SPS Turning White from Top (Tips) down

[sgrosenb]

Hi all,

My SPS are starting to turn white (STN/RTN?) from the tips down, with some stringy stuff falling off it. I'm confused as to why this would happen. My PAR readings should be pretty in-line (~350 or so at the spot where this picture is from) and my other parameters are in-line. Anyone know why this would happen? Only difference this week is that I was away from my house; I live in FL, so when I'm not home, the AC doesn't kick on anywhere near as much, and my pH rises from 8.0-8.2 daily fluctions up to 8.35-8.40 daily numbers. Could this be the culprit? Any help is appreicated. Side note Alk is consistent between 8.0-8.5, dual measured with a LaMotte test kit and GHL KH Director, so I'm pretty confident Alk is accurate.

 

[Reefcowboy]

Check nitrates. The stringy stuff can be many things. Secondary bacterial infections(less likely), slime or even protection from fish nipping. Do you have dwarf angels in the tank?

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

What lighting are you using?
Po4/no3?
Are you carbon dosing, using gfo or any other water stripping media?

 

[sgrosenb]

I'll check Nitrates / Phosphates when I get home. Are you thinking they could be too high, or they might be too low? Not dosing anything; only additive is Reef Roids 3-4 times per week. No dwarf angels or any other fish that might nip corals. LED Radions and T5 combo for lighting

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

Looks like high alk and low po4

 

[JoeD_]

Looks like high alk and low po4

My guess as well

 

[SeaDweller]

Do you have any tangs? I have a blue tang that likes to nibble acros, I have a Potter’s angel that doesn’t even care for them.

It could be “high” alk and no PO4, but I think something is irritating it. That’s what mine looks like when the blue tang wants to be a wise guy...

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

Do you have any tangs? I have an a hole blue tang that likes to nibble acros, I have a Potter’s angel that doesn’t even care for them.

It could be “high” alk and no PO4, but I think something is irritating it. That’s what mine looks like when the blue tang wants to be a wise guy...

After zooming in I think @TitanCi is correct. They look like they’re sliming from irritation. Burnt tips from high alk usually has tissue receding from the tips with algae or brown slime .

 

[sgrosenb]

Hmmm. No tangs. Fish are 1x clownfish, 2x flame hawk, 1x blue spotted jawfish, 1x helfrichi firefish, 2x bagaii cardinal. I dont see anything bothering the corals, and I've had the same fish for 6 months and this just started happening randomly

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

Is it getting hammered by flow?
Knowing no3/po4 will be helpful

 

[7237689918]

Is it getting hammered by flow?
Knowing no3/po4 will be helpful

Can you have too much flow? I have this issue as well.

 

[UCF Alum]

Can you have too much flow? I have this issue as well.

As long as it’s not a direct hit from the wavemakers, no. Although you don’t want enough that it will strip the flesh off your acros.

 

[UCF Alum]

Hi all,

My SPS are starting to turn white (STN/RTN?) from the tips down, with some stringy stuff falling off it. I'm confused as to why this would happen. My PAR readings should be pretty in-line (~350 or so at the spot where this picture is from) and my other parameters are in-line. Anyone know why this would happen? Only difference this week is that I was away from my house; I live in FL, so when I'm not home, the AC doesn't kick on anywhere near as much, and my pH rises from 8.0-8.2 daily fluctions up to 8.35-8.40 daily numbers. Could this be the culprit? Any help is appreicated. Side note Alk is consistent between 8.0-8.5, dual measured with a LaMotte test kit and GHL KH Director, so I'm pretty confident Alk is accurate.

What’s your temp swings? I live in FL too and run fans over the tank to keep it 78 when the ambient air is the same. Also, a consistent .5 dkh swing is pushing it, IMO. I try to stay less than .2

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

As long as it’s not a direct hit from the wavemakers, no. Although you don’t want enough that it will strip the flesh off your acros.

That or if they’re getting hammered in the same direction. My fastest growing acros are in the lowest flow areas in my tank.

 

[melanotaenia]

What’s your temp swings? I live in FL too and run fans over the tank to keep it 78 when the ambient air is the same. Also, a consistent .5 dkh swing is pushing it, IMO. I try to stay less than .2

I was going to ask the same thing are you having major fluctuations in temps in the tank?

 

[sgrosenb]

Hi all,

Ok - so I hadn't checked Po4 in a while, and it is sitting at 0.31ppm according to my Hanna Checker, which I understand is wayyy high compared to what it should be (I think?). Nitrates are low around 2ppm or so. So the Po4 might be the culprit...

If not, here's some other info:

My temp swings between 78.0-80.3 like clockwork each day, and never gets above 80.3 degrees (see chart). I'm not sure if that's acceptable or not? In terms of Alk, my alk swings from 8-8.5 over a few week period. I've actually had a lot of trouble trying to keep that variance tighter; I'd love it to be within +/- 0.2.

I also included a chart below showing my pH. It's interesting, when I'm not home (which is only a few weeks out of the year), the pH goes higher and stays higher. But when I'm home, it drops and stays steadily between 8.0-8.25. The chart below shows the drop-off; the left portion is when I'm not home, and the dropoff is when I get home. If I were to extend that chart, you'd see it rising and falling daily between 8.0-8.25. I'm assuming that's because my AC kicks in and gives more air flow.

In terms of flow within the tank, I have two gyros but I certainly wouldn't say they are "blasting" the corals, it's a 5 foot tank and I have them both on roughly 30% power, one off, one on, at any given time. But this coral was, indeed, directly in the pointed flow of the gyro. Other metrics are below. Any other thoughts are appreciated!

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

0.31 po4 is not way too high. I keep my po4 0.15-0.30 as well, and I’ve never checked ph. I bet it’s just too close to you gyre. Try moving it before you mess with your chemistry.

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

What lights are you using?

 

[sgrosenb]

Lights are hybrid LED and TD5. For LED's, I have 3x Radion X15 Gen 4 at about 12" above the water. They are set to 80% of EcoTech's SPS+ pre-setting for roughly 10 hours. Also have 4x T5; 2x ATI Blue Plus, 2x ATI Coral Plus. T5's are on for roughly 8 hours per day. Does that all sound roughly in-line?

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

Lights are hybrid LED and TD5. For LED's, I have 3x Radion X15 Gen 4 at about 12" above the water. They are set to 80% of EcoTech's SPS+ pre-setting for roughly 10 hours. Also have 4x T5; 2x ATI Blue Plus, 2x ATI Coral Plus. T5's are on for roughly 8 hours per day. Does that all sound roughly in-line?

Sounds ideal.