Coral lost tissue, should I trim?

[BlackTip]

I have this SPS that lost all of the tissue in one branch. Other than that, it looks healthy, decent color, and growing at a decent pace.

Is the common?

Should I cut the dead branch? Is there a particular technique?

Thanks,

 

[DivingTheWorld]

I would, yes. That's STN and I've found clipping off the bad tissue can sometimes save the coral. Just clip on the fleshy side. I've even had corals that STN'd down to just one branch, clipped that off and grown a new coral from it.

 

[BlackTip]

I would, yes. That's STN and I've found clipping off the bad tissue can sometimes save the coral. Just clip on the fleshy side. I've even had corals that STN'd down to just one branch, clipped that off and grown a new coral from it.

Thanks.

Any idea what causes the STN?
All of the other SPS and LPS are very health, and I have never had any issues.

 

[DivingTheWorld]

I'm not sure that anyone knows for sure, but I've read that it's a bacterial infection. Some theories are that it's caused by erratic fluctuations of Alk, or Alk too high, to low, etc. Rapid changes in tank chemistry, nutrients, temp, pH, etc. might cause it.

I had it periodically when my tank was new which is why I recommend people wait till their tank is a minimum of 1 year old before they try acros. Since about the one year mark, I haven't had any issues with it.

 

[BlackTip]

I'm not sure that anyone knows for sure, but I've read that it's a bacterial infection. Some theories are that it's caused by erratic fluctuations of Alk, or Alk too high, to low, etc. Rapid changes in tank chemistry, nutrients, temp, pH, etc. might cause it.

I had it periodically when my tank was new which is why I recommend people wait till their tank is a minimum of 1 year old before they try acros. Since about the one year mark, I haven't had any issues with it.

Thanks again.

Since I started using CA reactor a year ago, my tank chemistry has been rock solid. The only change I noticed for the past few months is increase in phosphate and nitrate. Slow increase from from 0 nitrate to 8, and from .03 phosphate to .06. I observed the increase over 3-4 months.

 

[DivingTheWorld]

Thanks again.

Since I started using CA reactor a year ago, my tank chemistry has been rock solid. The only change I noticed for the past few months is increase in phosphate and nitrate. Slow increase from from 0 nitrate to 8, and from .03 phosphate to .06. I observed the increase over 3-4 months.

I don't think that would be the cause. IMO your Nitrate is fine and while your phosphate is a bit high, it's not dangerously high. You might also want to look for any errant electrical currents in the tank like from a pump or heater. Do you run carbon or something that would absorb chemicals? You can try running a Polyfilter and see if it changes color. That would tell you if you have something bad in your water and help you eliminate it.