Quiverfull
Member
Any thoughts on selective monti - both Capricornis and digitata STN. Acros and millis all seem to be doing well.
Selective montipora and stylophora STN?
- Thread starter Quiverfull
- Start date
Quiverfull
Member
I don't see any parasites but I guess that does not mean anything. I also have seen this on my green birdnest. These are all some of the oldest corals in my tank. The Stylos have lost color - used to be pink and purple - no fading significantly. The pocillopora and torts all seem to be doing fine. The same issue occurred about a month ago and I did a ~40% water change and they all seemed to recover some after this. Nitrate and phosphate are 0 despite my feeding rather heavily. Acros and millis are all growing well but only the millis have good polyp extension during day. All have good polyp extension at night. I keep thinking there may be some supplement that is missing. I use Reef Crystals and change 20% water every two weeks. All corals look better after water change.
Quiverfull
Member
all the montis are are effected.
tripdad
Frustrated Stick Gardener
I think we always look for a reason in one of the parameters that we monitor. There are numerous components in sea water that we don't monitor and sometimes one of them can be a problem. I and reefer friends have all had birdsnest decline and die in thriving reefs with no explanation. I think that is why for most of us small water changes are important, they fix a lot of things we don't monitor along with the few we do.For me my monti caps are a "canary" coral in regards to salinity, when that is off they usually loose color and get greyish in tone . After looking for pests, usually on undersides of monti's , then check salinity with a calibrated refractometer, and then do water changes to maintain the best water chemistry you can, best of luck.
Reef Frog
New member
^ Good advice.
Never had a tissue loss problem with montis. But did experience coloration fading & to a lesser degree tissue necrosis on certain corals from time to time. What got me back on track was lowering ALK to no higher than 8 dKH, conservative target feeding with appropriate foods and letting nutrients rise a little bit. I did this by backing down on GFO and skimming a little bit. Many things improved all at once. Just have to be careful not to let the pendulum swing too far back the other way....
Never had a tissue loss problem with montis. But did experience coloration fading & to a lesser degree tissue necrosis on certain corals from time to time. What got me back on track was lowering ALK to no higher than 8 dKH, conservative target feeding with appropriate foods and letting nutrients rise a little bit. I did this by backing down on GFO and skimming a little bit. Many things improved all at once. Just have to be careful not to let the pendulum swing too far back the other way....
Quiverfull
Member
have been slowly letting my alk drift down - was up to 10 (at recommendation of my former maintenance guy) but has been very stable at that range. It is down to 8.9 as of today (over at 2 week period - Ca 420, SpG 1.026, ph 8.3 - 8.16 on apex). I know I am probably nutrient poor as my nitrate and phosphate have always been 0 but I do have some bubble algae - minor that the mithrax crabs are keeping in check. Had small amount of hair algae which almost overnight disappeared. Dont want to go too overboard with things as overall the tank is pretty good. May just increase the frequency of water changes for now.
Quiverfull
Member
I make my RO/DI myself - 3 stage RO (sediment, Carbon, RO) to 2 stage DI. 4 TDS meters - after RO, after DI 1, before DI 2 and after DI 2. all reading 0.00 so I am pretty sure my water is as pure as it can get. I use reef crystals by the 200g box. I usually test each make up and adjust alk to match what I have in the display tank.
Quiverfull
Member
Yes. I will take some pics once my metal halide lights come on.
Quiverfull
Member
Also, just a side note, i am trying to determine if there is any relationship to adding sponge power... It seems like the time before it was after several days of adding sponge power and recovery was after stopping and doing large water change. Tried just one day of adding sponge power and seemed like it may have started again. Just trying to think through all the activities I have logged in my notes. Is there any sense to sponge power maybe having some negative effect?
Quiverfull
Member
Quiverfull
Member
Stylophora
markalot
...
Looks like they are starving to me but it's hard to offer advice to someone who has been doing this since 2001. 
The red cap color is bad IMO, or maybe it's just the photo. My red cap, when healthy, is a bright deep red.
When my red cap is unhealthy I see black bugs on it, they are a symptom IMO and not a cause of anything. Have you checked PO4, NO3, and PAR on these pieces?
The red cap color is bad IMO, or maybe it's just the photo. My red cap, when healthy, is a bright deep red. When my red cap is unhealthy I see black bugs on it, they are a symptom IMO and not a cause of anything. Have you checked PO4, NO3, and PAR on these pieces?
Quiverfull
Member
Phosphate. 0. Nitrate 0. I have not measured PAR but should not be an issue - under 250w metal halide and 54w T5. I think you are on to something with the starving. What would you suggest? The monti cap is orange but does look faded compared to time past. I have never supplemented the tank. Trying to add more fish and feed heavier but I am kind of particular about fish and still deciding what to add.
Quiverfull
Member
Great, thanks. I am going to order some reef roids and start with that. Looks easy enough and not too expensive comparably speaking.
Deinonych
New member
Reviving this thread as I am seeing the same thing on a few of my M. digitata colonies. I have three small (~3-4") colonies on the right side of my tank that develop patches of dead tissue every three days. I have pocillopora, porites, acropora, M. capricornis as well - none of which are affected. A couple of digitata colonies on the left side of the tank are unaffected as well. I have a Did you ever resolve the problem? If so, what steps did you take?
My parameters have been absolutely stable for at least the last six months (I dose B-Ionic 2 part with an Apex DOS), and this started happening in April. Alk 8.0, Ca 380, Mg 1350, SG 35ppt, pH 8.0 - 8.1. Any guidance would be appreciated. I've stepped up my water changes to 20% each week to see if I can reverse the trend, but I'm just stabbing in the dark at this point.
My parameters have been absolutely stable for at least the last six months (I dose B-Ionic 2 part with an Apex DOS), and this started happening in April. Alk 8.0, Ca 380, Mg 1350, SG 35ppt, pH 8.0 - 8.1. Any guidance would be appreciated. I've stepped up my water changes to 20% each week to see if I can reverse the trend, but I'm just stabbing in the dark at this point.
