SPS tip stn

Winschuc · Jan 24, 2016

So a few of my SPS have been getting darker and some of the tips are dying off. Wasn't sure what was going on as the system if fairly simple and I've made no changes.

Just ran a few tests and found that my alk was at 6.6dkh. I've increased the effluent rate through my reactor, but was wondering if anyone else has had a similar reaction from SPS with low dkh.

For info,

Po4 - .03
Ammonia/nitrate - unreadable (Red Sea kit)
Ph 8.04
Orp steady within the range of 400-415 daily

cginter · Jan 24, 2016

I've been dealing with this issue for the past 3 weeks or so. There is so many variables it's hard to just say.

Double check all Params with different test kits, and do a water change. Test again.

Usually (from what I've read) burnt tips can come from alk swings, tank being to clean, bacterial infection, and lastly pests.

jackson6745 · Jan 24, 2016

Lighting? po4 level?
Tip burn from low dkh is the opposite of what I have seen/experienced.
IME tips burn occurs in an ULN tank with bright lighting, coupled with high alk, especially after a carbon change. Sounds like your tank is ULN with or of 400+ Imo not a good thing.

Triggreef · Jan 24, 2016

Probably not a reaction from solely the low alk, but it also very well could be. The darkening up I would take as a sign of more rtn stn to come unfortunately. My suggestion would be large water changes however be cautious about any wings that may cause. I suggest the water change only because certain things do build up over time. Things like zinc aluminum etc that no one tests for. May not be your issue, but may be one of several issues that could have lead to this outcome... And water changes never hurt.

Winschuc · Jan 24, 2016

Yeah, there's only a few pieces that are showing signs. Po4 was in the original post. Lighting is 2 hydra52 and 2 24w t5 (ato super blue) on for 6hrs. Prepping for a wc this week. Hopefully it starts to come around.

The only additive is through my ca/rx. Occasionally I run a few cups of gfo.

larangcon · Jan 24, 2016

IMO, burnt tips and darkening, most often is caused by too much light intensity, how's the SPS on lower areas?

watchguy123 · Jan 24, 2016

There can be many reasons for sps tips burning. The ones most talked about seem to be low nitrates and higher alk as well as alk swings. I don't believe you have shared your alk or nitrates

Winschuc · Jan 25, 2016

All was 6.6. Slowly raising got back up.

The weird thing is that there are only two main pieces that are having issues are at mid level. I've got a blue milli that's growing great at the highest point and a red planet that's growing great pretty low (mostly green at this point, but growing great).

Winschuc · Jan 25, 2016

Ok. Another piece of the puzzle. I apparently lost internet connectivity to my apex and missed the notification. I ordered some new calibration solution for my salinity probe. And after cal it was reading 29 versus 35. [emoji27]

Went back and forth between my water, ro/di and refract omelet calibration solution. And found the 29 to be quite accurate.

Mixing up a new batch of water and will change out ~ 30% tonight. Then most likely another 30% tomorrow night.

Good news, alk is up to 7.2 and holding. I'll wait until around Friday and retest. If it's still holding I'll do a week long ramp-up with some b-ionic to bring it back to normal.

Winschuc · Jan 30, 2016

So it's been a few days. Got all my measurements verified by a second source.

Cal 440
Alk 9
Mag 1200
Salinity 25
Temp is regulated my apex (79-79.5)
Ph 8.02-8.2 daily
Po4 0.05

Still having some issues with the SPS. I'm going to start feeding coral frenzy every other day for the next week or so to see if it's a food issue.

The other thought is that maybe a fish is picking on them. It's only a few SPS in a few areas. I have a matted filefish that has been in hiding for over a month now. I'm thinking maybe it's nibbling at night. Going to keep an eye out. Has anyone had an issue with these eating SPS? I thought it was a toss-up on Aiptasia and LPS with these things.

twilliard · Jan 30, 2016

What is your no3?

Winschuc · Jan 30, 2016

Undetectable by Red Sea.

nervousmonkey · Jan 30, 2016

You probably need a bit more NO3. Your corals actually need some to grow. With high to normal alk and super low NO3, tips can turn white because they are adding skeleton with no food to allow them to lay down tissue. So the SPS is growing faster than it can find other nutrients to allow it to add tissue. How are you getting zero nitrates? What are you doing to keep them that low? Carbon dosing? Biopellets?

Winschuc · Jan 30, 2016

I don't feed very much. Maybe 1/8th cup of spectrum pellets per day. I've been letting the fish eat off some of the algae from when I fed new era flakes. Also, have a huge skimmer on the system (SRO-6000ext for about 250 gallons). No other additives besides the cal/rx. Can't really think of any particular reason beyond that for the low no3.

The tips aren't white, they're missing skin altogether and starting to get that brown algae film. It's not progressing down the stick though.