Temperature drop and RTN?

[Lynnmw1208]

So I have been going through the millions of threads here about RTN and I don't think I saw one about temp drop.

Anyway I have had this green stylophora frag in my tank for 2 months now and it was showing significant growth and the colors were great! It was brownish pink with green polyps. Earlier this week my heaters marineland visitherms stopped working for some reason. It could've been the storm that passed through as we did have a slight surge. These were also plugged into a surge protector. They were keeping my tank steadily at 78 degrees F for 3 months and all of a sudden my tank was 71 degrees!!! So I rushed out and got some new heaters, fluvals which aren't my first choice but had to do. The tank is back at it's normal temp, but my frag is not looking too good.

The frag is starting to turn white at the base and it is moving it's way up the coral. The polyps are still extended but not as much on the white parts. I decided to dip it today to see if that may help in seachems reef dip. if not is fragging a piece and trying to save some the only option I have? I also fed phytoplan a few minutes ago since the polyps are still extended.

water params are as such:

salinity 1.025
temp 78
calcium 420
alk 10
magnesium 1290
phosphate 0
ammonia, nitrite, nitrate 0

my light fixture is an aquaticlife 8 bulb with ATI bulbs 4 blue +, 2 aquablue, 2 purple plus. the frag is up top and I have 2 koralia evo 1400s for flow.

here is a pic taken 5/14/2011

I will take a pic now after the polyps come back out after being in the dip. he's a little angry right now.

 

[newbie916]

Pics will help, but the temp drop definitely stressed it out. I had two Stealth heaters malfunction last year prior to the recall and one dropped my tank temp to 72 and the other raised it to 89 degrees. I lost a few acros that rtn'd or stn'd and still have what's remaining of my ORA Bottlebrush colony that has never recovered. However, the loss's were minimal and I think it was due to me raising and dropping the temps over several hours. I was actually expecting a tank crash.

How fast did you raise the temp?

 

[Lynnmw1208]

The temp was raised back to up to normal over 2 days. I started lower at first and raised slightly back up to 78. It's looking a little better after the dip. I'll have to take a picture tomorrow as the lights are dimming down for the night.

 

[Dog boy Dave]

7 degree swing and 71 degrees hsould be no big deal. The coral in the picture looks fine. They are actuallly pretty hardy creatures if your water quality is good.

 

[Lynnmw1208]

7 degree swing and 71 degrees hsould be no big deal. The coral in the picture looks fine. They are actuallly pretty hardy creatures if your water quality is good.

That is a before pic, I am going to take an after pic today when I get home from work. It's not looking so good.

 

[Lynnmw1208]

here is a picture from today, it looks a bit better but still kind of white. any thoughts?

 

[Reef Bass]

You're experiencing reduced polyp extension, maybe from the temp drop, but most likely from dipping. The coral is not turning white. The flesh is simply more visible because of the less shaggy polyps. Give it time and stop messing with it.

 

[Lynnmw1208]

It was much worse before dipping it, trust me. The whole bottom did not have any polyps extended and some where falling off. I didn't see any pests bothering it but you never know I guess. I will definitely leave it alone now and just simply monitor it.