Can I save my Monti?

lrp693 · Oct 22, 2019

I recently purchased this Monti frag and have had it in the tank for two days. I accidentally fed it bottles phytoplankton and now it is changing colors all where the phytoplankton touched the surface. Is there anything I can do to save it? Is it dying or is this normal? (The second photo is what it looked like when I put it in and the first is what it looks like now.)

Crabs McJones · Oct 22, 2019

Welcome to R2R!
Sorry to hear about your monti. Can you share with us your parameters as well as lighting setup? It could be coincidence the phytoplankton, but if the bottle had any ammonia buildup it could have burned those spots.

lrp693 · Oct 22, 2019

Sure, the parameters are all normal, Salinity: 1.025, PH: 8.2, Ammonia: 0 ppm, Nitrite: 0.3 ppm, Nitrate: 0.5 ppm, Temperature: 79.5 F, and the lighting is the stock lighting with the Fluval Evo: LED 14000K. Update on the appearance, the spots that were "burned" are now completely white after the flow has blown away what I'm guessing was damaged tissue. Will the entire colony die? Will the burned sections come back?

Crabs McJones · Oct 22, 2019

You're registering Nitrite? What test kit are you using? If the tank is completely cycled there should be 0 nitrite and 0 ammonia.

lrp693 · Oct 22, 2019

Sorry, Nitrite was also 0 ppm, I just realized I typed in the wrong number. I have a log since I started the tank and I put in an old entry on the last reply. All the other tank members including corals are doing well and there doesn't seem to be any other indicators of parameter issues.

Saltwatertaffy · Oct 22, 2019

what is your Ca and DKH?

Crabs McJones · Oct 22, 2019

lrp693 said:
Sorry, Nitrite was also 0 ppm, I just realized I typed in the wrong number. I have a log since I started the tank and I put in an old entry on the last reply. All the other tank members including corals are doing well and there doesn't seem to be any other indicators of parameter issues.

What are the other corals and what is your calcium and alkalinity level at?

HotRocks · Oct 22, 2019

lrp693 said:
Sorry, Nitrite was also 0 ppm, I just realized I typed in the wrong number. I have a log since I started the tank and I put in an old entry on the last reply. All the other tank members including corals are doing well and there doesn't seem to be any other indicators of parameter issues.

Do you have any other SPS?

Have you tested your calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium?

Saltwatertaffy · Oct 22, 2019

If its white... sorry but its dead in those areas.

lrp693 · Oct 22, 2019

Crabs McJones said:
What are the other corals and what is your calcium and alkalinity level at?

I'm not sure, I tested with strips which I no longer have and am waiting for the new liquid tests to come in the mail because none of my local stores had them. The other corals are a small Duncan colony and a small Xenia colony. No other SPS. This was the first SPS I put in this tank.

lrp693 · Oct 22, 2019

Saltwatertaffy said:
what is your Ca and DKH?

I'm not sure, I tested with strips which I no longer have and am waiting for the new liquid tests to come in the mail because none of my local stores had them.

Crabs McJones · Oct 22, 2019

LPS (duncan) and softies (xenia) rely much less on calcium and alkalinity than SPS do. If one of those parameters are out of wack SPS will suffer but LPS and softies will appear to be fine. Best bet would be to either hold tight until your test kits come in so you can see where your levels are at, take a sample into your LFS to test, or do a couple of small water changes to get your levels back to normal if they're out of spec.

The Aquatic Arsenal · Oct 22, 2019

Do you have a LFS that can test your water for you? I personally haven't found test strips to be completely accurate.

Nanoreefer4ever · Oct 22, 2019

Phytoplanktons are beneficial to all marine life, won't cause any damage. Your water parameters, bugs can cause it to gl bad

TopShelfAquatics · Oct 22, 2019

What brand phyto did you use?

The Aquatic Arsenal · Oct 22, 2019

How much phytoplankton did you feed? You may have to much phosphate and nitrates.

lrp693 · Oct 22, 2019

TopShelfAquatics said:
What brand phyto did you use?

Seachem

lrp693 · Oct 22, 2019

The Aquatic Arsenal said:
How much phytoplankton did you feed? You may have to much phosphate and nitrates.

A couple drops, nothing major, but the discoloration happened right after I fed it

lrp693 · Oct 22, 2019

The Aquatic Arsenal said:
Do you have a LFS that can test your water for you? I personally haven't found test strips to be completely accurate.

I have some liquid test kits on the way.

lrp693 · Oct 22, 2019

Crabs McJones said:
LPS (duncan) and softies (xenia) rely much less on calcium and alkalinity than SPS do. If one of those parameters are out of wack SPS will suffer but LPS and softies will appear to be fine. Best bet would be to either hold tight until your test kits come in so you can see where your levels are at, take a sample into your LFS to test, or do a couple of small water changes to get your levels back to normal if they're out of spec.

Sounds good, I'll do a couple small water changes in the meantime and then check the parameters when the test kits come in. Thanks for the advice!