Weird STN on acro, help save it!

[ajm83]

Can anyone advise what to do here?

It started as a small white hole on the under side of the coral after I changed lighting and had high zinc +copper (not sure which - if either - truly was the cause). It stayed like this for a few months with no further recession.

Today I look and it's gotten much worse and started going up the sides of the coral.

I'm waiting for an icp test, but meanwhile, should I snap off the top and hope it grows back from the based out bit on the rock?

Note, tank lights are off, colours normally look fairly good, not brown. Good growth in most corals incl Sps.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Other than icp testing, do you know what your basic levels are? Nitrate ammonia ph calcium and alkalinity?

 

[Flippers4pups]

STN. Break off the damaged area if you can. Dipping the damaged area in a iodine solution, such as Lugol's and or in a solution of antibiotics, such as Seachem's Metroplex may help stop or slow it's progression.

There are reports of STN/RTN spreading to other corals, so if possible, remove any damaged areas out side of your main system may help.

 

[Alfrareef]

What are water values?
Did you noticed some sudden swing? ( KH, PO4, NO3)
The light intensity and duration has changed?

 

[ajm83]

Thanks for the replies, I've just got back home and found that STN has progressed visibly. Weird thing is that even the sections right next to the dead areas had great polyp extension. I've snapped the entire branch off the base with the hope it'll grow back out from there.

Levels are 0-0.003066 (not a typo) phosphate, 0.7ppm nitrate, 7.15 alk, cal 415, mag 1350, ammonia 0

(I'm regularly dosing phosphate and have gradually been increasing the dose)

I've refreshed the carbon and done a water change. Not sure if I should do anything else?

 

[OriginalUserName]

Thanks for the replies, I've just got back home and found that STN has progressed visibly. Weird thing is that even the sections right next to the dead areas had great polyp extension. I've snapped the entire branch off the base with the hope it'll grow back out from there.

Levels are 0-0.003066 (not a typo) phosphate, 0.7ppm nitrate, 7.15 alk, cal 415, mag 1350, ammonia 0

(I'm regularly dosing phosphate and have gradually been increasing the dose)

I've refreshed the carbon and done a water change. Not sure if I should do anything else?

From my limited experience with STN that seems pretty common. Perfect looking tissue right next to pure bone white.

 

[Flippers4pups]

From my limited experience with STN that seems pretty common. Perfect looking tissue right next to pure bone white.

Here's a good read:

http://www.artificialreefs.org/Corals/diseasesfiles/Common Identified Coral Diseases.htm