Starting out with SPS Coral

[webersole]

Hi Folks,

Well, after keeping a tank with LPS corals for 4 years and learning how to keep stable parameters, I decided to venture into SPS corals. I purchased two frags a green Stag and purple acro. Dipped them in Revive. A week later the Stag looks pretty good with polyp extension. The acro over night last night started shedding it's flesh. Took one branch completely out over night. From my reading it seems like RTN.

Water parameters are as follows:

Temp: - 80
Salinity - 1.025
ph - 8.2
cal - 390
alk - 9 dkh
mag - 1500
nitrates - 0
phosphate - 0 with hanna checker

Running 2 MP10's and ATI Sunpower 6 x24 with 4 blue plus, 1 coral plus, 1 GE 6500k. Reef Octopus 2000 HOB skimmer. Also running GFO and Carbon.

Did two 20% water changes in the last week.

I realize my phosphates might be too low. Anything else to start with?

Thanks for your ideas in advance.

 

[mikesmith94016]

Sounds like RTN to me, rapid tissue necrosis. Your Ca is a bit low but I don't think enough to cause that, Could depend on where the frag came from, ie wild vs aquaculture. Was it near another coral, may have got stung?

 

[webersole]

No, nearest coral is about 6 inches away. I believe it was a wild coral, purchased from a reputable online store. (DD).

 

[webersole]

I just thought of something: last evening I dosed my trace minerals and iodide. I use Brightwell Aquatics Replenish and Iodion. Think there could be a connection there?

 

[webersole]

Just notice I gave an incorrect description of my bulbs. Bulbs are as follows front to back:

Blue plus
Purple plus
Blue plus
GE 6500k
Blue plus
Coral Plus

Not sure if this makes a difference or not.

 

[justhaag]

i would have personally started with something a bit simpler. Maybe some monti caps or maybe a digi

 

[webersole]

Yeah, I know. It was a spur of the moment decision and one that I should have thought about more.

 

[shawster2141]

I just got my first Monroe cap a week ago. Mine is starting to bleach any advice?

 

[Puffdragon]

Wild or macro sps are tough to keep. You must have rock steady chemistry. I have kept only tank raised sps for years. Bought a couple of macro-cultured from a friend of mine. I lost both of them.

 

[.Marshall]

I would definately feed some more, how many fish to you have? any algae growth in the tank/sump?

Do you run GFO or Carbon? UV?

 

[webersole]

Not sure if you're referring to me or one of the other posters, but I run GFO, carbon, and UV.