About two weeks ago we ordered 6 beautiful new Acro Colonies from Dr. Foster Smith. All arrived great, acclimated them as per usual, even cut back the lights a bit for several days. They have been doing great. We even fragged off a few small branches to start new colonies.
Yesterday we received another shippment of 4 Colonies that were delayed for a day due to weather. When they arrive the water tempater was 50 degrees in all 4 and all 4 did not look well. Even though they all looked like gonners, I floated them and acclimated them as per usual just to give them a fair shot. Once aclimated I emptied their water and rinsed them in the bag once more with tank water to prevent adding any thing to the primary tank. I was very carefull to make sure none of the "dirty water" made it into the tank. Over night all 4 bleached out.
This evening I noticed several of my original shippment has started to have small bleach spots on the tips and one has had a small lower branch bleach out (it was facing the back so it was not notieced until today). This is the first time I have ordered Acros. Is it normal to have a few branches not make it? Will the rest of the colony survive? Could this have been caused by improper handing on my part ie, touching colony while trying to get it into place or fraging of a piece? Could the dying of the 4 new colonies caused a reaction for the first set?
Tank is our 300 gallon, water quality is still about perfect, no nitrites or nitrates. PH is fine. Lighting is 1800 watts of combined MH and VHO. Normal Cycle is VHOs on for 13 hours MH for 8. We are not using any carbon. Other LFS bought Acros, frags and other SPS, are doing great.
Any help or pointers to the correct thread would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Clint
Yesterday we received another shippment of 4 Colonies that were delayed for a day due to weather. When they arrive the water tempater was 50 degrees in all 4 and all 4 did not look well. Even though they all looked like gonners, I floated them and acclimated them as per usual just to give them a fair shot. Once aclimated I emptied their water and rinsed them in the bag once more with tank water to prevent adding any thing to the primary tank. I was very carefull to make sure none of the "dirty water" made it into the tank. Over night all 4 bleached out.
This evening I noticed several of my original shippment has started to have small bleach spots on the tips and one has had a small lower branch bleach out (it was facing the back so it was not notieced until today). This is the first time I have ordered Acros. Is it normal to have a few branches not make it? Will the rest of the colony survive? Could this have been caused by improper handing on my part ie, touching colony while trying to get it into place or fraging of a piece? Could the dying of the 4 new colonies caused a reaction for the first set?
Tank is our 300 gallon, water quality is still about perfect, no nitrites or nitrates. PH is fine. Lighting is 1800 watts of combined MH and VHO. Normal Cycle is VHOs on for 13 hours MH for 8. We are not using any carbon. Other LFS bought Acros, frags and other SPS, are doing great.
Any help or pointers to the correct thread would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Clint
