SPS turning white

LucyMollyMaryJane · May 8, 2024

Hi,

Ran into an issue. See attached photo. A single sps in my tank has suddenly started turning white. This is 48 hours later.

No change in lighting.
No change in parameters.
No change in flow.
No additions.
Other soft, lps, and sps are OK.

Temp: 80.2 +/- 0.5 F
Salinity 34.0 ppm
Alkalinity 9.2 dkh
Nitrate >5ppm (out of Hannah range)
Nitrite 0.04
Ammonia 0.02
Phosphate 0.03
Calcium 500 +/- 25
Magnesium 1500 +/- 100
PH 8.2

Dosing foundation B and A/B/C/D.

Not sure what the problem is. Any help is appreciated.

crazyfishmom · May 8, 2024

LucyMollyMaryJane said:
Hi,

Ran into an issue. See attached photo. A single sps in my tank has suddenly started turning white. This is 48 hours later.

No change in lighting.
No change in parameters.
No change in flow.
No additions.
Other soft, lps, and sps are OK.

Temp: 80.2 +/- 0.5 F
Salinity 34.0 ppm
Alkalinity 9.2 dkh
Nitrate >5ppm (out of Hannah range)
Nitrite 0.04
Ammonia 0.02
Phosphate 0.03
Calcium 500 +/- 25
Magnesium 1500 +/- 100
PH 8.2

Dosing foundation B and A/B/C/D.

Not sure what the problem is. Any help is appreciated.

Looks like STN… any swings in parameters over the last few weeks?

bobnicaragua · May 9, 2024

I would do a water change or two as a precaution.

If the STN continues, cut off and frag what’s left of the healthy tissue. No guarantee, but sometimes you can save part of the coral.

Finn450 · May 9, 2024

frag it immediately...best chance of saving any part of that colony.

LucyMollyMaryJane · May 9, 2024

Thank you all for the insight.
I will drag and try to save. Thankfully I have fragged in the past and have a good size clone from this one growing in the tank.

This is the only sps that has struggled from basically day 1. I am wondering if there’s a chance it was always doomed.

Interesting though that the frag of it looks way better than this one that is having problems, and always has.

Leadfooted · May 9, 2024

RTN STN X Rapid Tissue Necrosis Treatment (500 ml) - Fauna Marin

Shop The Best Saltwater Aquarium Equipment & Supplies at Saltwater Aquarium. We Carry Everything you will Need for your Fish Tank.

www.saltwateraquarium.com

Dburr1014 · May 9, 2024

LucyMollyMaryJane said:
Hi,

Ran into an issue. See attached photo. A single sps in my tank has suddenly started turning white. This is 48 hours later.

No change in lighting.
No change in parameters.
No change in flow.
No additions.
Other soft, lps, and sps are OK.

Temp: 80.2 +/- 0.5 F
Salinity 34.0 ppm
Alkalinity 9.2 dkh
Nitrate >5ppm (out of Hannah range)
Nitrite 0.04
Ammonia 0.02
Phosphate 0.03
Calcium 500 +/- 25
Magnesium 1500 +/- 100
PH 8.2

Dosing foundation B and A/B/C/D.

Not sure what the problem is. Any help is appreciated.

How long have you had this sps?
Lights?
Flow? Is it getting indirect flow?

LucyMollyMaryJane · May 10, 2024

Dburr1014 said:
How long have you had this sps?
Lights?
Flow? Is it getting indirect flow?

About 1.5 years.
Radions at 100%.
Indirect flow.

LucyMollyMaryJane · May 10, 2024

Can STN spread?
The place the coral was in the tank, should I scrub it with a brush or anything?

Dburr1014 · May 10, 2024

LucyMollyMaryJane said:
Can STN spread?
The place the coral was in the tank, should I scrub it with a brush or anything?

No, I don't think so.
Turn down the lights to 70%, ramp back up after a week.
If it continues, frag good tissue.

UMALUM · May 10, 2024

That much flesh in an a day? I'd love to say your nitrate was low in relation to the rest of your parameters but I'm leaning towards a limpet or something else that took a liking to it. I had a keyhole that did the same thing to a birdsnest and a digi in one night. Might be time to bust out a flashlight?