What causes STN?
- Thread starter Mrfresh
- Start date
- Tagged users None
I have a theory that certain super glue brands leach phosphates that encourage algae growth on the plug base, in turn the algae attacks the base of the cut acro frag and causes stn on the base
Mike J.
2500 Club Member
Have you read this? RTN even happens to the best of the aquarium hobby
mcarroll
10K Club member
There's definitely room for some debate, but I think fragging is a good policy because:
A) In her own way, that's what Mother Nature does.
B) If the coral has any strength left (not always apparent), a frag removed will enter a very potent growth spurt...almost always surviving whatever ailed the old colony.
C) If the coral doesn't have any strength left (can be deceiving), you're not doing any real harm by trying...was already a gonner.
-Matt
TheReefKeeper
Well-Known Member
I've been in this hobby since 1998 and have seen a lot of different cases and reasons this happens and a single product that will stop RTN/STN is almost impossible to create IMO. Their are way too many variables that come into play such as Temps, Alk, PO4 and NO3 to name a few. Oh Let's not forget human error haa.
I would be surprised if a product could be created to stop all of ^ well let's just say I'm skeptical it's even possible.
I would love to see it created you will hit your pot of gold at the end of the rainbow for sure if you pull it off my fingers are crossed for you and hope you success truly! I would buy it :bigsmile:
Reef Pets
Bioprospector
It's known that its a bacteria infection. Kill the bacteria and its stops the STN/RTN. Know one knows the exact cause but in reality the cause makes no difference if the bacteria is isolated and killed which in turn saves the coral. We have been extremely successful to this point. But, still have some trials to complete before released.
We see it the same as a person gets sick from a bacteria. It does not matter how you got sick, the proper medicine is the cure once the bacteria is isolated.
We see it the same as a person gets sick from a bacteria. It does not matter how you got sick, the proper medicine is the cure once the bacteria is isolated.
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Dowtish
5000 Club Member
Its a 2 part dip system.
Mrfresh
Valuable Member
Wow this thread is starting to take off.
I figured out what caused my STN my CLEANER WRASSE decided he liked sps better then what ever was on my fish. I can't catch him not... But I see him just going from one coral to the next nipping everything...
How long has STN taking to stop for some people. I know it can stop on its own. Has this happened to anyone?
I figured out what caused my STN my CLEANER WRASSE decided he liked sps better then what ever was on my fish. I can't catch him not... But I see him just going from one coral to the next nipping everything...
How long has STN taking to stop for some people. I know it can stop on its own. Has this happened to anyone?
islander84
Island Member
this is really going to change sps keeping if all goes well! I would try it.
islander84
Island Member
Are you moving out of Nashville area or just moving to another house?
Only read half way down so far but I think what reefpets is plausible. If you think about it, the parameters you listed don't actually hurt the coral themselves, off parameter puts the coral in a state that is susceptible to infection. If we know what the infection is, we can stop it. I'd love to get in on this research, this is the kind of things I love...mind numbing problems.
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I'm a biologist, not marine biologist, but ill give my 2 cents. I think what reef pets is doing is great. We all should be applauding companies doing actual research on their products. Bravo. I also agree that in some cases RTN and STN are more complicated then a simple bacterial infection. There my be bacteria present, but it's an issue of causation. To say the bacteria is absolutely the cause of the decay is likely naive. In my own observation I believe in many cases STN can be chalked up to apoptosis ( programmed cell death). I have had colonies start to stn from the base up, I frag them , and then the frags die in the order they would have had they been left a colony.
Think of it this way though. If reef pets gives us a product that even works 50% of the time on the various causes of stn I know I would be incredibly grateful.
Think of it this way though. If reef pets gives us a product that even works 50% of the time on the various causes of stn I know I would be incredibly grateful.
nwpowell0481
Community Member
If I may I would like to add another point of view on STN. I have dealt with STN a few times in the past and have had a lot of success with simply fragging the affected colony and letting it regrow however when I went back through the series of events that lead up to the when I first noticed the issue I noticed something interesting. Every time I have had this happen it was shortly after changing media in a reactor(GFO and Carbon) or after a an large increase in growth in my fuge. After talking to the local fish stores in my area they mentioned that had also seen similar issues associated with hobbyists who keep nutrient levels in their tanks too low. What i'm thinking is that STN could also be associated with excessively low nutrient levels. I've read several studies that are being done that focus on coral growth in relation to nutrient levels and available lighting. Could it be possible that the extremely bright lights we use on our SPS tanks could be making the corals need more nutrients to sustain the soft polyp tissue. I know we all try to keep nutrient levels low but could we be keeping them too low considering all the advancements in aquarium lighting. Every time I start to see some of my corals look a little unhappy I check my water parameters and if everything looks right I allow my nutrient levels to come up slightly and the corals look much better. Maybe my thinking is little off but it seems to work for me. I have to wonder if excessively low nutrients actually makes the corals more succeptable to STN. Any thoughts?
Are you talking about burnt tips? I think that is associated with the skeleton growing faster than the tissue because of low nutrients coupled with high alk and calcium. Lower alk and calcium, or raise nutrients to fight this, along with cut off the burnt tips.
I'm assuming reefpets is talking about the stn that slowly takes over the whole coral, typically from the base up and can happen in hours or months.
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