Acro Issues...

So long story short, I've lost a few acro frags and one colony over the past 3-4 weeks - definitely tissue loss from the base of the frags/colony. I have also noticed my other frags (I have 60 or so) are much more pale than a couple months ago. Several things have happened in the past month which I realize are all bad, just want some thoughts on if it is definitly the reason or if there is something else I am missing:

- Feeding has been reduced to combat vermitid snails
- I've been lowering my alk from the 10-11 range down to ~8 over several weeks, my RKE went offline for a weekend and it dropped to 7, then somehow shot back up to 10 - I realize alk fluctuations are a major cause of STN, my questions is if this kind of swing is enough to lose corals?
- Calcium has been lower, around 380 and have been working to get it up
-Magnesium is at 1500 - can't seem to get it down (i haven't dosed Mag in 5 months)

Temp ranges from 77.5-80.5 (is this too hot?)
Nitrates 0
Phosphate 0

My skimmer airline also got clogged for a few days while I was out of town, but nitrates have maintained at 0 as well as phosphate.

When i got back on Monday, the tank appeared slightly cloudy - my first thought was calcium precipitation but my Mag is up and my calcium is lower than usual. Could it be a bacterial issue that is hurting my corals?

Again, i realize there has been a ton of fluctuation which I am going to get back under control, but want to get some opinions on if there is something else that could be happening that is causing the STN on my acros.

 

Just out of curiosity, what brand of test kits are you using?

Also what type of lighting and flow do you have?


Lastly, have you checked the bottom of your corals for eggs (Flat Worms)?

 

API for Alk, Calc, Nitrate and Phos
Salifert for Mag

I have 8 x 54" T5 running 4 for 9 hours, the other 4 come on for 5 hours
I have around 50x turnover in my tank using Hydor Koralia and the return

 

And no, I haven't checked for flatworms - will have a look at lunch

 

So just checked out the colony I'm losing - looks like red bugs...

I've read some people use interceptor, some bayer, some dip - what's the best method? I also see you need to get shrimp and crabs out as this will kill them too.

 

Interceptor works well if you can get it and much easier to do, no dipping needed. Yes you will need to remove hermits, crabs and shrimp if you do not want to risk loosing those. I have never had STN occur because of Red Bugs. Red Bugs for me caused diminished coloration and diminished PE with slower growth nothing more.

What salt mix are you using?

If you are using 2 parts that may be contributing to your elevated magnesium level. Some 2 parts have magnesium as an additive as well as strontium. I had to cut back on using the Ca part because it was adding too much mag. Now I used Kalk top off for Ca supplementation and Part A every couple days instead of every day.

A swing from 10 to 7 will contribute to STN for sure.

I run my tank at 82 so I doubt that 80 F is the issue.

Consistency is probably the biggest problem.

 

Im using reef crystals - I do think the fluctuations were the main cause, working on getting things back in check at the moment. Unfortunately interceptor is out just about everywhere so will have to wait a bit on it - will my corals be ok in the meantime? I have coral rx, would a dip in that help while
I'm waiting?

 

Unless you see pest I would not dip them. You can dip one and see what comes off, pick the worst off and less desired one.

If they are smooth skin acro I would not dip them unless you're prepared to loose them.

I know individuals that have had RB's chronically for months with no really issue, other than the ones I posted previously.

 

Looks like i have nothing else to say because Cheryl said it all!

But your alk swing definitely caused your STN, and the other's just contributed to it.

 

Alk swings are deadly. Some sps responds differently