These "burnt tips" and is my high ALK (10) causing it?

[MoshJosh]

Sort of hard to capture. First picture there are a number of the "nubs" on the top right that are pale and get "frilly". Second picture the terminal polyp/nub and one or two below it are quite pale

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

I don't know much about coral care just yet, but I expect some pics would help others answer your question.

 

[MoshJosh]

I don't know much about coral care just yet, but I expect some pics would help others answer your question.

Sorry, typed on my computer, had to use my phone for pics so there was a bit of delay, they are up now haha

 

[Miami Reef]

Are your nutrients high enough to support higher alkalinity?

 

[MoshJosh]

Are your nutrients high enough to support higher alkalinity?

Nitrate less than 1 and phosphate less than 0.025. . . so no. . .

Trying to fix that though. . .

Trying to fix the alk too (think it's working cause it was 12 a few weeks ago). Think the problem started when I upped my ATO kalk concentration. I did this based on a calcium/alkalinity need in my other tank, I calculated both my tanks had similar evaporation rates. . . but I was wrong and also the ATO in this tank had a leak and was constantly going into the tank. . . I fixed the leak and added lids to slow evaporation.

 

[MoshJosh]

Guess I am just asking for confirmation that my high ALK is the most likely cause and I should keep doing what I am doing (trying to lower it)???

 

[Miami Reef]

Guess I am just asking for confirmation that my high ALK is the most likely cause and I should keep doing what I am doing (trying to lower it)???

Raise the nutrients!!

(I’m speaking from personal experience). I tried low nutrients and higher alk and it was an absolute disaster. Many of my sps corals looked just like yours (I even had some losses). High alk and low nutrients is a big no-no in SPS.

 

[MoshJosh]

Raise the nutrients!!

(I’m speaking from personal experience). I tried low nutrients and higher alk and it was an absolute disaster. Many of my sps corals looked just like yours (I even had some losses). High alk and low nutrients is a big no-no in SPS.

So is 10 still too high if I raise the nutrients?

 

[jackson6745]

Raise the nutrients!!

(I’m speaking from personal experience). I tried low nutrients and higher alk and it was an absolute disaster. Many of my sps corals looked just like yours (I even had some losses). High alk and low nutrients is a big no-no in SPS.

This

 

[The_Paradox]

To me it just looks like new growth which is always pale.

 

[Spare time]

Just dose some aminos and feed a little more.

 

[Miami Reef]

So is 10 still too high if I raise the nutrients?

I’m not sure. There aren’t many people with higher alkalinity who keep acropora. It’s kind of a niche target.

That being said, @Randy Holmes-Farley says that higher alk is LESS stressful. Low alk is more stressful because corals need to actively work to pull out carbonate/bicarbonate from the water, which is more difficult the less there is.

@SunnyX keeps a beautiful display with 10dKH (it grew out super quick).

Sanjay also kept higher alkalinity with higher nutrients. He has/had (not sure if it’s still running) a great display too!

I think higher alkalinity is worth experimenting with, but it absolutely must be paired with adequate nutrients.

 

[mwil79]

I run a mostly SPS tank with 9.5-10 Alk but I also try to keep my nutrients at 15+ no3 and .07+ po4 (shoot for .1).

I find I get much faster growth this way. I found this out accidentally when a doser decided to not turn off for 24 hours and put 250ml of Alk in my tank. Brought my DKH to almost 13 but I didn't lose a single coral due to 25ppm no3 I'm guessing or I could just be lucky. My pistol shrimp however, not so lucky as he was the only casualty.

 

[MoshJosh]

I have another thread about raising my nutrients, Randy’s in that one, I think I will try to up my feeding first. I may have went a little crazy this evening and doubled, maybe tripled my feeding. . . call it a kick start???

 

[The_Paradox]

Data point of one but my SPS tank is old school prams. Alk 11.5, Nitrate >2, Phosphate >0.03 calcium 450ish, magnesium ~1420. It’s such a cliche but I really do think stability is what matters the most.