I think my stylo is dying.

[Algaewarrior]

A few days ago I noticed a small patch of white on my stylo. Over the next few days I noticed a few more. I have had issues with my old emerald crab picking at the polyps. He didn't really to it after I swatted him with my tweezers. He died about a month ago. I recently had a bubble algae issue so I had to get a replacement. I have only glimpsed the new one out at night a few times so I haven't been able to watch him closely. My wife said it could be tissue necrosis so we decided to iodine dip it. Does anyone have any thoughts as to what might be going on?

 

[Hitman]

What are you’re water readings? Mainly ALK, NO3, and PO4

 

[Algaewarrior]

Alk is 9.9. I ran out of tests for no3 and po4. My lfs was closed today so I will have to pick some up tomorrow. Everything else in the tank is perfect minus my montis that stressed out due to a light change.

 

[Algaewarrior]

Calcium is 460 and magnesium is 1425.

 

[Hitman]

Light change?

 

[michael giordano]

She is done

 

[Hitman]

She is done

Definitely not done. Why in the world would you say that? I’ve had corals look way worse and pull through just fine.

 

[Hitman]

Your light change could be the culprit. What did you change?

 

[Algaewarrior]

My wife wanted the blues on for longer. I adjusted them way too drastically at once. They are now back closer to what I had before. It's actuallyy wife's tank. I just maintain it and she let's me pick out corals for it. This stylo is the one her daughter picked out so I would like to save it.

 

[Hitman]

Double check all your levels and put your lights back the way they were. Give it a week or so to get its health back the slowly adjust your lights to where she would like them. Also get a red flashlight and after lights out just double check there’s no bugs or flatworms. I’m pretty sure the light change stressed it out but you do have hope!!!

 

[Algaewarrior]

So the light change happened about tree weeks ago. The emerald crab came about a week and a half ago. The stylo seemed to go through the light change no problem. It's just weird. I'm doing a water change tomorrow. About 25%. I'm just going to have to be patient, wait, and hope for the best. I think I've done all I can do for now.

 

[Hitman]

Definitely get your PO4 tested again as well. Stylos don’t seem to like being over .03 in my short experience with them.

 

[DesertReefT4r]

Definitely a TN issue doew not look to have been chomped on by a crab. Pest are a possibility but I have never had flatworms or red bugs go for stylo or birds nest corals.

 

[Stigigemla]

To me it looks like 0 in PO4.
There are flatworms eating Pocillipora too but they are very seldom.

 

[Algaewarrior]

Lfs didn't have phosphate kit. Nitrates were at 25 ppm. Did a 25% water change. Nitrates were still at 25. Calcium:420 alk: 8.9 mg: 1440

 

[Algaewarrior]

It doesn't look like it has lost any more tissue today so that's a small win.

 

[reefer1]

I noticed the alk dropped from 9.9kH to 8.9kH. This may be due to the water change.
Just a suggestion: check the kH for the salt mix and make this (or close to this) the target kH for your tank. Then slowly lower or rise your tank kH (over several days) until you reach your target.
If you want to target a kH different than your salt mix, you may need to buy a different mix.

 

[Hitman]

I agree with above. Here is a spreadsheet with more salts.

 

[Waters]

That is one of those coral that I just cannot keep. I have tried 3 different times......either just maintains or slowly starts looking like yours. I have a tank full of Acros which are doing great.......Stylos just tissue necrosis from the base up. Do you have any other coral? If so, how are they doing?

 

[Algaewarrior]

So Im not sure the type of salt my lfs uses. I get pre-made saltwater from them. I hand dose seachem reef fusion 1&2 for my calcium and Alk. All of my other corals are doing great besides the monti caps that didn't like the light change. I have a Bali green slimer acro is well as various other sps.