SPS losing tissue?

[Dondante]

Looks like flatworm postulates too me, but I was hoping some folks with more firsthand experience would chime in with their thoughts before I commented on my suspicions.

I am going to search flatworm examples. I guess the flatworms would live in the rocks? I will keep my eyes out.

 

[Dondante]

There's also spots that are affected that my Blenny couldn't have reached. Between branches.

 

[Rick.45cal]

I am going to search flatworm examples. I guess the flatworms would live in the rocks? I will keep my eyes out.

This is really worth watching. This may not be the cause but it is definitely within the realm of possibilities.

 

[jda]

Dip the frag. See if anything else comes off.

 

[ihavecrabs]

Dip the frag. See if anything else comes off.

I second this. Easiest way to determine or rule out pests.

 

[jda]

Too much light is not a problem from a Kessil - quantity speaking. Quality can be an issue. Kessil has never been accused of being an awesome acropora light - they "grow coral" or "do just fine," but they don't do much beyond this without T5 help. You probably don't want to hear this, but I would turn them down and start looking through acropora threads with people using Kessils - look at the long term ones (years and years) and the folks who really know what they are doing... you will see a trend that starts from "Kessils are awesome, love the shimmer" to "added T5s and I don't know what took me so long" to "if the T5s did this much, then why am I not adding more and relying on the Kessils less" from the same folks. When you do this, pay attention to acropora versus Montis, Stylos, Birdsnest and Pocis... they have different care levels. In all of my tests with LED, these were the least impressive for SPS, IMO.

 

[Dondante]

Too much light is not a problem from a Kessil - quantity speaking. Quality can be an issue. Kessil has never been accused of being an awesome acropora light - they "grow coral" or "do just fine," but they don't do much beyond this without T5 help. You probably don't want to hear this, but I would turn them down and start looking through acropora threads with people using Kessils - look at the long term ones (years and years) and the folks who really know what they are doing... you will see a trend that starts from "Kessils are awesome, love the shimmer" to "added T5s and I don't know what took me so long" to "if the T5s did this much, then why am I not adding more and relying on the Kessils less" from the same folks. When you do this, pay attention to acropora versus Montis, Stylos, Birdsnest and Pocis... they have different care levels. In all of my tests with LED, these were the least impressive for SPS, IMO.

Ha, I ordered 2 T5s last week to add. Just for aesthetic reason and future shading. I REALLY miss the look of T5 Actinics. I have seen several SPS tanks running the old 360w with no problems with growth. So the X Shouldnt have many problems. We will see.

The coral doesn't look any worse today. I plan on giving it another dip tomorrow. I guess it is a good sign being that the majority of the tissue loss happened really fast. I will keep yall updated.

Had a Battle Box I Ordered last monday during the Winter storm Shipp monday but it came in a day late this morning, A few Losses from this shipment so I have been dealing with that all morning. I hate losing animals.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Looks like a result by nipping from a tank occupant. Also possible shading from lighting.
What nutrients are available to coral and what type of water flow?

 

[Dondante]

Looks like a result by nipping from a tank occupant. Also possible shading from lighting.
What nutrients are available to coral and what type of water flow?

I was thinking this also. But there are spots the only suspect(Blenny) couldn't reach to bite. So I'm not completely sold on that, yet.

Definitely not shading. That particular side was blasted with light

Nitrates were around 15ish when it happened. I did a water change yesterday.

I feed the tank pretty heavy daily and spot feed every Coral a few times a week.

 

[Sarah24!]

Hello,

As others have mentioned, way to many changes to pinpoint. The alk swing too me is pretty huge, and calcium was a tad low at 420 most run 440. Now all tanks are different, an example is my lfs sps dominant 90g he runs about 20-30 ppm nitrates and little higher phosphates and tank does great. I tried to raise my tank to that and my sps really didn’t like it at all. My 240g has done much better with alk at 8 440 cal and nitrates between 2-5 ppm and 025 phosphates roughly. If your tank started low aka nitrates etc your corals may be acostume to it.

I would definitely check phosphates, and nitrates and keep water parameters stable. As others I would definitely reduce the light again. When looking at your pics of your sick one, I’m mixed like others. It’s kinda brownish from the pic (but cameras don’t take good pics (unless you have special ones), which most corals in the wild are. Some of the higher light demanding sps will require just that, and you trying to mimic what they were grown in. Do you know if this coral was tank raised or ocean farmer raised? It’s so unpredictable that anyone of us could be right on.
The white marks look like shadings, but I’m definitely not convinced that they could be bite marks.

First and foremost you need to get that water stable and keep it there. Make sure you have appropriate testing kits available to you.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I was thinking this also. But there are spots the only suspect(Blenny) couldn't reach to bite. So I'm not completely sold on that, yet.

Definitely not shading. That particular side was blasted with light

Nitrates were around 15ish when it happened. I did a water change yesterday.

I feed the tank pretty heavy daily and spot feed every Coral a few times a week.

Too many water changes = too many changes. What is salinity?
Too bright of light no good and the heavy feeding you mentioned likely is contributor to high nitrates

 

[Ashley Kekua]

Find out your search for answer yet?

 

[Dondante]

Not yet. It's hasn't gotten may worse. So I'm watching it .dipping every 4 - 5 days.

 

[Dondante]

Hello,

As others have mentioned, way to many changes to pinpoint. The alk swing too me is pretty huge, and calcium was a tad low at 420 most run 440. Now all tanks are different, an example is my lfs sps dominant 90g he runs about 20-30 ppm nitrates and little higher phosphates and tank does great. I tried to raise my tank to that and my sps really didn’t like it at all. My 240g has done much better with alk at 8 440 cal and nitrates between 2-5 ppm and 025 phosphates roughly. If your tank started low aka nitrates etc your corals may be acostume to it.

I would definitely check phosphates, and nitrates and keep water parameters stable. As others I would definitely reduce the light again. When looking at your pics of your sick one, I’m mixed like others. It’s kinda brownish from the pic (but cameras don’t take good pics (unless you have special ones), which most corals in the wild are. Some of the higher light demanding sps will require just that, and you trying to mimic what they were grown in. Do you know if this coral was tank raised or ocean farmer raised? It’s so unpredictable that anyone of us could be right on.
The white marks look like shadings, but I’m definitely not convinced that they could be bite marks.

First and foremost you need to get that water stable and keep it there. Make sure you have appropriate testing kits available to you.

WWC frag. Phosphate kit I ordered had s
Solidified had to order a new one.

I'm still watching it.