Red planet crash

[PogoMonogo]

Have had a red planet for quite some time now, 6-8 months probably. Always has looked great. A few weeks ago I did a 20 or so gallon water change (90g aquarium). It was pretty cold here and i guess my RO was pretty cold. Tank went from 78 to probably 70-72. Since then it never really looked great. Today I turkey basted it and a ton of flesh came off the base that had encrusted onto the rock in about a 2 inch circle. The top section of the coral, while the polyps havent been out, still has tissue and polyps coming out slightly. I am chalking this up to my own stupidity because everything else in the tank looks fine. But I have never had AEFW and I was concerned with seeing all that tissue come off. I don't see little bite marks or anything, which seems to be the first AEFW sign. Am I write to chalk to this up as maitnence error? I chopped the piece off and iodine dipped it and moved it into my frag tank, probably a piece about 75% of the original? Any tips? Any insights? Thanks, its the first real established acro crash in over a year, so just a bit on edge.

 

[sreefs]

After making your RO water how long did you let the salt mix before using? It is best to let the salt mix for 24 hours before using. If your temp. dropped 8 degrees on a water change it could cause your problems.

 

[logan 12]

I have noticed when a dramatic event occurs in the tank such as moving corals around creating a slimming event, the first thing that happens as far as sps’s go, the acros start to flake the tissue off. This is most likely do to the water temperature dropping to a lower temp…. for even a short time in your case. Remember corals have evolved over millions of year in mostly stable conditions. Sps’s being super sensitive to any slight change especially acros for what ever reason. I just had a nuclear green acro do this recently. One thing is to not blow water on them directly, I have just left the coral alone and it has already started to recover. This is just my 2 cents on the experience.

 

[Compguy]

I think what you have done is about all you can do, I agree with putting it under high flow, IME that helps to get rid of the dead stuff. I was gonna tell you to try and frag off a piece that doesn't have any RTN on it yet, usually that piece will be ok. I'm not sure if I would have dipped it cause that might stress it even more after its already been stressed, but if the piece you fragged hasn't started to RTN after 24 hours it is probably going to be ok, if it does start to then just frag a piece off it again. I learned the hard way that the ORA Hawkins doesn't like being dipped like normal SPS.

 

[PogoMonogo]

Yeah, I was 50/50 on the iodine dip. But i was nervous about pests, nothing came off, which is a relief, but not a suprise I guess, because I have seen zero signs on the 30 or so ther acros in the tank. It's still alive today, but suuuuuuper ****ed looking. We'll see how it does.

 

[grabthereef]

gl homie +1 on letting it chill

 

[PogoMonogo]

gl homie +1 on letting it chill

thanks dude. Wouldn't you know that piece was one of my favorite too. Between the awesome growth and great color it looked awesome. Oh well hopefully bounces back in the next few weeks.

 

[huskysglare1]

i would say that 20g water change for a 90g tank is a bit much. it's better if you do 10g at a time or 5g many times. the corals will be less shock and stress.

 

[Fig]

Get a extra heater for your fresh mixed salt container.