Can Frags Die Randomly?

ReefMadScientist · Nov 5, 2015

Today I noticed my little Sunset Milli frag is shedding its tissue from the top-down. All of my other frags, and colonies appear to be okay. Little bummed as I really loved that frag. Could of been picked on my the filefish now sitting in my sump after I saw him eating my Scoly.

Overall, is it possible just for a frag to die out for no reason? This was no fresh cut frag and was doing awesome. I dipped the Sunset Milli and did not find any pest on it. Did see a few rotifers but that is it.

So the sources have to be the file fish or a slight dkh swing I had this past week where my Kh went from 10 > 8.5 in a matter of days.

The frag was level to the sand bed so I do not think bleaching had anything to do with it...

Parameters:
Temp: 78
Salinity: 1.026
pH: 8.0-8.25
kH: 8.5
Ca: 415
Mg: 1510
Nitrate: Haven't tested recently but averaging around 5ppm.
PO4: Undetectable

ReefMadScientist · Nov 5, 2015

@twilliard @Russ265 @143MPCo

Besides Russ, I know you guys are messing around in the Lounge lol.

TD13 · Nov 5, 2015

RTN, yes.

ReefMadScientist · Nov 5, 2015

TD13 said:
RTN, yes.

I guess my question will open a can of worms. But I thought RTN or STN is caused at the base and works its way up? Also, any definitive root causes for RTN?

TD13 · Nov 5, 2015

ReefMadScientist said:
I guess my question will open a can of worms. But I thought RTN or STN is caused at the base and works its way up? Also, any definitive root causes for RTN?

Honestly, I have never heard of a definite cause of RTN/STN. And not necessarily. I have seen it start on a branch of a colony and spread from there.

ReefMadScientist · Nov 5, 2015

TD13 said:
Honestly, I have never heard of a definite cause of RTN/STN. And not necessarily. I have seen it start on a branch of a colony and spread from there.

Thanks. It was in a low>medium flow area so I doubt the tissue was annoyed.

It's one of those mystery things where I will not put too much thought into it because it will drive me insane. My first SPS frag loss in over 2 years.

California Reef Co. · Nov 5, 2015

Do some frags and colonies randomly just die?

Yes without a doubt, especially with fresh wild corals.

Even aquacultured corals sometimes die without any indication as to why.

You can have the perfect chemistry parameters, light levels, flow, reef safe fish. Sometimes they just die for no reason at all. Especially high end corals.

But acros generally dont like alkalinity swings.

ReefMadScientist · Nov 5, 2015

California Reef Co. said:
Do some frags and colonies randomly just die?

Yes without a doubt, especially with fresh wild corals.

Even aquacultured corals sometimes die without any indication as to why.

You can have the perfect chemistry parameters, light levels, flow, reef safe fish. Sometimes they just die for no reason at all. Especially high end corals.

Thanks!

twilliard · Nov 5, 2015

From the top.. hmm
Alkalinity

I feel that as long as that gets stable it will recover

hutch2828 · Nov 5, 2015

Swings in Alk will most definitely cause stress and tissue loss for some acros. And I've always had worse luck with millis. Keep things stable and it might recover. Always easier said than done though

ReefMadScientist · Nov 5, 2015

twilliard said:
From the top.. hmm
Alkalinity
I feel that as long as that gets stable it will recover

Yeah I figured the top>down was Alk. I have been stable the past two days at 8.5.

hutch2828 said:
Swings in Alk will most definitely cause stress and tissue loss for some acros. And I've always had worse luck with millis. Keep things stable and it might recover. Always easier said than done though

This is my second Milli. I do have a Milli colony which is doing just fine. I am starting to learn the finicky ways of Milli's.

Russ265 · Nov 5, 2015

imo frags are hit and miss. you can get frags from the same mother colony and place them in different parts of the tank and 1 may kick the bucket for whatever reason.

stability is key and it happens every so often. i dont see it happen as much with heftier frags or smaller colonies

top down high alk.
base up / sides low alk

least thats what i witness

ReefMadScientist · Nov 5, 2015

Welp, I am now official in another coral growth spurt.

I swear - You get your doser dialed in for a few weeks and BAM.

Russ265 · Nov 5, 2015

ReefMadScientist said:
Welp, I am now official in another coral growth spurt.

I swear - You get your doser dialed in for a few weeks and BAM.

glad its working.

man i had dino, then a bacterial bloom when i kicked the peroxide. my corals were reeling until recently.

ahhh but i love this hobby

ReefMadScientist · Nov 5, 2015

Russ265 said:
glad its working.

man i had dino, then a bacterial bloom when i kicked the peroxide. my corals were reeling until recently.

ahhh but i love this hobby

I do to but geez I love the breaks my tank gives me. For a few weeks I was just sitting back enjoying the show. My parameters were all in check. Then all of a sudden my corals decide they all want to eat at once and start depleting my elements.

Now its back to the see-saw game of balance.