Please help please?

[Njhc]

I have a new addition about 2 weeks old a large foot by a foot pink pocilapora mother colony, it started bleaching yesterday for no reason ?? All readings are on point except nitrates are at 12.5 my skimmer stopes skimming 2 days ago and I'm freaking out. The middle of the colony Is what's bleaching so I can't cut it out , any ideas ?? I'm picking up a skimmer hopefully tomorrow but it's hard to find someone with anything good. Thanks

 

[Islander84]

Is it bleaching or is it stn or rtn. U stated that its a new addition to your tank... it might be bleaching because of lighting changes.

 

[bobbychullo]

i would say the nitrates are the cause with the information given. but we'd need more info to give an accurate assessment. what are your other water parameters (Ca, Mg, Alk)? How do you dose your tank? how long has the tank been up? what other livestock inhabits the tank?

 

[Njhc]

Thank you guys, Its def bleaching here's a pic

These are night lights
I'm running 2x 150 it came from a 220g tank with 2x 250 I also run dome t5 .
My cal 450 mag and ph right on, I have the nitrate issue and my clown has been sweeping under it for a couple days under rock like a little cave anemone is below in her home as well but not touching the pocillapora any rexcomendations I'm not happy. I turkey mastered it to remove the skin as it seemed like it was shedding I hope it's done

 

[Njhc]

Pic of the clown and anemone home: she has been cleaning for a week finally stopes yesterday

 

[bobbychullo]

450 is a little high imo. 410-420 is NSW level

how long has your tank been running?

what is your ph, your magnesium and your alkalinity levels? how often do you test? in order to help we need to know what these levels are so please post numbers.

do you dose, use a reactor, drip kalkwasser? SPS do not like alkalinity (buffer or bicarbonates) swings. i know that your nitrate issue cannot be good, you need to get a skimmer up and running soon, you may wanna try a water change to get the nitrates down.

i would not recommend turkey basting the coral. if it is shedding, that is not good but you may irritate further by blasting it.

also, i cannot tell but what kind of flow is it getting? is there a powerhead blowing on that section? i'm just looking for possibilities here. I am no expert on anemones but i do not think it is doing anything to your pocci by looking at the photos.

 

[dvanacker]

Bleaching is loss of zoo-x....not tissue loss. What you have is tissue loss....or RTN.

Its either a water quality or flow problem.

 

[Reef Bass]

It also looks to me like tissue loss, not just bleaching. I'd be tempted to frag off the dead branches about 1/4" into the live tissue, ahead of the necrosis.

 

[Njhc]

My ph is 8.3
Magnesium and all is mixed in with calc "reef foundation mix" I does drip method mixed with aquarium water.

I did notice a striped damsel (cant get him out since day 1)picking at it "could it have a taste pocillapora?"

Tanks been running for 2yrs now

 

[Njhc]

Reef bass: it's right spot in the middle if I try to cut it down ill have to cut half of it, do you think it will stop? It seems like it stopes since last night but lights army on yet. Could it be getting to much light?
And your right it is tissue loss what would cause that?

 

[Reef Bass]

I've seen corals like that go either way, where the recession stops or it spreads and the whole thing is white in a few days. If you see it spreading aggressively, be prepared to act.

What would cause it? As mentioned above, water quality, flow, light, and /or sudden changes in any of those. Doesn't look like too much light to me.

 

[Njhc]

I found the problem! The satans spawn zebra damsel! I have been trying to rid my tank of him since day one, it's nearly impossible I'm currently doing the soda bottle trick 2liter with inverted top and cut up shrimp. Hope it works please wish me luck, I'm gonna need it!

 

[ReeferBill]

Help?

Help?

Your damsel may not have caused the problem and is only now munching on the dieing tissue. I would do a water change and then another one in 48 hours to get those nitrates down........The solution is dilution!:uhoh3::uhoh2::idea:

 

[stingythingy45]

That's looks more like a sting from a neighboring coral.

 

[rocke_reef]

Good to know.