Need Help with SPSs from Divers Den

[cbabcock]

Basically what is happening is that I have bought about 3k worth of divers den SPSs and I am having problems. Here is the link to the thread with pictures from the sps postings. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Link to the Thread in SPS forum
Thanks,
Clint Babcock

 

[dfs/la2]

Cbabcock,

Thank you for including us in your SPS discussion. We are researching possible causes and solutions for this bleaching pattern and we will post here once we have additional information. Thank you for your patience!

Cassie Z.
Drs. Foster and Smith
LiveAquaria

 

[cbabcock]

Upadated picture

Upadated picture

Here is an updated picture:

2 days later. As you can see the spot is completely white. I have had this coral for about 5 weeks. I also wanted to mention that I lost another large Gemifferia 4 days after the 2 week gaurentee expired. Here is the order number A2546631. Both Gems from this order did not make it. Both cases the Gems started sloughing tissue and by the next day they were completly white. Like I said in the other thread, When I introduced them I cut my lights back, and slowly raised them back up with the new corals at the bottom of the tank.

All of my other sps from other sources are doing great including other online vendors, ones from my LFS, and ones that I have had for years.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[dfs/la2]

cbabcock,

Thank you for the updated picture. We apologize that you are having difficulty with the SPS corals and hopefully we will be able to help determine what is happening. We will forward this information to our Aquatics Director. To help further determine what might be happening with the corals we would ask that PM us additional information on your tank. Please answer the following questions listed below.

1. How long has the aquarium been established?
2. What size is the aquarium?
3. What type of filtration is on the aquarium?
4. What is the flow rate?
5. Are you adding supplemental foods for the corals? How often?
6. What type of other specimens are in the aquarium?
7. Do you add any other supplements other than calcium to the aquarium?


We have applied a credit on file for $59.99 for the second Acropora gemmifera. You may use this credit on a future LiveAquaria, eTropicals, or Drs. Foster and Smith supply order. We would also like to mention that our Diver’s Den collected corals are quarantined and during this time all the specimens are closely monitored. We hope that this alleviates any concerns you may have in the future when ordering. We look forward to hearing from you regarding your tank. Our Aquatics Director will be available to review your concerns and pictures on Monday and we will respond with any helpful information as soon as possible.

Gwen S
LiveAquaria
Drs. Foster and Smith

 

[cbabcock]

Thanks for he credit. You folks have always provided wonderful customer service. I just hate to see specimines like this pass away.
Here are the answers to your questions:
1. How long has the aquarium been established?
The aquarium was set up about a year ago but all live rock, fish, older corals came from a 100 gal and a 60 gallon aquaruim that had been set up for over 5 years.
2. What size is the aquarium? 300 gallons
3. What type of filtration is on the aquarium?
70 gallon sump with polyfilters, bio balls, protien skimmer, heaters, and about 30 gallons of macro algae
4. What is the flow rate?
Flow rate out of the sump is about 1100 gallons per hour, returned via four spray bars. The flow tank also has 5 large powerheads for water movement over the reef
5. Are you adding supplemental foods for the corals? How often?
Dts live Phyto about once per week
6. What type of other specimens are in the aquarium?
Some of about everything. Leathers up to 30"across, Bubble anenomes, Clams, Acros of all types, about a 30" piece of green moniporia, fish (all reef safe), the normal run of cleaners.
7. Do you add any other supplements other than calcium to the aquarium?
Lugols Iodine and Coral Vital once per week

I Hope this helps.

 

[dfs/la2]

cbabcock,

Thank you for your prompt response. We will forward your tank information along with the picture to our Aquatic Director. It sounds like you have a wonderful set up and we hope that we are able to determine what is happening with the SPS corals you recently received.

Gwen S.
LiveAquaria

 

[cbabcock]

Here are a few pictures of the tank as a whole:

Once again thanks for the help.

 

[cbabcock]

I can't belive this. It has started again. Here is another Purple Gem that I have had about 4 weeks that has started (this morning) sloughing tissue. Here are two pictures (same coral).

I am starting to go nuts worrying about this.

 

[dfs/la2]

cbabcock,

Thank you for sending the additional pictures of your tank set-up. Those are amazing specimens. We are unsure what is causing this to happen to the SPS corals and we are also very concerned. We will have our Aquatic Director review the previous information and we will post with a response on Monday.

Gwen S
LiveAquaria
Drs. Foster and Smith

 

[vijaym85]

While there is still debate on this idea, some ppl. say having large leather corals is detrimental to the health of SPS corals. Are you using chemical media (CARBON) to help bind toxins from the leathers to become inert? While not a deffinate cause that is easily tracebale, it is probably fair to say the leathers are not helping.

 

[cbabcock]

vijaym85,
No carbon right now but I have some that I can add. The leathers have lived fine with other spss (mostly montiporia for years).

 

[DFS]

Clint,
I am sorry you are having a difficult time maintaining Acropora spp. in your aquarium. From the pictures you have provided in this thread and the one on the SPS forum section, along with the details of your aquarium, I have a few suggestions that may help.

Water Chemistry:
Stable water parameters are a must when maintaining Acropora spp.. Fluctuations in Alkalinity are the most common cause for Acropora spp. to STN, or loose tissue at the base of the coral. It is very important to monitor and test Alkalinity several times per week so that you can maintain a consistent level of around 8-10dKH. This can be achieved with the use of a calcium reactor or dosing pumps with a 2 part balanced solution of Buffer and Calcium. Magnesium level should be checked frequently to achieve a level of 1250-1350ppm, along with monitoring the Calcium level to achieve 400-450ppm. Zero Nitrates and Phosphate levels of 0.02-0.03 are ideal when maintaining Acropora spp.

Water Flow:
In such large aquarium proper water flow is a must when maintaining Acropora spp. Wild colonies are not too forgiving and will STN at the base when maintained in aquariums with low water flow. From your photographs, the water flow in your aquarium looks to be insufficient to try and successfully maintain these corals. The aquascape of the aquarium makes it very challenging to provide sufficient water flow as the Acropora spp. are in the middle of the aquarium surrounded by a large Montipora capricornis in the left, and a giant Sarcophyton on the right hand side of the tank. It will take some creative placement of power heads to achieve the proper water flow for these corals. If I could suggest building an open loop system with a large dedicated external pump, or you may consider the use of multiple high velocity water movement devices such as the VorTech Propeller Pump . To give you an example of how much flow wild Acropora colonies require, I have a 4 foot by 2 foot 120 gallon aquarium in my office that is a dedicated Acropora spp. tank and use 3 VorTech pumps (3000 gph each) in that aquarium with fantastic results. The aquarium has over 10,000 gallons of water flow on a 120-gallon aquarium when the return pump is included.

Toxicity:
The use of a high-grade carbon is highly recommended when maintaining SPS corals with soft corals such as Sarcophyton spp, and Sinularia spp. Soft corals release toxins that inhibit the growth of SPS corals. The use of carbon will help to reduce this stressor on the wild Acropora colonies.

Lighting:
Unfortunately we did not ask you what lighting you are using on the aquarium, but from your pictures it looks like you use both Metal Halides and some VHO’s perhaps with the reflection on the top of the aquarium. Acropora spp. require very intense lighting as most of these Fiji Acropora colonies are harvested in pretty shallow water at a depth of 10-30 feet.

On a side note Montipora, Seriatopora, and Pocillopora seem to be a little more forgiving on the above-mentioned criteria and are much easier to maintain, which may be the reason that these corals seem to fare better than Acropora spp.

I hope that this information helps, and please feel free to keep us posted on the progression of your aquarium. Thank you for your patience.

Happy Reefing!
Kevin Kohen
Director of LiveAquaria
Drs. Foster and Smith