SPS in STN weeks before tank move.

[maroun.c]

Hi,
I'm in the middle of a tank upgrade and since few months was too busy to care for my 150G which is starting to show signs of neglect.
All parameters are in check except NO3
Alk 9.3 (up from 8 in few weeks after most corals stopped growing, Decreasing dose to stabilize)
Ca 450
Mg 1300
NO3 20-25 down from 40
PO4 0-0.03
PH8.1
Sal 1.026
Temp 80

Have been struggling with nitrates for some time and as I know I was going to move in few weeks never really made very heavy water changes except lately when some corals started showing STN.
Many of my colonies are showing STN most starting from the base up with some only at the tips. I feel I need to take action soon or else they won't last till the move. options:
-Frag and try to save but lately my frags survival rate is very low
-Move all SPS to an 85 G frag tank I setup today using (used tankwater 1/3 and new tank water 2/3) with skimmer and good circulation?
-Still try to wait while doing larger water changes without moving corals.

Some of my corals like my Red planet started with frgs less than 1-2 inch and became colonies so would really hate to lose those.


Sould I try to investigate the reason of STN further? NO3 has been high for quite some time with no losses and it even dropped to half so why are the corals STNing now?

please advise on this Red planet should I just cut it from the main branch and move it to Frag tank or should I just scrap some healthy tissue to make a separation?

Thanks for any help or suggestions

 

[Islander84]

Is the flesh actually loose or does it look like its been slowly eaten?

 

[ChicagoReefOne]

Bummer about your corals, I've been there and I feel ya, it's tough to lose corals that you raised from frags or even just chop them.

But on the other hand you are at a crossroads it would seem, and the loss of the coral altogether will be worse than having to frag them up.

What I'm thinking:
1) I think this is definitely linked to high NO3, of course there's no harm in check for AEFW (especially if you have had them before) but the way the flesh is peeling on them I have to think its NO3 related.
2) As to why now, the corals may have been STNing long before you noticed them, especially on the colonies the size may make it difficult to see the whole thing. Also the high NO3 may have had them right on the edge, the alk swing, or a temp bump due to the new warm weather could have pushed them over.

Courses of action:
I might suggestion a combination of your approaches. I'd start by doing more frequent and larger water changes most definitely. If you have a separate set up you could relocate the coral there but that may stress them further. I don't think I would scrape healthy tissue of the RP to divide the coral. I have applied super glue to receding areas and that has halted the recession, if you were to go that route I would do that rather than scrape.

This is a tough call, so these are just suggestions, I can't tell which one may be the best out of them. That's up to you.

Whatever you do, good luck, I hope it works out.

 

[Dog boy Dave]

Dont frag, fix your water man. Leave the corals alone. The recession is a natural response to stress and the coral is actually fragging itself by loosing base tissue. Eventually each tip will be a colony to itself and if you fix your water the coral will recover. Over the years i have brought manny colonies back from single polyps.
Massive water change, increase scimming, add some bacteria. Confirm your deionization system is still working and do 30 percent water changes weekly after an initial 40 to 50 percent change.

 

[maroun.c]

Thanks for your replies.
No AEFW signs on any of the corals. NEver had them and also they are very rare in this area. didn't add any corals to the tank lately as well.
RODI checked.
Skimmer working fine will try to set it a bit more wet.
Fuge is growing very fast, Added Kent Nitrogen sponge a couple of months back to help.
DSB still new as tank was moved around 18 months ago so no old tank syndrom.
What is making me consider taking action is that I have already lost a few smaller colonies where STN did go all the way up.