what can cause STN?

[Darrin]

I have a ora blue milli that has lost about 25% in a week... i'm doing parameter checks now, but so far phosphates are 0... I'm testing as I'm typing..

calcium is a bit low .. about 380...

 

[NanoReefWanabe]

Alk is the usual culprit....or high nitrates...calcium is fine at 380 but yes on the low end of the scale..

 

[Darrin]

I just installed my skimmer...

so think a water change and massive skimming will help?

d

 

[grouper25]

Start fragging it before u lose it all. I learned the hard way once.

 

[NanoReefWanabe]

STN doesnt usually need to be fragged unless you cant find the problem and the STN persists or reverts into RTN..

skimming will certainly help a lot...skim wet to start..you will pull more poop out faster..and a WC may or may not help...STN is a sign of stress...large WC may cause further stress...

what are the rest of your parameters? SG and ALK most importantly? PH is nice to know as well...

 

[Darrin]

ugh.. my alk was 70 mg/l

ph 8.3

sg 1.22

 

[NanoReefWanabe]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13792891#post13792891 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Darrin
ugh.. my alk was 70 mg/l

ph 8.3

sg 1.22

those numbers dont make sense to me...i havent seen ALK measured in mg/l, my salifert test only measures dKH and meq/L

and you SG is ridiculously high at 1.22, but i am sure you mean 1.022 which is on the low end of the scale

pH is good though

 

[SPSpirate]

is it in direct flow or indirect random flow? what were the parameters of the tank that you got it out of? did you acclimate the coral...did you set in under high light right when you put it in...did it come from a tank with halides? is it loosing tissue from the base up or randomly through out the colony?