SPS PO4 / NO3 acclimation shock??

[MarcWeaver]

Does going from extremely high levels of phosphate and nitrate from a LFS into my tank with lower levels of both shock SPS in general? I picked up a few frags 3 weeks ago and one is starting to STN and the other 2 are going pale and are not doing much of anything yet. Polyp extension is present, though.

I tested the LFS water with Hanna Phosphorous ULR and when I was done mixing the reagent into the cuvette the water was blue and "200" flashed on the meter, which is max(.61 ppm,) also nitrates were 60.

My tank has 0-.03 phosphates and 20 nitrates.
Other params:
Alk 9.8dkh
Calcium 420
pH 8.06 - 8.22
Mag 1400
Salinity 35ppt

 

[jcmelski]

did you drip acclimate them? Also how is the lighting in the tanks?Where are they placed?

 

[RynosReef]

I agree it may be a lighting shock issue. Without more info as to how you introduced them to your system it's hard totell. But if they have polyp extension yet start to stn or go pale this could be light shock. Where do they lose tissue from first? Tips, base, or on the upper side of any branch closest to the light?

 

[MarcWeaver]

I drip acclimated for 1 hour with a plastic tub in the sump to maintain temperature and then, like and idiot, glued them to rock in the top 1/3rd of the tank under 3 400W 20k radiums. They were underwater about 3 inches under 1000W metal halides at the store (which were around 30" above them, so I thought they may be alright to go directly up into the light. I guess not. I picked up 2 more frags today and placed them in the sand and will slowly move them up over the next month.

The acro that is STNing started from the bottom up. It's a shame, because it is starting to darken back up and show some nice color. Hopefully it will stop.

 

[Big E]

Does going from extremely high levels of phosphate and nitrate from a LFS into my tank with lower levels of both shock SPS in general?

No

My tank has 0-.03 phosphates and 20 nitrates

This seems off.............are your nitrates 20ppm or .20?

Were the frags fresh cut or encrusted..................fresh cut frags will have a lower survival rate expecially if cut from a wild colony.

As far as acclimating, I haven't done that in 8-9 years for corals.............it's a waste of time. Especially if you are dipping the coral for parasites or pests.

I blame light also on the bleached pieces.

 

[Felixc395]

As far as acclimating, I haven't done that in 8-9 years for corals.............it's a waste of time. Especially if you are dipping the coral for parasites or pests.
.

You really don't acclimate? That sounds rather interesting. Can I ask why acclimating is a waste of time?

 

[tankaddict]

You really don't acclimate? That sounds rather interesting. Can I ask why acclimating is a waste of time?

The only acclimation i do is temp for corals. I have never drip either. Many people i know don't acclimate corals via drip. We just dip and pop them in. Ammonia can build up quickly after opening shipping bags is another reason some people dont acclimate (you can read more about this with a google search).

 

[Felixc395]

Sweet! What's your survival rate? Any links?

I hate to detract from the thread though, could I PM you for more info?

 

[tankaddict]

Sweet! What's your survival rate? Any links?

I hate to detract from the thread though, could I PM you for more info?

http://aquafind.com/articles/receiving.php



Article i found with google. My coral survival rate is 100% .I had a few lost form alk swings than anything else. But like anything in this hobby what works for one might not work for another. The final decision is up to the owner.

 

[MarcWeaver]

This seems off.............are your nitrates 20ppm or .20?

Nitrates were 20ppm. I am recovering from a nitrate spike of which I can not determine the cause. I started dosing NOPOX from red sea and over the course of a month and a half I am down from 50+ppm to 17ppm as of today. I use RO/DI and perform 10% weekly water changes.

Were the frags fresh cut or encrusted..................fresh cut frags will have a lower survival rate expecially if cut from a wild colony.

Fresh-cuts

As a note:
I bought one pink mille colony yesterday and an encrusted green mille frag and temperature acclimated only and placed them on the sand. It took around 15 minutes for the polyps to re-extend and all is well so far...

 

[choboreef]

Hi Nitrates will cause the coral to STN
Transitioning from high PO4 and NO3 to low is like starving your corals.
Yes it will cause the STN, RTN could be be from the Alk swing.

Drip acclimation is a WASTE OF TIME.
Especially for SPS's, they're much hardier than you think.
I don't have time to wait 1-2 hours to do a drip acclimation of something that doesn't require it. Fish, sure but SPS's? Not at all.

Temp acclimate for 10-15 mins, bathe in your dipping method to remove potential pests, rinse then drop in the QT tank.

 

[flyin2jz]

I only temp acclimate. Never drip. Never had any issues.