This Burn tips?

[Stlouphil]

Got these digitata frags yesterday from a ReefCentral member that is growing under T5 lighting. I use led so I placed them at the bottom of the tank to acclimate.

Tonight I noticed what appears to be burnt tips. What do you think? Burnt tips or maybe reaction to LEDs? I don't think I would see growth in 24 hours. Lol

Parameters:

Alk 10 Dkh
Ph. 8.2
Ca 480
Nitrates 2
Phosphate < .03
Also mention use biopellets

 

[danfishman]

Hard to tell from the pics, but i think they are.

I notice you are using biopellets and your alk is 10Dkh.

It is widely reported that if you are running a form of carbon dosing, that you should aim for the 7-8Dkh, anything above can cause burnt tips. You could also reduce your calcium, everything else looks good.

Also with your LED's, is there any way of reducing the output?? Increasing the output by 5% every week would be a better way of acclimatizing them to the LEDs.

 

[trueblackpercula]

Hard to tell from the pics, but i think they are.

I notice you are using biopellets and your alk is 10Dkh.

It is widely reported that if you are running a form of carbon dosing, that you should aim for the 7-8Dkh, anything above can cause burnt tips. You could also reduce your calcium, everything else looks good.

Also with your LED's, is there any way of reducing the output?? Increasing the output by 5% every week would be a better way of acclimatizing them to the LEDs.

+1 great advice

 

[sahin]

Hard to tell from the pics, but i think they are.

I notice you are using biopellets and your alk is 10Dkh.

It is widely reported that if you are running a form of carbon dosing, that you should aim for the 7-8Dkh, anything above can cause burnt tips. You could also reduce your calcium, everything else looks good.

Also with your LED's, is there any way of reducing the output?? Increasing the output by 5% every week would be a better way of acclimatizing them to the LEDs.

Yup, I would reduce Alk to as near NSW as possible and certainly no more than 8dKH.

 

[Stlouphil]

Kinda what I thought. It must be the biopellets. I tested the water the frags came from and the alk tested around 10 just like mine, but he does not carbon dose.

The problem is, the salt I have on hand and made up is Reef Crystals ..... Pretty high Alk already. How much time do I have to lower alk? I need to make new RO/DI and get new salt. Suggestions for a lower Alk sea salt?

Anyway to lower Alk without water change?

I also lowered light intensity when I notice the white tips. Will slowly raise it again. Thanks for your help.

 

[jcolley]

Do nothing and Alk will drop on its own. Try and lower it quickly and the rapid change will likely RTN or STN your SPS.

I maintain 7.3 dkh consistently now and use a salt with over 10 dkh when mixed. However, I use a Litermeter for continual water change, so I still have to dose Alk to maintain steady. If you're doing batch water changes, you may want to look for a salt closer to NSW parameters to minimize the alk delta.

 

[Nanighan]

Your alk may be high but those look like typical digi growth. I have 3 types in my tank and they look like the end of bones when they grow. Need a macro shot of it.

 

[Peter Eichler]

I've never seen 'burnt tips' on a montipora...

 

[Stlouphil]

Your alk may be high but those look like typical digi growth. I have 3 types in my tank and they look like the end of bones when they grow. Need a macro shot of it.

You may be right. I look at them this morning and they look much better. These might be really fast growers. I just did not expect to see new growth in a day and assumed they were burnt tips. I will just turn down the LEDs and keep an eye on them.

 

[sahin]

You may be right. I look at them this morning and they look much better. These might be really fast growers. I just did not expect to see new growth in a day and assumed they were burnt tips. I will just turn down the LEDs and keep an eye on them.

Because your initial post stated you only got the frags YESTERDAY, I doubt any noticeable GROWTH took place in less than 24 hours.

Apart from the Alk being an issue, I think the frags are just getting used to your system.

Since you are seeing better PE and the frag look a bit better, it might be the difference in water parameters and light levels caused the frags some initial stress.