Need help, sps receding from tips

[Mikenroe]

Hi there, my tank has been up and running for a while now, over a year. I have a green either branching monti or some other coral like that. Sorry really bad with the identification. However I know it's not a acro or birdsnest. However since putting in in, it has been doing great and a few weeks in it started to have its it's I recede from the tips. The tissue has recededed about 1/2 inch down. I originally thought it was new growth but I can see that that is not the case now. I dose 1/2 to 1 tsp nightly of brightwell dry alk powder. I also dose brightwell's liquid calcium in the same ratio. I had weekly red seas coral color system according to the testing results and the recommended levels. I usually add reef roids at 1/4 tsp once a week and feed with Larry's reef frenzy 1 inch cube daily. Is this alk burn? If so should I cut of the burn tips down pass into the tissue and let re growth take over? Need help. Is this the best way to dose alk? I don't have an automatic doser where I can dose multiple times per day. I'm looking to get one though. Thank you for your help.

 

[MondoBongo]

so you're dosing regularly, but how often are you testing?

there can be lots of potential causes here, but the top that jump to the top of the list in my mind are either an incorrect alk level (either very high or very low), or high nitrates.

could also potentially be a magnesium imbalance, or a calcium imbalance. mag will drift over time as the calcium and alkalinity use it up, but it moves much slower than the other two, which can cause it to sneak up (or down as it were) on you.

so what do you test numbers look like?

 

[Mikenroe]

I test once or twice a week. My alk is usually between 8 and 9 dkh. Ca ranges between 420 and 450 and I just tested mag and it was 1335. No3 is 0. Don't have a phosphate kit so I'm not sure.

 

[MondoBongo]

Hmm. The mystery deepens. Can you get any good pics?

 

[Sk8r]

IF you can get the alk/cal/mg balanced, and put simple kalk powder in your ATO reservoir, stirring once, it will feed automatically in tiny doses until the reservoir runs out.

 

[Mikenroe]

Sk8r, how much do I add for a 5 gal jug? Plus I here that gets goody and you either have to replace the tube and or the pump? True or not.

 

[MondoBongo]

Kalk has a saturation point of 2tsp per gallon of water. Unless you lower the pH of the water, but that's another story.

Adding more than that will just leave the excess sinking to the bottom of the container.

I didn't have any issues with kalk gumming up my dosing pumps, but I didn't use it with my ato. You will want to keep the pump slightly elevated to avoid it pulling in the slurry that accumulates on the bottom of your container. A little egg crate scaffold can do wonders there.

 

[watchguy123]

Nitrates at zero is typically problematic. Need some level of nutrients for coral health. Also chloramines can be the issue as well. If you're making your own water, want to make sure your carbon and/or chloramine filters are not exhausted. And of course, keeping alk stable as possible is very important.

 

[joao junior]

You make any change in you light?

 

[joao junior]

How much percent is your UV color?

 

[Mikenroe]

I have my uv's at 45% Joao! Haven't made any changes in my lights either. Watchguy123 ill test my no3 again tomorrow and double check. However last week when I tested they were 0, however Im not putting in my no3po4 in everyday, due to no3 being at 0.

 

[Mikenroe]

Mondobondo! So for a 5 gal jug your saying I should put in 10 tsp. that's seems high and putting it in my ato frankly majestic net nervous because what would happen if my ato just kept putting in water and put in to much. I think a dosing pump would do a much better job but I don't gave the funds yet.