STN Question

fishyman19 · Jan 13, 2020

So I set up a 40 gallon IM last summer, I let it run for a couple months before I added SPS to the tank. Lighting on the tank is Kessil A360x, return was upgraded to the mini jet, power head in the tank is the Grye Ice cap. I tested calcium(440) and ALK( 8.6) yesterday after a water change, I need to get a mag test to test that as well. Salinity is at 1.026. I haven't tested any of the other parameters.

My question is all of the SPS that I put in a month or two after I think somewhere around 9 frags from my tank at work, have all taken off and are doing well. I didn't add many more after that up until about a month ago, also from my office tank. Those have all died. Did great for a few weeks then just started dying at the base. The tank they come from like I've mentioned is my office tank also an IM 20 gallon, lighting is two AI Primes and the only parameter that's different is Alk, Alk sits around 8.6-9.6. I use the same water for water changes on both as well. My only thought as to why I'm losing the new ones is that they are fresh cuts. I don't let them heal up. Is it probably a good idea to do so from now on?

dank reefer · Jan 13, 2020

Question

Are you just dropping the new frags in your other tank, or are you acclimating them in any way?

Flippers4pups · Jan 13, 2020

It's tough to say. Fresh cuts can be risky. From the base up STN can be from numerous things. Likely a bacterial infection from the cuts or could be from lighting. Stress likely caused it.

Fresh cuts should be completely covered in super glue up to and over existing tissue. This may hold off any entry routes for bacteria.

Nicholas Dushynsky · Jan 13, 2020

Test your nitrates and phosphates, if they are pale then they stn could be low nitrates and or phosphates, at a guess anyway.

fishyman19 · Jan 13, 2020

Jose Esteves said:
Question

Are you just dropping the new frags in your other tank, or are you acclimating them in any way?

I let them sit in the bags for around 30 minutes before I put them in the tank if that's what you're asking about?

fishyman19 · Jan 13, 2020

Flippers4pups said:
It's tough to say. Fresh cuts can be risky. From the base up STN can be from numerous things. Likely a bacterial infection from the cuts or could be from lighting. Stress likely caused it.

Fresh cuts should be completely covered in super glue up to and over existing tissue. This may hold off any entry routes for bacteria.

Thank you for the tip! I'll try that on the next ones. I'm new to cutting frags, so while they weren't perfect I didn't destroy them. Lighting is drastically different between the two tanks as well, office tank where they came from is 2 AI Primes, home tank is the new Kessil A360x. Maybe I need to start them lower in the tank.

fishyman19 · Jan 13, 2020

Nicholas Dushynsky said:
Test your nitrates and phosphates, if they are pale then they stn could be low nitrates and or phosphates, at a guess anyway.

Sounds good! I will look into both of those, may need to wait a few days until I can buy those kits.

Zach W · Jan 13, 2020

What is your daily alk swings? I also have an IM20 and I struggled with SPS until I got a doser and could really keep my parameters stable. The difference between 8.6 and 9.6 is pretty big when it comes to SPS

fishyman19 · Jan 13, 2020

Zach W said:
What is your daily alk swings? I also have an IM20 and I struggled with SPS until I got a doser and could really keep my parameters stable. The difference between 8.6 and 9.6 is pretty big when it comes to SPS

I should test more regularly to see the difference, the 20 is run on a doser and it's been keeping SPS alive like crazy. The work tank besides weekly water changes and coral feedings kind of runs on it's own right now, I don't do much different.

dank reefer · Jan 13, 2020

fishyman19 said:
I let them sit in the bags for around 30 minutes before I put them in the tank if that's what you're asking about?

Try and drip acclimate the frags first before dropping them in your tank. Let then get adjusted to the difference in alk, and cal.

dadnjesse · Jan 13, 2020

fishyman19 said:
Thank you for the tip! I'll try that on the next ones. I'm new to cutting frags, so while they weren't perfect I didn't destroy them. Lighting is drastically different between the two tanks as well, office tank where they came from is 2 AI Primes, home tank is the new Kessil A360x. Maybe I need to start them lower in the tank.

They could be getting less light with the kessil you will need a light meter to be sure.

fishyman19 · Jan 14, 2020

dadnjesse said:
They could be getting less light with the kessil you will need a light meter to be sure.

As far as I know the Kessils have more power than the AI's. If anything they'd be getting too much light. I've got sps about 4 inches from the sand and they are growing like crazy.

dadnjesse · Jan 16, 2020

fishyman19 said:
As far as I know the Kessils have more power than the AI's. If anything they'd be getting too much light. I've got sps about 4 inches from the sand and they are growing like crazy.

Not a lot of people have success keeping SPS with Kessils alone.

Neoalchemist · Jan 16, 2020

Are you battling anything else in the tank? Algea, pests? If this tank is in your office are you able to get a close look at the corals after lights out. Have you checked with a magnifying glass for red bugs or flatworm bites?