Some Acroporas Do Not Thrive in My Tank

[KLR]

I am trying to figure out why most of the acroporas that I purchase start declining in health after being in my tank for less a week.

My parameters are:

Salinity-1.025
Mag-1400
Calcium-400
Alkalinity-Stable 7-8
Nitrate-barely traceable; maybe 10
Nitrite-0
Phosphate-0
Ammonia-0
pH-7.8
Temperature-Stable 79; chiller does not allow fluctuations

I run a skimmer designed specifically for Red Sea Max 250's.
My lighting consists of 4 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Aquablue Special, and 1 Fiji Purple t5 bulbs.
My photo period is from 3:30pm to 11pm.
I clean my tank every 2 or 3 weeks, if I am too busy to clean on schedule, week 2. I remove and replace 8-14 gallons of water during each cleaning.


Almost all of my LPS and soft corals have nice coloration and growth. I also have 3 acroporas that do very well for me: LE Green Jacketed Divicarta, a no "official" name purple acropora with green polyps, and a green and blue tenius.

This is the no name acropora.


Green Polyped Purple Acropora by KayRobsReef, on Flickr

Those 3 acroporas are the only 3 that thrive in my system. Every time I add any other acropora, it seems like, it begins to lose coloration around the base within the first day or two. The base obtains a blotchy/grainy look. Then some of the corallites will do the same. Following this the tissue around the base will slowly disintegrate from the rim inwards. The final result, of course, is the acropora being only its skeleton.

I am confidant that there are no acropora eating anythings in my tank.


What do you think is causing the death of all of the acroporas except for the three that are already thriving?

 

[BillyC]

Are you running carbon? If not I'd def recommend a reactor because of all the chemicals your lps release.

 

[M&M]

Is your tank 65 gal.? (Red Sea Max 250). If you replace 8-14 gal. of water every time you're cleaning your tank, IMO is too much. I try not to do more than 5% every week or 10% every other week. 14 gal. is more than 20%WC, it might throw your parameters off. Just a wild guess. Also your light period is very short.I run 6 bulb ATI fixture 12 hrs. (two bulbs) and 8 hrs. main lights (4 bulbs). I don't think your SPS get enough light. When you cleaning your tank, do you use any ammonia based product, like Windex to clean your glass maybe?

 

[Young Frankenstein]

PH too low, increase water flow throe the skimmer. tank, better aeration. Thats my .02, I would also boost alk to 9-10+, hmmmm forgot something.....water flow how much water flow ?

 

[Troylee]

That's normal... Every stick I have received loses it's color once I get it then rebounds over the next few weeks... It's all about acclimation and there picky!!!

 

[clowns101]

PH too low, increase water flow throe the skimmer. tank, better aeration. Thats my .02, I would also boost alk to 9-10+, hmmmm forgot something.....water flow how much water flow ?

What is funny is with his tank, each time he tried to get his Alk up, it throws the others WAY out of wack, same with the pH, even when he does it in moderation just to even get it up .1, it throws EVERYTHING off. I'm not sure what he had done for water flow, but I know he has done A LOT to help keep the detritus out of the system.

 

[Young Frankenstein]

That's normal... Every stick I have received loses it's color once I get it then rebounds over the next few weeks... It's all about acclimation and there picky!!!

I dont think he is talking about fresh frags

 

[Troylee]

First sentence....

 

[Reef Pets]

I would recommend raising Ph, add carbon and add an additional hour or more to your photo period. 9 hours of full light seems to be the magic number for me.

 

[Young Frankenstein]

First sentence....

I take that back, if you are talking about just received, or fresh frags, Troyle is correct:xd:

 

[KLR]

Are you running carbon? If not I'd def recommend a reactor because of all the chemicals your lps release.

I forgot to include in the o.p. that I do not have a carbon reactor, but I do use activated carbon bags.

Is your tank 65 gal.? (Red Sea Max 250). If you replace 8-14 gal. of water every time you're cleaning your tank, IMO is too much. I try not to do more than 5% every week or 10% every other week. 14 gal. is more than 20%WC, it might throw your parameters off. Just a wild guess. Also your light period is very short.I run 6 bulb ATI fixture 12 hrs. (two bulbs) and 8 hrs. main lights (4 bulbs). I don't think your SPS get enough light. When you cleaning your tank, do you use any ammonia based product, like Windex to clean your glass maybe?

I thought about this as well. I will increase my photo period. I only use distilled water to clean my tank glass.

PH too low, increase water flow throe the skimmer. tank, better aeration. Thats my .02, I would also boost alk to 9-10+, hmmmm forgot something.....water flow how much water flow ?

Ok, I will increase the pH and Alk. I also forgot to include in the o.p. that for flow I have: the two built in circulation pumps, the chiller pump-750gph, 2 large aqueon powerheads, and 2 medium size aqueon powerheads.

That's normal... Every stick I have received loses it's color once I get it then rebounds over the next few weeks... It's all about acclimation and there picky!!!

The color is the first part. The tissue actually disintegrates away after the color. Do you start all of your acroporas on the SB to light acclimate them?

What is funny is with his tank, each time he tried to get his Alk up, it throws the others WAY out of wack, same with the pH, even when he does it in moderation just to even get it up .1, it throws EVERYTHING off. I'm not sure what he had done for water flow, but I know he has done A LOT to help keep the detritus out of the system.

That is correct,hahah.

I would recommend raising Ph, add carbon and add an additional hour or more to your photo period. 9 hours of full light seems to be the magic number for me.

I will work on the pH and change the photo period now.



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Thank you all for your input so far!

 

[1Snapple]

For some reason, what works best for me is just leaving everything alone.
I can honestly say all i have done to the large tank (95g) since we moved is 1 water change, adjusted powerheads, and added an ATO, everything loves it, i havent done a waterchange in about 3 months now and i think i clean the glass 1-2 times a week.

 

[KLR]

For some reason, what works best for me is just leaving everything alone.
I can honestly say all i have done to the large tank (95g) since we moved is 1 water change, adjusted powerheads, and added an ATO, everything loves it, i havent done a waterchange in about 3 months now and i think i clean the glass 1-2 times a week.

That sounds nice. I feel like I am cleaning or adjusting something at least once a week.

 

[1Snapple]

That sounds nice. I feel like I am cleaning or adjusting something at least once a week.

well i do it partially out of lazyness but mostly its because everything does better when it isnt messed with. I havent done a water change on my nano, and its been up for 5 months.

 

[KLR]

well i do it partially out of lazyness but mostly its because everything does better when it isnt messed with. I havent done a water change on my nano, and its been up for 5 months.

I understand. If everything was perfect or near it with my tank I would probably do the same.

 

[1Snapple]

I understand. If everything was perfect or near it with my tank I would probably do the same.

I dont check levels so i dont know if anything wrong or what is wrong, everything does well i have no reason to test me.

 

[KLR]

I dont check levels so i dont know if anything wrong or what is wrong, everything does well i have no reason to test me.

Understandable

 

[ritter6788]

What are you using to test phosphate? If you're using a low range test like the Hanna Checker then your phosphates are too low. If you're using a higher range test like API then your phosphates may be higher than you think. Are you adding or dosing anything to the tank?

 

[KLR]

What are you using to test phosphate? If you're using a low range test like the Hanna Checker then your phosphates are too low. If you're using a higher range test like API then your phosphates may be higher than you think. Are you adding or dosing anything to the tank?

I use the API for phoshpates. I only frequently(every time I top off the tank-usually every 2 or 3 days) dose Seachem-Reef Buffer for pH and alk.


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Would it benefit to move my sickly acropora out of direct light, like you would LPS, or no?

 

[myzislow]

how is it that you have absolutely 0 po4?

Nevermind, just saw above you are using an API po4 kit; I'd throw that away lol as it's pretty useless for our systems. Get a low range hanna or find a local reefer who has one that you can use.