RTN problem with Acroporia

drivingmecrazy · Jan 24, 2019

I purchased a three Aussie Acroporia colony recently.

All my other sps corals colony are doing great.

I'm loosing the colonies I've recently purchased from RTN.

I've sucked out the brown jelly and I've dipped Acroporia in revive and placed them in another aquarium. now its still spreading too another Acroporia colonies that came with the same order.

At first all polyps would open I've had them two weeks. One would crash the others look great. I performed water changes and tested the water once again. Wake up next day to see another bit the dust. And so on.

I'll post before and after pictures. Any ideas please let me know.

My sps corals that are long term are doing great polyps fully extended.

My parameters are the following
Alk 9.3 dkh
Calcium 440
Mag 1395
Phosphates .03
Ph 8.3
Salinity 1.024
Zero ammonia Nitrates 0
Nitrates 5ppm

I used led light and whites are about 20%
Blues on 100%

I wondering if we're I tried to save the frags and placed them in the same tank if I made it spread.

TheEngineer · Jan 25, 2019

That's really frustrating!

Have you seen anything come off in the dips?

EMeyer · Jan 25, 2019

IME wild and maricultured Acros really, really dont like high alk (>7-8). And some fraction of them just RTN no matter what. (I would also keep salinity at NSW levels, 1.026, for any corals but especially wild or maricultured acros).

Has anyone ever actually had a dip stop RTN? My own experience with RTN has been pretty sad -- sometimes I've saved a colony by fragging but more often, if I see RTN starting, I know the coral is doomed. Anyone else have luck with dips to stop it?

drivingmecrazy · Jan 25, 2019

Thank you EMeyer.

If I keep the Alk at 8 natural sea water level. Wouldn't I have to worry about it depleting rapidly.

I dose manually with kalkwasser, sometimes I sub with searches reef advantage and reef builder. I do all my testing weekly. However since I did place this order I've been checking my water every couple of days just to make sure nothing is off.

I'm also looking into this chloramphenicol for RTN.

I've also ordered a uv light just to make sure I can try to kill whatever may be In the water.

Any other ideas. Anything else I should try to look into?

EMeyer · Jan 25, 2019

The subject of what alk levels to aim for and how to maintain them are vast, and I am no expert.

But my practice is to aim for total stability within the 7.5-8 range by dosing hourly. I switched from Kalk to 2-part long ago because I didnt like dosing rate being tied to evaporation rate. But theres a lot of ways to skin this cat, and most of them fail sometimes

Fourstars · Jan 25, 2019

Having the same issue here. I think it is just a reaction the the stress of a new tank with different perimeters. It did stop and I have a few healthly tips that are starting off again. Which is all I really need, will that and time.

Hemmdog · Jan 25, 2019

The bottom two pics...It’s a spath, that’s just what Spaths do.

drivingmecrazy · Jan 25, 2019

From feedback so far is most Reefers agreeable regarding the alkalinity for Aussie Acroporia.

I do not mind purchasing a dosing pump. From what I lost it would have paid for the Doser.

And should I stay Away from Acroporia spathulata.

Any other recommendations?

Big thank you for your help.

Hemmdog · Jan 25, 2019

drivingmecrazy said:
From feedback so far is most Reefers agreeable regarding the alkalinity for Aussie Acroporia.

I do not mind purchasing a dosing pump. From what I lost it would have paid for the Doser.

And should I stay Away from Acroporia spathulata.

Any other recommendations?

Big thank you for your help.

Spaths are beautiful, my favorite acro. Just very difficult to keep in most aquariums.

drivingmecrazy · Jan 25, 2019

Just watched a youtube video I think I'm sold regarding dosing pump.

Does anyone have a particular model that you would recommend?

Hemmdog · Jan 25, 2019

drivingmecrazy said:
Just watched a youtube video I think I'm sold regarding dosing pump.

Does anyone have a particular model that you would recommend?

Bm-t11. Super reliable 3 pumps, it’s easy and not that expensive to add a slave in the future that has 4 extra pumps on it. Doesent need Apex or anything. Won’t overdose because of WiFi issues or whatever people’s issues with DOS are.

madweazl · Jan 25, 2019

I've been using the BRS pumps tied to a controller for the last two years and have no complaints (they can be a bit noisy when they turn on). I've had the best results with alkalinity around 6.5-7 dKh.

drivingmecrazy · Jan 25, 2019

Sounds great.

So I'll streamline the Alk on the Dosing pump. I'm guessing that the calcium is fine or is there a magic number for Aussie Acroporia, Spathulata.

Thank you to all,

I woke up today with no idea what to do. You guys have helped me tremendously.

OriginalUserName · Jan 25, 2019

EMeyer said:
IME wild and maricultured Acros really, really dont like high alk (>7-8). And some fraction of them just RTN no matter what. (I would also keep salinity at NSW levels, 1.026, for any corals but especially wild or maricultured acros).

Has anyone ever actually had a dip stop RTN? My own experience with RTN has been pretty sad -- sometimes I've saved a colony by fragging but more often, if I see RTN starting, I know the coral is doomed. Anyone else have luck with dips to stop it?

dips seem to make it worse