Tri color help

[MeVsTheWorld]

Well I got it from the frag swap here is a shot.

It has been doing fine up until the past 2 days it has gone through RTN starting from the bottom. Yesterday I fragged it into 4 and seperated them from each other. 1 has turned ghost white(dead) and another one looks like it might be gone by tomorrow. The remaining 2 seem to be holding so far All my other SPS are doing great full polyps, encrusting, business as usual. Does anyone have any clue as to what could be the culprit? I had it placed high under T5's overdriven with plenty of flow. The frags I put lower hoping that would help. I just tested my water, results are as follows.
SG : 1.0256
PH : 8.3
Am : 0
NO2 : 0
NO3 : 0
Cal : 440
Alk : 12dKH
Mag : 1380
Temp : 78F

All of these stay very consistent, I've been documenting them from the 1st of the year and nothing really swings. Any suggestion??????

 

[GROWSZOAS]

Did you dip it at all, do you see any aefw?

 

[MeVsTheWorld]

Yes and no..

 

[MMOORE0324]

How about your Po4? Did you acclimate it slowly to your T5s? Could be just one of those unexplained things. If all of your other SPS are doing well I wouldn't worry too much. Hopefully those two other frags make it! Goodluck.

 

[MMOORE0324]

Oh btw when my Po4 starts to rise a little bit my Tri-Color is the first to show signs of stress...

 

[MeVsTheWorld]

Unfortunately I have neglected to buy that test. I do run a phosphate pad and change it every 2 -3 days. I don't really have algae issues. No light acclimation.

 

[MMOORE0324]

I would for sure get a Po4 kit asap. Even though you don't really have any algae issues doesn't really mean that you don't have a phosphate issue. Some soft corals will suck phosphates up. But for the time being I would do a water change, keep the frags down low, and get a Po4 test kit. How do you run the phos. pad? What brand?

 

[MeVsTheWorld]

Here is what I use http://www.hbhpet.com/Products/padsphosphate1.htm I just cut it up to the size I need and stick it in the overflow. I do water changes every 10 days regardless of problems. I heard/read a lot of talk about not getting results of Po4 due to it being consumed and undetectable???????? I use 0 TDS ro/di water in case any1 wants to know.

 

[MMOORE0324]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14907349#post14907349 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MeVsTheWorld
I do water changes every 10 days regardless of problems. I heard/read a lot of talk about not getting results of Po4 due to it being consumed and undetectable???????? I use 0 TDS ro/di water in case any1 wants to know.

I would guess that your phosphates are pretty low but even very small amounts can affect SPS. They are just really sensitive to Po4. Do you run a fuge? The problem with all phosphate media is that they can leech phosphates back into the water. Even on ones that say they don't... they do. I have run GFO for about three years and it works well, but I think it can cause some issues too. I'm getting ready to start Zeo now that Salty is selling it.

You are right about phosphate test kits. The only truly accurate test is a Hanna Photometer. But at around $200 I just can't justify it right now.

 

[MeVsTheWorld]

My fuge is live rock with a cheato ball in the sump. Yes about them leeching back, another reason I replace every 2-3 days. I keep my tank as minimalist as possible. No high tech gadgetry, just basically water changes. I am scheduled for a water change tomorrow, maybe that will help if their still with us

 

[MMOORE0324]

Yeah a water change should help. Does your cheato grow fast?

 

[MeVsTheWorld]

Not too fast since I added the sump and moved it down there. I did have it behind my rock work with a GE 6500k (T5 overdriven) above it and had to remove some every week. Now it's under a 65w 6500k flood light and does not grow as fast. Weird?????????

 

[MMOORE0324]

Did you use the phos pads before you had a sup? I would say that the phos pads are adsorbing the majority of the phosphates not leaving the cheato as much to take. Another good macro algae to use is Ulva or sea lettuce. I have had it in my fuge for about 7 months now and it grows somewhat fast but it really soaks up any No3 and also fish eat this macro, unlike chaeto, so it's really efficient for the reef. Nothing is wasted with that stuff.

 

[MeVsTheWorld]

Nope I do have caterpillar weed growing in abundance now, spatula algae doing well and multiplying, halimeda algae starting to grow also and some crazy hard red grass algae in the sump doing well. I don't know, I guess just watch and see what transpires....
Thanks Matt........

 

[MMOORE0324]

No problem! You know I was just looking at the pic some more. What did you dip it in when you got it? And is that pic what the coral looks like now or when you got it?

 

[MeVsTheWorld]

Kent Marine Tech-D and the pic was when it just was put in the tank, my camera sucks so I took the shot while it was low and close to the glass I think it was just ****ed off due to being fragged, gagged, and bagged....lol

 

[MMOORE0324]

The reason I asked is there are a few spots that kinda look like red bugs. Hard to tell. I know that Tri-Colors are usually red bug magnets. Might want to see if you can get ahold of some interceptor and dip it again.

 

[MeVsTheWorld]

I think I'm just gonna wait it out. It used to be like 2 1/2" with 6 branches, now I'm down to (2) 3/4" frags... Thanks again Matt!

 

[MMOORE0324]

No problem Bill, keep us updated on how it does!

 

[MeVsTheWorld]

Well the 2 remaining pieces are doing fine. No sign of RTN and full polyp extension. they are about 10" away from one another and are at least 6-7" deep. Looks like the storm is over. As soon as some encrusting takes place I will be very happy.