RTN on Yellow Porites??

Is this rapid tissue necrosis? Well, maybe it's slow tissue necrosis, since it's been slowly happening over the last few days...






Here is a pic from when I first got it, about 3 weeks ago



Current Water Parems
SG: 1.025-1.026
Mag: 1375
Cal: 420
Alk: 8 as of this morning (was away for the weekend and it was unfortunately not taken care of), usually kept around 10
Amm: no test kit
NO2: 0
NO3: ~20
PO4: prob b/w 0.02-0.05 (haven't checked in a few days)

This is my first attempt at SPS so I definately have that feelnig of inexperience I am guilty of having my hands in the tank almost daily...but that is mostly b/c I've been dealing with red slime and bubble algae. I definately have an excess of nutrients in my tank (which is why my algae is not in check), however I'm taking steps to correct that....naturally. I've also noticed my emerald crabs chillin on coral too, not sure if that is a problem for SPS?

 

forgot to add....didn't use a coral dip, just added straight to tank. bad form I know:-[

 

I just read on Reef Builders.com that a scientist found a cure for RTN. He used ( honey ).

 

any SPS pros?

anything I can or should do?

 

it was looking a bit worse last night, so I fragged off the healthy branches and gave them a dip using Lugols. I saw at least one little critter fall off.

such a shame to have to cut apart that big peice. hope a few survive....

 

By the pics I wouldn't say the recession was too bad. But since you said it got worst odds are you did the right thing.

You said when you dipped a critter fell off. What was it?
There are Acro eating flat worms out there that can devastate an SPS system.

J

 

Sorry I didn't see this sooner.

How strong of flow do you have it in. It has no polyp extension. Usually, means an unhappy coral. Porites take very strong flow.

All your other parameters look fine except po4. Are you running a reactor?

 

Jason, the little critter didn't look like a flatworm...more like a tiny shrimp or crustacean of some kind?

JonJon, I originally had it right in line w/ a Evo 750 aimed laterally across it (prob about 10-12 inches away). No polyps were coming out after a week or two, so I reposition the powerhead away to try to creat more of a random flow. I then starting seeing some of th polyps starting to show so I figured it was a good decision. But shortly after is when I noticed the deteriation.

I guess I'm a bit confused with "strong flow"? I originally took that as constant/high flow sweeping across the coral. But then I've read that constant strong flow can strip the flesh off SPSs. I know random flow is better but I don't have a controller to start/stop my powerheads.

 

No reactor

 

As you have learned Flow is key. You may want to invest in something that will help with randomizing flow.

It is key to have strong flow but not 100% of the time.