Pale/bleaching cervicornis

Teegz · Feb 22, 2019

Hi all,

I'm having trouble with cervicornis paling/bleaching in my tank. Water parameters and light profile are below. The tank is 100 gal (75gal display, 25gal refugium). I have a protein skimmer in the sump and live rock in both the display and refugium with 2 powerheads in the display. I do weekly 20gal water changes. The tank has been set up for 1.5 years and the corals have started paling only within the last month or 2. If anyone has advice on what's going on, please help!

Temperature: daily program 24.6-26
Salinity: 34
Calcium: 460
Alkalinity: 8.7
Magnesium: 1560
pH: 8.2
Ammonia: 0.15
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate 0
Phosphate 0.2

29bonsaireef · Feb 22, 2019

Where did you get Cervicornis? Would not post online about having this coral, if you really do. Your nutrients are probably a bit low, and if your diagram is correct that your peak par is only 200, that is a bit low as well.

Teegz · Feb 22, 2019

29bonsaireef said:
Where did you get Cervicornis? Would not post online about having this coral, if you really do. Your nutrients are probably a bit low, and if your diagram is correct that your peak par is only 200, that is a bit low as well.

These tanks are in a university research lab, so we have permits to use cervicornis. But thanks for the concern! What would you recommend as the best way to up our nutrient levels? Dosing or critters possibly? Would coral food help?

29bonsaireef · Feb 22, 2019

Oh okay, which university? A. Cervicornis really thrives under A LOT of light, daylight type light. Not sure what lighting y'all are using for the systems. As far as nutrients, if it is just a coral system you could dose aminos.

Do you have photos of the coral? Might help to determine if it's in fact a lighting or nutrient issue. The Alk is a little high as well for what levels you have for NO3/P04.

Teegz · Feb 22, 2019

29bonsaireef said:
Oh okay, which university? A. Cervicornis really thrives under A LOT of light, daylight type light. Not sure what lighting y'all are using for the systems. As far as nutrients, if it is just a coral system you could dose aminos.

Do you have photos of the coral? Might help to determine if it's in fact a lighting or nutrient issue. The Alk is a little high as well for what levels you have for NO3/P04.

Here are photos pre-paling and post-paling.

29bonsaireef · Feb 22, 2019

How long did this take to happen? Has the tank always had ammonia readings? That could be the issue, didn't see that at first. Realistically you should have an ammonia reading of 0 in a healthy system. The lighting does not look very strong either. Are you using NSW or salts for WC?

golfer88 · Feb 22, 2019

Why is it illegal to have it?

Hemmdog · Feb 22, 2019

golfer88 said:
Why is it illegal to have it?

Critically endangered

acro-ed · Feb 22, 2019

Your phosphate at 0.2 is quite high. You shouldn't have any ammonia at all.

This tank looks very sterile for being up for 1.5 years. What kind of light? What kind of flow? I know you said 2 powerheads, but Cervicornis needs a ton of light and flow (and they still die easily in captivity).

I would look at dosing Nitrate as well. Getting the N and P in a better ratio might start to bring the P down if you have a way to consume it (refugium algae, etc.).

Can you take a pic of the whole tank?

Thanks,
Ed

Teegz · Feb 22, 2019

Hi everyone, I’m working on getting more info. I’m new to the lab and inherited these tanks so I’m not sure of the time period of the decline. According to the data I have from existing logs, the ammonia has always fluctuated between 0-0.15, phosphate one recently started increasing from 0 a couple weeks ago and water changes are done weekly with a new batch of ASW made from Instant Ocean Reef Crystals. We use Ecotech marine Radion lighting with the SPS Coral Lab light program. How would you recommend dosing nitrates? Thanks thus far.

Teegz · Feb 22, 2019

Just found out they’ve been feeding with Artemia nauplii every evening. Only a small amount but thinking this could contribute to ammonia increase?

29bonsaireef · Feb 22, 2019

That will definitely lead to Ammonia and increased P04. Is there any fish in the tank? A lab/frag tank doesn't need any feeding like that.

It would be beneficial to add T5 or even Halide for this species. Should start with some decent WC right now, to get numbers balanced. They don't look like they're past the point of no return, yet. Definitely looking unhappy though.

Brandon McHenry · Feb 22, 2019

I think some of the most important info is going to be light intensity/duration and the quality and amount of flow in the system. These corals LOVE strong turbulent flow. I personally think the salinity is a tad low and the ammonia is a little high for my liking. I am a grad student at FAU Harbor Branch and I keep a display of Florida coral species at our visitors center, cervicornis included. It’s only been set up for a few months but the growth has been excellent. Here is the link to my build thread for the tank:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/1...t-the-ocean-discovery-visitors-center.413700/

Take a look at what I’ve got going on and let me know if you have any questions or if I can help.