Dead Acro tips

[Spitty]

Very frustrated with my tank at the moment. Why do acros tips die off?
Salt 1.026, refracto, apex probe, Hanna, Brightwell salt
Alk 8.5 Hanna
Ca 420 Red Sea
Mg 1320 Red Sea
No3 <2 ppm api and Red Sea
Po4 0.02 or less Salifert
2 part dosing Esv, skimming only at night to build nutrients, pulling fresh air from outside. Growing Chaetomorpha pretty well. Running t5s with Radion x15s using the coral lab program. Just spent most of last week with the apogee 510 checking par. Acros in the 250 to 350 par range. Tank has been running since Nov 1st, 2018. Is the tank to young or or could it be a source water problem? All water is run through a Brs 6 stage rodi system. Not sure what my next move is. Icp?

 

[Reefcowboy]

Too high alk. When nitrate/PO4 are very low, alk need to be kept lower or youll get burnt tips on some more sensitive sps.

I had the same issue happen when I added a Kalk reactor to the system and kept dosing normal alk regimen. My alk slowly climbed from 8.0 to 8.9 and I got some burnt tips. Try slowly lowering alk and theyll recover.
I find they are happiest at 8 in my tank that is also ran low nutrient

 

[Spitty]

I can definitely try that, is there a point where it can drop to low?and what would that be?

 

[SeaDweller]

I can definitely try that, is there a point where it can drop to low?and what would that be?

There are some reefers that run 6.5 dKh. I would think 7.0-8.0 is safe for many. 8.5 isn’t high but it could be high for your tank.

 

[Spitty]

Thank you both for the advice, should I cut off the 2 part completely or maybe cut the dose in half? What would be the best strategy?

 

[Reefcowboy]

Thank you both for the advice, should I cut off the 2 part completely or maybe cut the dose in half? What would be the best strategy?

I shut off dosing at my tank when I realized it was high. I test every day and change water once a week to lower it slowly.
When it gets down to 8.0, I'll resume dosing at half of the old regimen and keep testing every day. Then you increment/decrease until you get the target level
I try keeping my alk as close to 8.0 as possible. You'll see as it is lowered tissue will start growing back at the tips

 

[Spitty]

Man, I really appreciate the reply, I will give it a go

 

[Spitty]

My only other theory is this particular Acro spent over a week in 100 par or so before I raised it into the 230 range, could this be a contributing factor as well?

 

[Reefcowboy]

I doubt it, if the coral didnt adapt to the lighting you would see fading/bleaching although in low nutrient tanks every change must be slow and gradual. When higher alk is the issue, youll see polyp extension in the other parts of the coral as usual, with the burnt tips as the only problem. Looking at your corals I bet thats the issue. Dont worry lower it and in a few weeks tissue will be back. Good luck

 

[Spitty]

Here’s my action plan, please pick it apart if it’s not wise!
Discontinue dosing
Stop skimming
Remove filter socks
Test at the same time daily
Weekly 30 gal water change on 240 gal system
I use Brightwell salt which states alk at 8.3 when mixed to 1.025
Let alk fall to the 8.0 range

 

[Reefcowboy]

Here’s my action plan, please pick it apart if it’s not wise!
Discontinue dosing
Stop skimming
Remove filter socks
Test at the same time daily
Weekly 30 gal water change on 240 gal system
I use Brightwell salt which states alk at 8.3 when mixed to 1.025
Let alk fall to the 8.0 range

That's good, I would keep skimming though, remember you want to keep things as close as possible to how they are now. Your No3 and PO4 are perfectly fine. You let your alk come down to 8.0 your corals will bounce back.

This is a highlighter acro, first coral that usually tells me my alk is high. Tips lost flesh, and quickly recovered as I dropped it to 8.0
My nitrates are at 4ppm, phosphate at 0. When my nitrates are higher, higher alk is ok

 

[Spitty]

Only reason I thought to quit skimming for awhile is that my nitrates have been on a downward trend especially this past month. 2 months ago nitrates were 15- 20 ppm, 1 month ago < 10 ppm and yesterday < 5 with the api kit and 0.05 with the Red Sea kit. I've also seen an explosion in chaeto growth this past month. Just thinking if I keep skimming my nitrates may disappear completely.

 

[SeaDweller]

Here’s my action plan, please pick it apart if it’s not wise!
Discontinue dosing
Stop skimming
Remove filter socks
Test at the same time daily
Weekly 30 gal water change on 240 gal system
I use Brightwell salt which states alk at 8.3 when mixed to 1.025
Let alk fall to the 8.0 range

Try skimming dry. Although I think your nutrient levels are fine. Gauge it by you own corals and their colors, etc. make sure your kits are good and not expired.

I’d remove socks completely. They’re a hassle IMO and remove all the stuff for corals, I find I get way better PE without the socks. Maybe coincidence?

And if you’re trying to keep nutrients, I’d skip the WC weekly, do them 3-4 weeks, what’s the need for the WC? I’d just let alk fall naturally. 8.5 to 8.0 should be quick. I would think Brightwell salt is a fine choice. In all honesty, 8.5 alk shouldn’t be much issue even if you have low nutrients like you do, although yeah it could be “high” for your system. Any nipping from fish?

I’ve had my alk up at 9.0 with nutrients lower than yours and I didn’t experience burnt tips. I keep my alk at 8.0, but I was re tuning my CaRx. It’s not like your alk is at 10-12 dkh consistently...

 

[Spitty]

What exactly do you mean by skimming dry. Just not pulling any waste? Right now I'm overflowing the skimmer on purpose because the skimmer is pulling fresh air from outside. Since I stopped dosing my ph is now low, so I’m cranking the skimmer to combat this. I tested my Alk last evening at 6 and it had fallen to 8.3. I will test again at 6 and post the results. Also, good point about skipping the weekly water change. I only have a few acros, and a few hammers. Can’t see that small amount of coral exhausting trace elements that quickly out of 240 gallons.

 

[Spitty]

Well, just got done water testing again
Alk 8.0 Hanna
Ca 430 Red Sea
Nitrates < 2 ppm Red Sea
Phos none Salifert
Cut my 2 part dose in half as suggested and will try to maintain the 8.0 alk level.
Sorry I missed the question above, I have not seen any fish nipping at the corals. I have tangs, clowns, chromis and a sixline wrasse.

 

[Seminoles76]

Your parameters are good. Keep everything the same and keep your fingers crossed until the tank gets a little more age on it.

That coral you posted looks alright and may not even be burnt tips.

I promise you that moving a coral in a young tank is more than enough to stress it and cause what you are seeing.

 

[Spitty]

Another question popped in my head. Can a large calcium dose stress out corals? Last week I tested calcium, it had dropped to the 375 range. I did a large corrective dose, 750 ml for 240 gallons. Tested 2 days later and calcium had risen to the 430 range. Maybe to aggressive withe that dose?

 

[SeaDweller]

Another question popped in my head. Can a large calcium dose stress out corals? Last week I tested calcium, it had dropped to the 375 range. I did a large corrective dose, 750 ml for 240 gallons. Tested 2 days later and calcium had risen to the 430 range. Maybe to aggressive withe that dose?

I doubt it, tbh.