Algae on Montipora

[Darsh]

Hi everyone, I have these new Montipora pieces in my tank for just over a week.
The plate was nipped by my aiptasia eating filefish and the white spots left behind have started to grow a tiny bit of algae.
The branches had white tips when I got them, I suppose from new growth, but that started to grow
algae too.
I brushed it off yesterday so you cant see much now but what do you think by looking at the pictures?
Thanks!

 

[Topekoms]

What are your tank parameters

 

[Darsh]

What are your tank parameters

Sorry I forgot to mention, yes my Nitrate is high at 20ppm.
Phosphates I dont know because I havent been able to find a kit nearby but I assume also high.
Is it possible the algae could grow over the good flesh?

 

[Darsh]

Also in case its helpful:
Mag 1220
Alk 7.6
Cal 415
pH 7.8
Sg 25.5

 

[Topekoms]

No we need them all
ALK
CAL
MAG
Nitrate
PH
Etc....

 

[Topekoms]

Also in case its helpful:
Mag 1220
Alk 7.6
Cal 415
pH 7.8
Sg 25.5

Sg 25.5? guessing this is your salinity?

 

[Darsh]

Sg 25.5? guessing this is your salinity?

Yes

 

[Topekoms]

if you are using Specific Gravity your salinity should only be 1.026. I think you might be reading something wrong.

 

[Topekoms]

what are you using to test salinity?

 

[Darsh]

if you are using Specific Gravity your salinity should only be 1.026. I think you might be reading something wrong.

what are you using to test salinity?

A refractometer and it indicated between 1.025 and 1.026, so 1.025.5

 

[Topekoms]

ahh I see ok

well off the top I see some of your numbers are low

Alk should be around 8 and Mag should be around 1300

 

[Darsh]

ahh I see ok

well off the top I see some of your numbers are low

Alk should be around 8 and Mag should be around 1300

Yea they are a bit low, I try to keep them at natural levels. The guy I bought them from had exactly the same Mag, Alk And Cal as me funnily enough.

 

[Topekoms]

Well I think you need to raise them. As far at the monti and digi it seems you have tissue loss. That is due to I think the your parameters not being where they should. Also if those tips on the digi were like that when you bought it I would say he has the same problem

 

[Darsh]

Well I think you need to raise them. As far at the monti and digi it seems you have tissue loss. That is due to I think the your parameters not being where they should. Also if those tips on the digi were like that when you bought it I would say he has the same problem

Are they Digis? He told me they were Montipora.
Here are some pics of them the day I got them.

 

[ReeferWarrant]

Not an expert but I doubt thats due to your parameters, unless they swung drastically over night. I'd be more willing to bet it's due to flow or light. You have good polyp extension on the healthy flesh on the digi, I wouldnt mess with that one. The plating one, is probably flow related.

 

[Darsh]

Are they Digis? He told me they were Montipora.

Of course Montipora digitata oops.

 

[ScottR]

White patches on the Monti cap make me think monti eating nudibranchs. Did you dip your montis? Can you dip again to check. These nudis are so small and are very hard to see.

 

[Darsh]

Not an expert but I doubt thats due to your parameters, unless they swung drastically over night. I'd be more willing to bet it's due to flow or light. You have good polyp extension on the healthy flesh on the digi, I wouldnt mess with that one. The plating one, is probably flow related.

I’ll increase the flow and see if it helps. To be honest, with red plating Montipora I cant find any pics online of good polyp extension so Im not sure what it even should look like.

 

[Darsh]

White patches on the Monti cap make me think monti eating nudibranchs. Did you dip your montis? Can you dip again to check. These nudis are so small and are very hard to see.

Those spots appeared after 2 days in my tank, on the 3rd day I caught my filefish going to town on it, I could hear the crunches too!
He lives in the sump now...