Should I frag this Stylo?

[serbusfish]

Ive had a Stylophora for a few months now and it has grown quite a bit since I purchased it, however I have noticed recently some of the base has gone white. Im not sure if it is getting worse or not, should I frag it? Here is a pic (tank lights arent on):

 

[twon8]

That is normal recession along growth. Check your alkalinity And calcium.

 

[serbusfish]

That is normal recession along growth. Check your alkalinity And calcium.

I buffer alk and calcium, I keep alk at 8.3 by adding liquid buffer every day, and calcium around 420 by adding a buffer every few days.

 

[Reel North]

Check mag too. Try to keep PO4 detectable along with nitrate.

 

[fity2pounder]

I'm no stylo expert but my past experiences were that once that started it keeps moving up (u less it was just caused by a lack of light to that area)

 

[serbusfish]

I will test mag today, I tested everything else a few minutes ago and they came out:

Nitrate - 5
KH - 8.3
Cal - 420
SG - 1.025
Temp - 25'c

Recently I have been running my KH lower as I have been dosing Red Sea NoPoX and heard a lower KH is better but im going to bump it back up to 9dkh and see how things go. That is really the only change that I have made recently.

Someone mentioned on another forum that you can remove affected corals and rub the affected areas with a strong lugols iodine solution and this sometimes heals them, if I were to try this does anyone know how strong the mix should be?

 

[ryeguyy84]

so you're carbon dosing, I would not touch the alkalinity moving it around is only going to make things worse. How much NoPox are you adding daily? are you running GFO along with the NoPox?

 

[moatdaddy]

First guess, because i have seen it a few times is it is because your using LEDs. Based on the photo it looks like everything not exposed to the light is dying.

Leds are directional in nature. If you do not have LEDs i would be curious as to the cause.

Second guess pests. How long did it take for the base to go white?

 

[serbusfish]

so you're carbon dosing, I would not touch the alkalinity moving it around is only going to make things worse. How much NoPox are you adding daily? are you running GFO along with the NoPox?

Im adding 3ml a day at the moment. Im only on week 2 of dosing. I am running a small amount of GFO along with it, just to help as I have been told it isnt very good at removing phosphates compared to nitrate.

First guess, because i have seen it a few times is it is because your using LEDs. Based on the photo it looks like everything not exposed to the light is dying.

Leds are directional in nature. If you do not have LEDs i would be curious as to the cause.

Second guess pests. How long did it take for the base to go white?

Yes I do have LED's. Im using the Maxspect Razor 320W. I do have 2x supplemental blue T5's but im not currently running them. I dont know how long it took to go white as I have only recently noticed it.

 

[ryeguyy84]

running GFO and Carbon dosing can sometimes drop phosphates to quickly, are any other corals showing signs poor health?

 

[serbusfish]

running GFO and Carbon dosing can sometimes drop phosphates to quickly, are any other corals showing signs poor health?

I had been running GFO since the tank was set up. All ive done is reduce the amount. My Monti caps are pale but this could be due to a recent nitrate spike I had (went up to 25 due to a broken skimmer).

 

[ryeguyy84]

I would let the NoPox do the work and take the GFO offline. What are your phosphates currently?

When I made the switch to Zeovit I also ran GFO for a little while and experienced pale corals. when I took the GFO out the corals bounced back, and phosphates went up a little bit than back down. at this point I would just watch the stylo and if it gets worse than ease off the NoPox a little bit.

 

[serbusfish]

I would let the NoPox do the work and take the GFO offline. What are your phosphates currently?

When I made the switch to Zeovit I also ran GFO for a little while and experienced pale corals. when I took the GFO out the corals bounced back, and phosphates went up a little bit than back down. at this point I would just watch the stylo and if it gets worse than ease off the NoPox a little bit.

Phosphate was measuring 0.03 last time I checked. I have removed the GFO, and I plan to half the dose of NoPoX as I have a suspicion it could be causing problems at the current dose.

 

[amcvay1979]

I'd keep your NoPox dose where it is, you don't want to go to zero nitrates/phosphates. You want them Ultra Low, not zero. 1-2 ppm nitrate is good, and .02 to .08 Phos is good as well.

 

[ryeguyy84]

I'd keep your NoPox dose where it is, you don't want to go to zero nitrates/phosphates. You want them Ultra Low, not zero. 1-2 ppm nitrate is good, and .02 to .08 Phos is good as well.

Agreed, you may have brought it down to quick but I'd hold steady and watch. Keep us posted

 

[Steve175]

A lot of flux. Would also try to stabilize things. And I would frag it if it is clearly worsening.