Help Acropora is turning white

[pt's65reef]

i have a 65 reef tank, only been set up about 2 mnths. i added some acropora about 1 month ago. since then i has been doing fantastic but last night overnight it turned completly white. when i got home from work today a piece close to it is turning white also. everything else is doing very well tough. any help is appreciated..

 

[McCrary]

What are the parameters of the water, without more specifics on your system it is hard to tell what went wrong. But from what you are describing sounds like Rapid Tissue Necrosis (RTN). Usually the result of sudden alkalinity or temperature fluctuations.

ammonia, nitrate, pH, salinity, alkalinity, temperature.

 

[captainandy]

Join the club.
First thing to do is check all your paremeters including the easiest - temperature. SPS don't appreciate temperature swings.
There are many others with more experience than me but the few successful times I had the corals recover is by placing them in my fuge near fairly vigorous current and leave them there for at least a month or twol
The older the reef becomes, the less likely this will occur if you're compulsive about all the factors involved. IMO a two month old tank is still very very young and I'd not jump back in with acro's for awhile.

 

[pt's65reef]

temp is 79, ph is around 8.0 cannot check alk, ammonia, or nitrate. i did check them about a week ago and all were ok. i just check salinity and it was higher than usual. aroun 1.028

 

[captainandy]

As you see, several of the factors may be the precipitating factor. However, an acute change is usually the precipitating factor. You would be well advised to measure all those parameters daily for several months. Then you can just drop back on ammonia and nitrite.

What was the temp midday today? I would do a 10 percent exchange (tank water with fresh water tonight and see what the spg is tomorrow. pH is on the low side. Are you adding top off water with calc?

 

[pt's65reef]

im using ro water to top off. the salinity went up with a 10 % water change on sunday. i used the premixed water from lfs. i just in the past fifteen min. also drained about 3 gallons out and refilled with ro water. im also noticing somemore what looks like coral deteriation if thats such a thing. my red favia has some not so good looking spots on the top. i hope i can stop this thing before it wipes more corals out

 

[pt's65reef]

i just read something about using two part puddy. i tried the super glue gel and that didn't work so lfs told me to use the puddy. 3 days after that is when the acropora died. any ideas.

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

This happens from fluctuations in water parameters. Not only did the salinity change too fast with the last water change, but you also most likely sent alk all over the place as well, which SPS do not tolerate.

Stability and consistency is key. I would not do any more water changes. There is not necessarily something wrong with your water which you must change, changing more water just makes the values fluctuate even more. Sit back, let whatever is going to happen happen, and be more diligent in the future.