Sudden Bleaching / RTN of Tortuosa

[thebanker]

Yes, another one of these threads.

I have an acropora tortuosa that has grown like a weed for the past 11 months. Two days ago, it started bleaching from the top down, followed by an almost complete RTN by today. My levels are good. Nothing out of "ideal range" that I can see. NO3 is zero, PO4 is below .10. Mag is 1350.

Frags of this coral, that I keep on my frag rack, are completely fine. The only *possible* thing I can think of is when I dose "Part B" the powerhead sorta blows it toward the coral?

What. The. Fart.

 

[tike]

Wow...this is always a tough one! You have to think if you made aANY changes no matter how minor to the tank. I really don't think the dosing thing is an issue. In your sig you say you don't have a sump...any way of connecting one up? I put a sock over my sump over flow hose a few years ago and it seems to have made a big difference in the growth and health of my acro's.

 

[Brian Chong]

torts are usually very hardy ime. I have heard many others having rtn issues with bio pellets not only on reefcentral but in my area as well. not sure how that stuff works but maybe decrease the balls?

 

[thebanker]

I'm sure there's a way to rig up a sump. But, knowing me, that will probably kill another acro for some reason.

 

[thebanker]

torts are usually very hardy ime. I have heard many others having rtn issues with bio pellets not only on reefcentral but in my area as well. not sure how that stuff works but maybe decrease the balls?

I did add a LOT of GFO, and started dosing AA's. Just remembered! Would that do anything?

 

[chuckreef]

Brining GFO online too fast and not rinsing it with tank water first can cause a sudden quick alk drop. An alk drop (for any reason) can cause tissue degradation due to cesation of the normal (forward) calcification reaction allowing a temporary acid build up in the tissue/skeletal interface.

 

[thebanker]

That was possibly the issue.

 

[birdman1979]

I get RTN as soon as my dkh gets much above 8. As soon as it gets below 8.3 i see improvement and full PE after it goes below 8. Not on ZEO just vodka. It's never progressed passed the tips because as soon as I notice it i know to test my alk levels.