Tissue loss on cherry bomb. Is this STN?

[mochaclownlover]

So I’m very, very new in my sps journey. I’ve be been keeping some acros for almost a yr now and had a couple hiccups along the way but nothing major…. Till Friday. I’ve had this TSA cherry bomb for about 6 months and it’s been great, encrusting out, putting a bit of growth upward. Then I noticed a white patch in the side friday evening, two days later I noticed all the tips of the colony had lost color, still have the polyp, but noticeably less color(almost white). Is this the start of STN? I just sent out a ICP test the day before I noticed the issue so I should have those in a couple days but what is do have is: alk-8.2dkh, mag-1300ppm, cal-350ppm, phos-0ppm, nitrate-10ppm. Any ideas are greatly appreciated as this is unfamiliar to me.

Friday evening:

Yesterday(Monday) evening:

Prior photos:

 

[jackson6745]

Right off the bat I see 2 things. You have a load of stinging pieces near your sps, and I see overall pale colors. Assuming your alkalinity is stable, are phosphate/nitrate levels stripped? That is tissue loss at the base.

 

[mochaclownlover]

Yeah, I’m trying to get some of the nems moved rn, so I have some plastic guards to try and keep stinging things out temporarily. The most alk will bounce is down to 8 and up to 8.2dkh. The pale colors have been an issue and i can’t keep phos up so I’m guessing that’s a correlation, but would that cause tissue loss or just pale colors?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Look at that BTA which did a number on one of my acros- likely a sting.

 

[mochaclownlover]

I had the buggers under control for awhile then they kinda started going everywhere… definitely gotta get them in check now..

Look at that BTA which did a number on one of my acros- likely a sting.

 

[PocketGoose]

I'd put my money on the PO4. Other SPS are looking a little pale too, in my experience bottomed out phosphates starve the corals. Nem could have something to do with it too.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I had the buggers under control for awhile then they kinda started going everywhere… definitely gotta get them in check now..

Yeah, they can get out of hand. Not sure what youre feeding coral but bump up the phos levels. Reef roids and added feedings for fish will help

 

[jackson6745]

I'd put my money on the PO4. Other SPS are looking a little pale too, in my experience bottomed out phosphates starve the corals. Nem could have something to do with it too.

+1

 

[mochaclownlover]

Yeah, they can get out of hand. Not sure what youre feeding coral but bump up the phos levels. Reef roids and added feedings for fish will help

I’ve mostly been feeding PE flakes daily and mysis/LRS every couple days, along with dosing about 3mls of neophos every couple days. I’ll start feeding some reefroids tho too and bump up the dosage to see if that helps!

 

[mochaclownlover]

Double post

 

[Dburr1014]

Yeah, I’m trying to get some of the nems moved rn, so I have some plastic guards to try and keep stinging things out temporarily. The most alk will bounce is down to 8 and up to 8.2dkh. The pale colors have been an issue and i can’t keep phos up so I’m guessing that’s a correlation, but would that cause tissue loss or just pale colors?

Here is you answer.

Thread 'Safe and Easy DIY way to remove Nems' https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/safe-and-easy-diy-way-to-remove-nems.861213/

 

[dadnjesse]

Phosphates are low but I would thing you have a bigger problem with stinging.

 

[Hurricane Aquatics]

Your phosphates are non-existent and that's your problem, they're starving.

Your LPS could benefit from some phosphates as well.

 

[ScottB]

If you are testing PO4 with a Hanna, then you need to start dosing some PO4. If you are not testing with a Hanna, well, start doing so. You don't need much residual, but you are always walking a tightrope with some available.