Acro disease in captivity

[pharazon]

Hello!

I’ve recently had a strange development on one of my oldest acropora and can’t quite determine what is going on. To me it does not look like a pest issue, but rather more like some of the diseases that plague wild populations. Would love to hear some input from some acro veterans.

For what its worth, my parameters:

Salinity: 35.5 PPT
Alk: 7 dkh
Cal: 430 PPM
Mag: 1350 PPM
NO3: 0
PO4: 0.1-0.03

I know my nutrients are low, but they always have been. I dose phosphate pretty frequently but no longer bother with nitrates because it does more for cyano growth than it does for acro color in my tank.

Also included a snapshot of my tank so it’s obvious that this isn’t my first rodeo. All corals we’re grown from about 1” frags.

Thanks fam!

 

[P-Dub]

Looks pretty typical for acros that are shaded. Small tissue damage caused by whatever and the lack of light prevents this from healing effectively before other microfauna take a hold. IMHO. It happens. Is it only on this one coral?

 

[pharazon]

Looks pretty typical for acros that are shaded. Small tissue damage caused by whatever and the lack of light prevents this from healing effectively before other microfauna take a hold. IMHO. It happens. Is it only on this one coral?

I have an even smaller patch of it on my Strawberry Shortcake, but the SSC appears to be be trying to grow back over it. That branch is indeed in the shade as well.

The tank will be broken down soon for an upgrade - would it be reasonable to glue over the patches, or better to just give it a prophylactic dip?

 

[motortrendz]

I have an even smaller patch of it on my Strawberry Shortcake, but the SSC appears to be be trying to grow back over it. That branch is indeed in the shade as well.

The tank will be broken down soon for an upgrade - would it be reasonable to glue over the patches, or better to just give it a prophylactic dip?

I'd leave it be, if in the new tank it gets a little more light it may try to grow back over. A clean dip wouldnt hurt when you tank the tank down

 

[P-Dub]

I have an even smaller patch of it on my Strawberry Shortcake, but the SSC appears to be be trying to grow back over it. That branch is indeed in the shade as well.

The tank will be broken down soon for an upgrade - would it be reasonable to glue over the patches, or better to just give it a prophylactic dip?

Scrape, dip, and/or 2-part epoxy stick would be fine. I've used the 2-part epoxies to help with STN and other undesirables on my SPS's.

 

[pharazon]

I'd leave it be, if in the new tank it gets a little more light it may try to grow back over. A clean dip wouldnt hurt when you tank the tank down

New tank will have T5 hybrid so will probably get better coverage than my single Radion. Poor bugger only getting about 120 PAR on the part that IS getting light.