Monti Caps....

[DallasSVT]

Hello,

I have a couple of different Monti Caps. One is a purple rim green one that is starting to loose flesh on the outer rim. The other one is an orange Monti cap that is starting to loose flesh on the inside portion. I also have a purple one that is doing great.

I cant figure out what is causing the other two to go crazy! Im not sure if it is RTN or what. All parameters have been very constant and are below. I have 2 MP 40es in a 90 Gal.

I also run a fuge with a cheto ball and some Calpera.

S.G. 35ppm 1.026
CA 450
DKh 12
P04 0.00 Hanna
Trates 12.5
pH 8.2
Temp 81.5


Thanks

Dallas

 

[SPSEMPIRE]

Your phosphates are way too low. Are you running GFO? Montis will get bleached before acros will in most cases.

 

[DallasSVT]

Your phosphates are way too low. Are you running GFO? Montis will get bleached before acros will in most cases.

I am running GFO. It doesn't look like they are bleaching, more like they are loosing their flesh!

Dallas

 

[Gilby]

Your nitrates may be a bit high. You may want to get them down to around 5. Also your may want to lower your ALK, 12 is acceptable but still on the high side IMO. I keep my ALK around 7-8 and never let it get above 9.

 

[DallasSVT]

Your nitrates may be a bit high. You may want to get them down to around 5. Also your may want to lower your ALK, 12 is acceptable but still on the high side IMO. I keep my ALK around 7-8 and never let it get above 9.

With Alk that low what do you keep your CA at?

The LFS guy told me that Calpera can have negative effects on Monti's..... could this be it?

Dallas

 

[Gilby]

With Alk that low what do you keep your CA at?

The LFS guy told me that Calpera can have negative effects on Monti's..... could this be it?

Dallas

i keep my CA at 450-460. I have caulerpa in my fuge, never seen any negative effects.

 

[deezmarine]

my alk got to a 12 and my cap started to do that in the middle so i got it down to a 9 and it is starting to get better and color back up

 

[DallasSVT]

I am going to try lowering my Alk to around 9! See if that helps!


Thanks,

Dallas

 

[JMa4290]

losing flesh? or just bleaching out?

check for monti eating nudis!!!!

 

[DallasSVT]

losing flesh? or just bleaching out?

check for monti eating nudis!!!!

It looks like to me that it is loosing flesh. I have looked fro nudis, but cant seem to find any. What do they look like and how big would they be??

Both pieces were dipped in Revive prior to being introduced to the tank. And have been thriving until very recently.


Thanks,

Dallas

 

[JMa4290]

It looks like to me that it is loosing flesh. I have looked fro nudis, but cant seem to find any. What do they look like and how big would they be??

Both pieces were dipped in Revive prior to being introduced to the tank. And have been thriving until very recently.


Thanks,

Dallas

They r typically white n veryyyy small.. about the size of a grain of rice... look closely cuz they tend to blend in with the damaged portion of the monti... they also tend to hide on the underside... thats where they lay their eggs n once they hatch they eat eat n EAT..

 

[DallasSVT]

They r typically white n veryyyy small.. about the size of a grain of rice... look closely cuz they tend to blend in with the damaged portion of the monti... they also tend to hide on the underside... thats where they lay their eggs n once they hatch they eat eat n EAT..

Thanks! I am going to take a closer look. I cant get a good photo to upload here... Does anyone have a picture of one ?

or a picture of a Monti that has been eaten by a nudi so I can compare?


What is the best way to get rid of these guys? I have a bunch or Wrasses in there if that will help!


Dallas

 

[ritter6788]

My money is on the alk. What test are you using to measure? I had the same thing happen to 2 of my monti caps when my alk got up around 12-13. I switched bulbs and wasn't getting as much growth and I was dosing the same amount of baking soda. By the time I tested my alk was too high. I don't know if you can tell from my pic here but the orange cap on the left looks like what you describe and the green cap on the right looks the same. The small purple cap frag on the far right wasn't affected at all.

 

[JMa4290]

hey ritter i noticed that u have the illuminarium evolution LED's how r they holding up for u? im interested in buying two of those guys for my system

 

[ritter6788]

hey ritter i noticed that u have the illuminarium evolution LED's how r they holding up for u? im interested in buying two of those guys for my system

I've only had them 2 weeks. Color has improved and growth has taken off in just a matter of days after switching to these lights. I had some stubborn sps that weren't growing much and since the change I can see new growth on them already. I had 150w halides before which grew most sps just fine but these lights blow them away.

 

[DallasSVT]

My money is on the alk. What test are you using to measure? I had the same thing happen to 2 of my monti caps when my alk got up around 12-13. I switched bulbs and wasn't getting as much growth and I was dosing the same amount of baking soda. By the time I tested my alk was too high. I don't know if you can tell from my pic here but the orange cap on the left looks like what you describe and the green cap on the right looks the same. The small purple cap frag on the far right wasn't affected at all.

Thanks! I have brought ALK down to 9.5 (Salifert) and hopefully the caps will come back!

 

[JMa4290]

I've only had them 2 weeks. Color has improved and growth has taken off in just a matter of days after switching to these lights. I had some stubborn sps that weren't growing much and since the change I can see new growth on them already. I had 150w halides before which grew most sps just fine but these lights blow them away.

oooooo i was really interested in them n theyre not badly priced either!! i think i just might get them =)