ducklabdad
New member
Well I know that at times I can be really hardheaded.
sometimes to the point of ridiculous. But this was news that really gave me a "shock" but also explained to me a reason for one of my recent failures.
I feel that I must pass this on to anyone who raised corals, especially this time of year. Here is the web address for the article that I found"along with many others" about the effects of sunscreen on coral reefs.
If you have not already "read this"
http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2008/05/23/coral-reefs-sunscreen.html
Anytime that i fail at something I want to know why and research and research to try and find what I did wrong ( I have spent a lot of time doing this type of research)
My # 1 failure since I started my reef was the first coral of any type that I lost. A birdnest frag that I really liked.
I blamed it on many things, a large emerald crab that seemed to enjoy breaking it loose fom its position, my water chemistry, light etc... even though everything else was fine.
But that article told me that the most likely culprit was sunscreen!!! The first bleached out spot looked much like a thumbprint, and spread from there. Why do I blame that on sunscreen you might ask? I have very,very dry skin and at MD suggestion use "Chapstick on my fingers". Just Dave warned me about that and I am carefull to wear gloves when my hand is on the corals. But I specifically remember the morning, as I was leaving for work, I saw where the crab had broke my precious birdnest lose, and I "quickly stuck my hand (that I had just applied the chapstick to) in and repositioned the plug back in its place.
I could be wrong but I "bet" that is what killed my birdsnest.
I hope someone else can learn from this and keep that sunscreen away from your tanks, and our coral reefs!!! sorry to be so long winded!! and thanks Just Dave I know you do not have to say it, "I should have listened"
sometimes to the point of ridiculous. But this was news that really gave me a "shock" but also explained to me a reason for one of my recent failures.
I feel that I must pass this on to anyone who raised corals, especially this time of year. Here is the web address for the article that I found"along with many others" about the effects of sunscreen on coral reefs.
If you have not already "read this"
http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2008/05/23/coral-reefs-sunscreen.html
Anytime that i fail at something I want to know why and research and research to try and find what I did wrong ( I have spent a lot of time doing this type of research)
My # 1 failure since I started my reef was the first coral of any type that I lost. A birdnest frag that I really liked.
I blamed it on many things, a large emerald crab that seemed to enjoy breaking it loose fom its position, my water chemistry, light etc... even though everything else was fine.
But that article told me that the most likely culprit was sunscreen!!! The first bleached out spot looked much like a thumbprint, and spread from there. Why do I blame that on sunscreen you might ask? I have very,very dry skin and at MD suggestion use "Chapstick on my fingers". Just Dave warned me about that and I am carefull to wear gloves when my hand is on the corals. But I specifically remember the morning, as I was leaving for work, I saw where the crab had broke my precious birdnest lose, and I "quickly stuck my hand (that I had just applied the chapstick to) in and repositioned the plug back in its place.
I could be wrong but I "bet" that is what killed my birdsnest.
I hope someone else can learn from this and keep that sunscreen away from your tanks, and our coral reefs!!! sorry to be so long winded!! and thanks Just Dave I know you do not have to say it, "I should have listened"
