gt
New member
Low salinity can and will cause a myriad of issues,being at your levels will be detrimental to probably most of your sps.
It really can be a bunch of things with a new coral acquisition. Could have been on its way out already, it's not unusual for some new frags to lose tissue, it's just the name of the game sometimes. And fwiw having phosphate @0 is not a good thing.
It really can be a bunch of things with a new coral acquisition. Could have been on its way out already, it's not unusual for some new frags to lose tissue, it's just the name of the game sometimes. And fwiw having phosphate @0 is not a good thing.
Chitownpw
New member
Thanks for your thoughts. I understand having some level of phosphates is essential for growth. When I say 0/negligible i mean lower than 5 ppm. i did a larger water change yesterday.
If you looked at my tank, my other LPSs and SPSs are extending and don't look stressed...
Dapg8gt
New member
I'd say it was just a stressed frag if that is the case. It happens to me from unknown reasons also, some frags are healthier than others and also I've noticed it was more prevalent when I used to use dips before I started Bayer. Imo a coral in a stressed state once dipped can go downhill pretty fast.
Chrisjbarry
New member
Maybe redbugs
Peter Eichler
New member
It you want help, rather than people just taking random shots in the dark, it would be best to see some pics as well as a full rundown of parameters and details of your tank. Also, details on this coral and where it came from and if it's maricultured, wild, a frag from a hobbyist and what it looked like when it arrived. How do your other corals look? How long has your tank been set-up?
The phosphate comment about them being under 5 ppm is a little troubling as well, and makes me wonder how you're testing your various parameters, so a little details there would help us help you.
The phosphate comment about them being under 5 ppm is a little troubling as well, and makes me wonder how you're testing your various parameters, so a little details there would help us help you.
Chitownpw
New member
It's not letting post pics right now. Parameters are determined through API test kits or my Apex controller, with the exception of specific gravity - refractometer - salinity is through a probe. Tank has been up since July - so still immature. To my knowledge, my purple tip frog is the only wild coral - everything else is from LFSs or tidalgardens. The blueberry was from tidalgardens. I'll try and get pics up soon.
basser1
New member
I agree with what someone said about it being stressed. Corals do that.
For example I have a strawberry shortcake acro and they are notorious for losing color due to stress by shipping. They eventually will re-gain color although it may take a while.
BTW, I thought it looked pretty good as well as your other corals.
For example I have a strawberry shortcake acro and they are notorious for losing color due to stress by shipping. They eventually will re-gain color although it may take a while.
BTW, I thought it looked pretty good as well as your other corals.
Dapg8gt
New member
I'd say from the pics the tank is relatively young by all the coral basically being frags so it's really a crap shoot honestly. You gotta get another means to test P04/and alk at a minimum.. API does not have the ability to sustain a SPS tank's levels accurately. Especially the p04 end of it.
But I'll stick to my original comment saying that when it comes to new frags you never really know some may just let go for no reason. If you have issues in the tank is one thing but if you don't and they still shed the tissue it's basically unavoidable Ime with those certain frags. You can attempt to save them but there is those few that no matter what go south. I've had it happen a few times although it's definitely not a normal thing.
I wouldn't focus on that single frag to much, it's gonna happen just make sure your tank is running at its best. Make sure problems aren't arising with your other acros/sps and get some better test kits to see what your levels actually are. Swings are detrimental to sps and not to be taken lightly at any cost.
But I'll stick to my original comment saying that when it comes to new frags you never really know some may just let go for no reason. If you have issues in the tank is one thing but if you don't and they still shed the tissue it's basically unavoidable Ime with those certain frags. You can attempt to save them but there is those few that no matter what go south. I've had it happen a few times although it's definitely not a normal thing.
I wouldn't focus on that single frag to much, it's gonna happen just make sure your tank is running at its best. Make sure problems aren't arising with your other acros/sps and get some better test kits to see what your levels actually are. Swings are detrimental to sps and not to be taken lightly at any cost.
Peter Eichler
New member
The first part is nonsense. I haven't owned anything other than API for KH for years, and even when I did I still used the API kit instead of my Salifert. It's easy and it's accurate and perfectly fine for our purposes. PO4, sure, API is worthless, but so is every other kit on the market, Hanna meters about the only worthwhile thing we can use to test. I also only use API for calcium, and recommend it to others...
Piper27
I love bengals
I thought api kits only read single digit numbers like 5 6 7 or 8 and the colors make it hard to tell a value of say 7.3. And if its only reading single numbers if its off slightly then your reading is even worse. That's why I never used them. Sure you can use them to tell if your value is stable though. Or maybe they have changed the kit since I had one many years ago.
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