Growth at tips, recession at base?

[Terry4505]

Hey guys,

I'm experiencing an issue with some of my SPS. I have a pretty well stocked 120 that I light with two G3 Radions and 4 t5 bulbs (T5s for four hours at peak). I am experiencing pretty significant growth at the tips of my SPS, but a lot of recession from the bases of the colonies.

Params are as follows:

Salinity- 1.026
PH- 7.8-8.1 (via calibrated Apex)
Temp 77-78 (via apex)
Alk- 8.4 (Hanna and Red Sea)
Cal- 480 (Red Sea)
Mag 1500 (Red Sea)
Nitrate- 0 (API)
Phosphate 0.02 (Hanna)

I run bio pellets and NO4POx

I have a large (18"+) Green Slimer colony that has experienced massive growth at the tips, but recession from the base.

I don't think it is a pest issue. Is it possible that with the amount of light am supplying and high Cal and Mag, the corals are growing too much from the tips, taking energy away from the base?

Thanks for any input.

 

[Tahoe61]

How often are you testing alk, and what method are you using to maintain that value?

 

[ReefMadScientist]

My first thoughts have to be an Alk issue.

 

[twilliard]

The zero nitrate

 

[Vpham]

Flatworm would cause similar indication, is it still green or brown?...
Pics could say a million words.

 

[ReefMadScientist]

The zero nitrate

Ah I overlooked that!

 

[Terry4505]

I dose with a Jebao doser, testing every few days. The numbers are pretty consistent.

Like an idiot, I went from BRS 2 part, to B-Ionic, and back to BRS and experienced a bit of a swing (from 8.4-10 and back).

I don't have any good pictures. I'll try to grab some tonight

 

[Terry4505]

Flatworm would cause similar indication, is it still green or brown?...
Pics could say a million words.

I don't think it is flatworms. That was my original thought. I added a sixline wrasse and haven't seen any visible indication of pests.

 

[Vpham]

I dose with a Jebao doser, testing every few days. The numbers are pretty consistent.

Like an idiot, I went from BRS 2 part, to B-Ionic, and back to BRS and experienced a bit of a swing (from 8.4-10 and back).

I don't have any good pictures. I'll try to grab some tonight

That's a cause, alk swing is bad for sps tank. Just stick with 1 and give it a month to adjust...good luck.

 

[Tahoe61]

The zero nitrate

Ah I overlooked that!

Oh good lawrd people is that the standard answer today on the forums.

Low N/P is the cause of all sps issues, paling, tissue recession...... I am sure the great Oceans would like to be informed of this, or public aquariums. Hobbyist have been keeping systems with no detectable N/P for a long time, consider zeovit. Yes feed your corals, I feed my sps but come on, it does not have to be either or. Usually it is simple chemistry swings JM2c.

 

[ReefMadScientist]

Oh good lawrd people is that the standard answer today on the forums.

Low N/P is the cause of all sps issues, paling, tissue recession...... I am sure the great Oceans would like to be informed of this, or public aquariums. Hobbyist have been keeping systems with no detectable N/P for a long time, consider zeovit. Yes feed your corals, I feed my sps but come on, it does not have to be either or. Usually it is simple chemistry swings JM2c.

Calm down there. Is there a possibility the NO3 may be causing this? Yes. Is it for certain? No.

But I am glad you already know the exact issue the OP is having.

 

[Tahoe61]

Calm down there. Is there a possibility the NO3 may be causing this? Yes. Is it for certain? No.

But I am glad you already know the exact issue the OP is having.

As I am glad you already narrowed it down to one value taken at one point in time. No swings, no other time line, it's always low N/P based on one posted list of parameters.

I must be doing it all wrong because I just do not have that issue with 0 values for N/P. Recession from the base is characteristically an alkalinity based issue.

 

[ReefMadScientist]

As I am glad you already narrowed it down to one value taken at one point in time. No swings, no other time line, it's always low N/P based on one posted list of parameters.

I must be doing it all wrong because I just do not have that issue with 0 values for N/P. Recession from the base is characteristically an alkalinity based issue.

You are correct. I narrowed it down to either Alkalinity or Nitrates. That is my opinion. But you don't see me bashing people for saying its this or that.

 

[ReefMadScientist]

My first thoughts have to be an Alk issue.

Ah I overlooked that!

I know this thread is long Tahoe, so here you go.

 

[twilliard]

Oh good lawrd people is that the standard answer today on the forums.

Low N/P is the cause of all sps issues, paling, tissue recession...... I am sure the great Oceans would like to be informed of this, or public aquariums. Hobbyist have been keeping systems with no detectable N/P for a long time, consider zeovit. Yes feed your corals, I feed my sps but come on, it does not have to be either or. Usually it is simple chemistry swings JM2c.

Wow hold on there!
It is proven that some form of no3 is needed for proper photosynthesis
If the base is getting shaded at all and there is not the needed form of nutrients it will have recession.
So calm it down and step out of the narrow box

 

[Tahoe61]

Wow hold on there!
It is proven that some form of no3 is needed for proper photosynthesis
If the base is getting shaded at all and there is not the needed form of nutrients it will have recession.
So calm it down and step out of the narrow box

You're obviously feeling threatened and I am sorry for that, and I am sorry to the op for the interruption to his thread.

It seems every post I see on sps recession or paling is answered by it must be nitrates and phosphate, no further investigation.

I am simply implying that we need to really look at the whole picture before we jump to the current most popular answer.

It's not my first rodeo and I am not going to be bullied by the most current populace, I have been doing this for 30 years. Seldom does a competent answer revel it's self within the first post, sorry.

 

[MontiFanatic402]

could it be your flow? is the coral so big that its blocking flow from getting to the base?

 

[D maul]

I dose with a Jebao doser, testing every few days. The numbers are pretty consistent.

Like an idiot, I went from BRS 2 part, to B-Ionic, and back to BRS and experienced a bit of a swing (from 8.4-10 and back).

I don't have any good pictures. I'll try to grab some tonight

If your sps look good before the alk swing you might have your answer. People do run ulns very well, I wasn't one of them gl.

 

[Terry4505]

You can see the recession at the base of the slimer here

 

[Terry4505]

And a growth comparison at the tips