SPS Polyp Extension

droppindeuce

droppindeuce

New member
Hey guys. Not been here in a while. Trying to keep everyone straight over in the Chatt reef Club forums. Please let me know what you think about the following issue.

I just do not know what is going on in my tank right now. I have little to no polyp extension on all of my montis. My acropora are doing fine. Even the colors of my montis are fading away. Their not dead. Just turning ugly. Some tank readings can be found below. Please bounce this around a little and let me know your thoughts.

KH/ALK - 8.4 dKH or 3.00 meq/L
Ca - 420 ppm
Phosphates - undetectable
Nitrates - 7 ppm, a little high, but not bad...
Nitrites - 0
Ammonia - 0
ph - 8.0, constantly monitored with a pinpoint
Temp - 80 and not fluctuating more than 0.5 degrees

I just don't know guys. :hmm4:
 
Also do you do regular water changes? Lots of nasties can build up that don't show on kits but then your acros would probably suffer also..... May be a prediter as fishdoc said.
 
Thanks for the replies everyone. I'll answer the posts in order.

1. The bulbs were changed two months ago from Ushio 10K's to Hamilton 14K's.
2. I don't even know what they look like. I am guessing they are only there at night? Do they only attack monti's?
3. I do monthly water changes.
4. I am torn on the whole high nitrate comment. I use RO/DI water. I have no algae in my tank whatsoever. If the nitrates were higher than what is being consumed I would expect some type of algae outbreak.?.?
 
Do you dose anything from a bottle? Considering iodine. I dont, but I've contemplated dosing something to add iodine for one or two times to see if anything good happens. Since I dont have a test kit for it, I wouldnt do it more than once or twice... Another trace element you may not get enough of with monthly water changes is magnesium. IMO, neither high candidates for your problems but you asked to bounce it around...

How about just trying 4 @ 10-20% weekly water changes for the next month? Maybe you dont have a month to resolve it but there's another idea that might give you the trace elements you MIGHT be missing.
 
Do the montis look bleached in any way? Are there any "bare" spots where the polyps have died or been eaten? When you say montis, are you refering to plating, encrusting, or massive varieties? Your nitrates are high for an SPS tank, IMO, but I doubt that's your problem since your acros are doing well. What test kit do you measure PO4 with? How about Ca2+ (test kit, that is)? Have you changed salt lately? Did the PE issue coincide with the bulb change? What time of day did you take the pH reading of 8.0 (relative to your lighting cycle)? All these "clues" may help diagnose your problem.

Dave
 
I haven't added anything from a bottle except for Ca and dKH. I use the seachem additives for that. I actually thought about some weekly water changes...thanks imsqueak.

Hi Dave...thanks for the suggestions. They are not white but they have lightened to a brownish white color with no polyps. I have both encrusting and plating montis. I have an aquarium pharmaseutical test kit for the PO4...I know...I know. My calcium and alkalinity test kits are salifert. I haven't changed salt, but use Oceanic just for reference. The PE issue wasn't at the same time as the bulb change, but also hasn't gotten better since like I was hoping it would. I look at my pinpoint monitor and check pH at vatious time during the day with and with out lights. It really doesn't change much.

Thanks again for the help guys
Anthony
 
Hmmm, the brownish color with no polyps kinda sounds like something is munching the tissue/polyps off and just leaving behind skeleton. Even if you haven't added a coral or rock in awhile nudies may have came in via a egg form and just now manifesting itself. And as imsqueak said huge water changes are a good thing if some nasties have built up or something is lacking. Just a pain. Good luck. Get a flashlight out tonight way after all lights go out in room and see if you can spot anythig munching them.
 
Does anyone have any pictures of the nudis? I haven't really seen anything on them. If they are there how do youget rid of them? What is so funny is the fact I have new growth, but in a couple of days it turns the same color as the rest of the colony???!!!
 
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