Help!! Corals STNing

[nemeth27]

Hey everyone, i hope someone can help me out as I about to throw in the towel after many years.

My tank had been slowly getting better. Over the last year. I.e. Hair algae had been slowly going away. I was making sure to do nothing quickly.

But over the last three weeks slowly all the coral tips are loosing their flesh and then progresses to the rest of the coral, really slowly. It even starts to recede from the base eventually. At first I thought it was too high Alk, but I've been in the 6.5 to 7.5 range.

Next I thought many the NO3 and PO4 were too low so I've been adding dosing nitrate. My tests for NO3 have been between 0-0.5. But I have Algae, so it probably getting soaked up. Same for PO4 it's 0.0 too.

Then I thought the temp may had been peaking to high at 82.7, so I got a fan by the sump and now I stay between 78.5-80.5.

Last thing I tried was putting a new ground probe in as I was getting 3.5 volts on a volt meter. But the corals keep STNing.

Below are my parameters

Temp 79
pH 8.0 - 8.1
CA 450
ALK 6.5 -7
MAG 1475-1500
NO3 0-0.5
PO4 0, but I have Algae growing in tank.

Pics are below. Any help is great appreciated.

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[Reef Junkie]

Do you run Ozone?


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[CButkos]

A full dKH is a pretty big range, I've been having the same tissue necrosis problem and I think I've narrowed it down to alk swings. How do you dose? Two part? Ca Reactor?

I've been manually dosing two part once per day and I believe the drop over the course of the day and rapid increase is the culprit.

I just started dosing in the morning rather than at night which seems to have stopped/slowed the necrosis a bit, but I think my solution will be a dosing pump.

I hope this helps. Don't give up.

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[Usernam Invalid]

When Acros are showing signs of STN from the tips down mostly caused by Alkinty swings and high AlK burn.
I would test Alk with a different kit if possible to verify your readings.

 

[nemeth27]

Help!! Corals STNing

Thanks everyone. I'll shut off my doser and get a different test kit.


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[nemeth27]

Help!! Corals STNing

So I tested Alk using to test kits this morning. One being a bit old though. Both gave me 112 ppm, which is about 6.25 dKH.

That's low. So my question is can low Alk cause the flesh to come off tips and bases to start to recede? Some corals lost some tissue one sides that are shaded.

Also, what do burnt tip look like? When I look at the exposed skeleton the tips look perfect, not damaged.


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[CButkos]

I think stable low alk is less likely to cause the flesh to come off than varying between low and high. You may just have to increase your dosing and measure alk every day for a week or so to find your new alk demand.

That being said 6.5 is pretty low I would increase it over the next 2-3 days

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[Usernam Invalid]

If your losing flesh from more than just the tips have something else going on besides alk burn.

Combination of alk swings, temp swing and low nutrients is a recipe for disaster for Acros.

First thing need to check is salinity with a calibrated refractometer. It sounds simple but it easily gets forgot with many of us that have been around for a long time.

Reliable and non expired test kits will help a ton.

You say have algae issue but no nutrients in the water. What type of algea is it that's growing. Defiantly need to get nutrients in the water for any long term health of acros. Can be easily done by increasing clean up crew for the algea and increased feeding of the fish. Could start amino or KNo3 dosing.

What has been water change schedule? Any GFO?

 

[nemeth27]

Most of the algae is green hair, but some red too.
I've been changing about 6% every 1-2 weeks.
I stopped GFO about a month ago when Algae was almost gone and I started to see bases on corals not growing anymore. I was getting 0 on Hanna pocket checker.
I was running Matrix in sump up till a week ago as I thought that my nitrate and phosphates were getting too low and maybe that was the reason of tissue receding.

Algae has somewhat returned as I was dosing KNo3 to get nitrates up. I use Siefert to test. I've been getting mostly zero, but I've seen 0.5 once or twice.


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[nemeth27]

Most of the algae is green hair, but some red too.
I've been changing about 6% every 1-2 weeks.

I stopped GFO about a month ago when Algae was almost gone and I started to see bases on corals not growing anymore. I was getting 0 on Hanna pocket checker.

I was running Matrix in sump up till a week ago as I thought that my nitrate and phosphates were getting too low and maybe that was the reason of tissue receding.

Algae has somewhat returned as I was dosing KNo3 to get nitrates up. I use Siefert to test. I've been getting mostly zero, but I've seen 0.5 once or twice.


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[Usernam Invalid]

Get some hermits or bristle tooth tang in there to help with the green hair algea.
Have you checked salinity?

 

[nemeth27]

Help!! Corals STNing

I checked it this morning. 35(1.026). I also calibrated it first too.

I picked up some astrea snails and two tuxedo urchins. I'm going order hermits online.
I also put my gfo back on line, but have 1/4 cup in there only. I noticed last night that several corals really browned out, which would mean phosphates are high. Guess I was so focused on the burn tips.
I still get zeros for PO4, but it's probably bound to the algae.

Thanks for your help. I hate feeing helpless watching all the hard work going to waste as corals die right in front of me. Hope I can save a few of them.


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[nemeth27]

Help!! Corals STNing

I haven't updated this in awhile, but things are unfortunately the same.
Sal: 34
Ph:8.09
Nitrates: 8
Phosphates:0 (but phosphorus test shows 9ppb)
Cal: 425
ALK: 7.8
Mag: 1430

So my numbers look good, but I'm still getting the tips slowly melting/burning and the bases receding.

I checked my pumps and only found one of my MP40Q had a little rust so i tool it out. But I wouldn't think that would have a significant effect on tungsten levels yet.
I ordered a Triton test. Maybe that will shows something. I hope I find something soon or I'll Have no acros left. [emoji17]

Anyone have any ideas?

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[Vinny Kreyling]

Matt, is the ALK steady or does it swing a little? It's "slightly" low.

 

[nemeth27]

Help!! Corals STNing

I haven't been dosing to bring Alk down(as it was 9 and worrying that I was burning tips). But I'm definitely not ULNS, so that shouldnt be happening. I think about two months or so ago ALK did drop pretty low. So it swung then.

Happy Fathers Day!


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[Vinny Kreyling]

ALK swings will do it, 9 is not too high, NSW is around 8, I would split the difference.

 

[Usernam Invalid]

Hey matt
Sorry to hear still having issues. I'd be interested to see what triton comes up with.
I wouldn't be surprised to see elevated tungsten and other bad metals from the MP seems to be a lot of these failing lately subsequently being found in tanks having issues with stn/rtn base up. I'm sure this isn't the only issue going on but defiantly isn't helping.

The alk swings most likely is what's been causing tip damage.

When was last time RO unit has been serviced? New membrane and DI?

To get everything back on track I would replace RO membrane, filters and membrane first. If haven't already done so recently less than 6 months.
Start running good amount of carbon changed every 2 weeks.
Water changes 10-20% twice a week.

Sadly many of the damaged acros might not pull threw even after doing all this. Once they are stressed and damage has been done very rarely will they pull threw even if the system is healthy again. Can try and cut some pieces off and hope they survive.

I hope everything turns around for you. If you need anything or have any questions shoot me a txt.

Jay

 

[Editour2]

What type of lighting are you running? Sometimes LED lighting with high intensity or positioned too close to the water level or using low optics (90 degrees or less) can cause burning tips...

 

[nemeth27]

I'm running a 8 bulb ATI sun power.


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[Editour2]

I am also experiencing some tip burning on select corals and can't pinpoint the exact cause. The perplexing part is why some corals exhibit this issue while others do not. My red planet, another unknown acro (I think Blueberry Acro), and a 3rd unknown coral are showing signs of burning tips. These 3 corals are up high in my tank....but I have other corals at the same height which are thriving. Alkalinity is stable, temp is stable....I have to measure my P04 and N03 again. I moved my LED/T5 lighting up about 2 inches and lowered the intensity on my white LEDs (25% from 35%) but not sure if that made an impact. I do not have any of these issues with frags in my frag tank....which is also lit by LED (albeit a different manufacturer). I would think that if there were an issue with alkalinity or phosphates/nitrates that the issue would be prevalent in both the DT and the frag tank, (1 System). I was thinking also that the issue could be related to proximity to flow. I thought that maybe corals placed too close could be effected however my red planet is not as close to the powerhead as other corals which do not have this issue. It might just be a combination and maybe just these specific corals....who knows........Such a wonderful hobby......