Flow causing Acro tips to bleach?

[Ralph ATL]

I have a 55 gallon tank, and I have 3 powerheads: Tunze 6060, Seio 820, Seio 620.

My acro tips are bleaching.

I currently have the Seio 620 on the left side angled (about 45 degree angle) toward the front glass. I have the Seio 820 on the right side, angled (about 30 degee) toward the rear glass, and the Tunze also on the right ride, but it is angled (also 30 degree)toward the front glass. My return has a diffuser on it and is angled down toward the front.

All of my parems are good:
Calcium: 440
Alk: 10.2 / 3.36
Salt: 1.265
Phosphate: .008
Temp: 80
trates: <25 (working on this issue now!)

Can my steady high flow be causing my Acro tips to bleach? What would be a better placement plan for my heads? Is it too much flow?

 

[Ralph ATL]

anyone?

 

[Norwood IND]

Direct flow on the colony or colonies can cause your sps to lose tissue if powerhead is too close. Try moving colony or change direction of flow of powerhead.

 

[panic]

Are you sure they are not just growing? The tips can look bleached out when they grow.

 

[Ralph ATL]

positive that it is not growth!

 

[slojmn]

The higher nitrate reading is not good for sps, this could be a major factor. If your flow is not direct I'd doubt that it is the cause, sps acropora get a lot of high flow in the ocean but it is not a direct small stream. It sounds like your flow is reflected of the glass mainly so this is good. I'd look to a different culprit, get your nitrates down and check the ROWA as a possiblity, some folks get problems from that. Any pictures of the damage??

 

[mikeatjac]

I don't think that flow is too much. If one or two acros in front of a PH are having problems move them but it sounds like all of your acros have this issue.

For your infomation, when I had a 55 my flow was much greater than you have with no issues.

I would look elsewhere and make sure it is not growth.

 

[AUS]

I agree with slojmn, nitrates are way too high for SPS IMO.


All the best
Andy

 

[RichConley]

tip loss is usually alk issues, fme. Why are you keeping it so high?

 

[Ralph ATL]

Rich,
I've been told the range of Alk should be between 2.5 & 4, and if you have higher nitrates that it would be better to go with the higher side of that range. ???????????
Thanks!