What are Monti digi's and cap's sensitive to?

[CBehr]

I'm having problems with my caps and digit's. I have numerous other sps, lps, zoa's etc and all are doing great. I haven't had any caps/digis in a year or so but for some reason even then they seemed to be the first to show sign that a WC was needed. I have three color caps that aren't very happy and three color digis, green is looking ok, puple 1/2 decent, green skin with red polyps poor.

I had them a month then fragged. All were starting to encrust and now the last week have been declining.

Lights are 250w 14k phoenix in main tank and T5's in my prop so I don't think it's a lighting of flow issue.

CA: 400
Alk: 9.5
Nitrates 0
Phosphate 0

 

[Bcamp]

Alk. Swings usually bother the monti's the most. Besides pests.

 

[CBehr]

alk has been steady 9-9.5 since I got them? Just don't get it, these are beginner corals and I have problems.

 

[icedgxe]

I have the same issues every once and a while. Someone once told me that high temp, temp changes, and higher nutrients can make montis suffer. I don't know. It seems that when I start to see some more algae growth, my montis decline. I have also been told that they are the first to show signs of alk swings. I don't know. I am going to do a water change and change my sea gel and also check my ph probe to see.

 

[reefnut1]

I would suspect montipora eating nudibranches. Look very carefully they can be pretty small. With these no other corals will be bothered.

 

[Nereaga]

I agree with ALK swings as being the culprit. Has happened to me before, they show signs first. What test kit are you using for ALK and is it still good? Maybe try another one just to be sure it is reading accurately.

Brad

 

[CBehr]

I just ran out of my salifert kit and switched to tropic marin, but they both have been registering 9-9.5. I have a two part dosing pump but I just can't figure why they continue to look worse and worse....I would guess a few more days and the green skin digi's will be done for. I tried moving several frags around to change up light/flow but nothing helps. I'll check again for nudis tonight.

 

[stingythingy45]

What about Magnesium?

 

[CBehr]

MG was right about 1000, I realize this could be a bit higher but dont' think this is at a dangerously low level.

 

[logan 12]

I have many sps's along with some top name one's. Seems that I always have trouble with monti's the most. Orange monti cap seems to grow so big then poof dead. My problem is most likely do to alk swings, I'v noticed even a slight drop in alk can have devastating effects on monti's. However I have a purple rim that does not seem to matter what the alk it grows like crazy no matter what. Just thought Id share.

 

[Gills 619]

I have many sps's along with some top name one's. Seems that I always have trouble with monti's the most. Orange monti cap seems to grow so big then poof dead. My problem is most likely do to alk swings, I'v noticed even a slight drop in alk can have devastating effects on monti's. However I have a purple rim that does not seem to matter what the alk it grows like crazy no matter what. Just thought Id share.

My purple rim also seems to be far stronger than the others.

 

[beeker]

ever check your magnesium? if you dose a 2 part it might be time to start adding Magnesium to the list of additives

i've found digi's normally like medium lighting and medium flow, i only lost 1 frag due to Vodka dosing, my digi's normally always do great and are hardy

Red cap is the only monti i have longer term knowledge of, it honestly never dies and has only looked bad 2-3 times when my alk swang and when i didn't feed any phyto or oyster eggs for 3 months i think my tank was too low in nutrients and the polyps started have 0 extension

other than that both are really hardy most of the time, id' check Alk/calc and mag, maybe up your water change routine to once a week

Elo's test kits are the only ones that i've found to be accurate, i've used salifert and api and instant ocean all 3 of these were off by 2 DKH which is not a good thing

this is my tank stats

Alk 7-8 dkh
Calc 500ppm
Mag 1500+ no issues with it at this level and nuisciance algea is kept low as well

 

[RRaider]

MG was right about 1000, I realize this could be a bit higher but dont' think this is at a dangerously low level.

There was a thread some time ago about monti's being sensitive to low mag and imo, that is too low.

 

[CBehr]

Epson salt for MG is what you guys use?

Think I'll get another MG test kit as mine is rather old to verify.

I actually just started doing weekly 10g water changes about 2 months ago...but missed the last week.