Die of of Acros

mike oglesby · Nov 16, 2012

our Acros have been dieing for about 10 weeks. It starts with turning white at the base ( no flesh) then goes to the whole coral. I have tried to break a branch off as soon as the base gets white but the branch still dies. we have lost about 15 so far. So we need help.
WATER: temp 80-81, ph 8.0-8.3, kh 8-9, cal 380- 420
tank size 210 with 2 mp40 for flow.
Lights 8-t5s replaced 4 about 8 weeks ago other 4 are about 24 weeks old.
it does not matter where the acro is in the tank high light , low light, high flow or low flow.
when i take one out i cant see any bugs.
it does not matter if the Acro is a old collony or a new frag.

Any help please

johniii · Nov 16, 2012

What is your po4 and no3

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ripped tide · Nov 16, 2012

Po4? And what are you using to test it. The brand of kit matters for po4.

mike oglesby · Nov 16, 2012

0 and. 0 API

ripped tide · Nov 16, 2012

I would highly reccomend getting a test that measures low range 0.25-0.00 and re testing.

The API test kits are not very accurate.

Edit: Ralph will know just what to say...

ralph atl · Nov 16, 2012

mike oglesby;812933 wrote: 0 and. 0 API

that's not accurate!

API is OK on Calcium, maybe ALK.....that's about it.

What is you ALK? Magnesium?

Get yourself these two kits quick:

http://www.elosusa.com/store/product/174/aqua-test-po4-professional-phosphate-test-kit">http://www.elosusa.com/store/product/174/aqua-test-po4-professional-phosphate-test-kit</a>

(low range PO4 or get the HACH)

[IMG]http://www.petstore.com/ps_viewitem.aspx?idproduct=TP4123&child=TP4123&utm_source=mdcseshopping2&utm_medium=cse&utm_campaign=mdcseshopping2&utm_content=TP4123">http://www.petstore.com/ps_viewitem.aspx?idproduct=TP4123&child=TP4123&utm_source=mdcseshopping2&utm_medium=cse&utm_campaign=mdcseshopping2&utm_content=TP4123</a>

and a low range Nitrate Kit! Get locally if you can!

You can swing by here when I get back on town and I'll test it for ya!

Acropora must have consistent ALK, Calcium, Magnesium above 1300 or so, and Trates <1.0 and phates <0.03

Those test kits aren't gonna let you measure in those ranges.....

I would assume you have an issue and start thinging of a nutrient export plan, one for trates & one for phates and do some water changes in the meantime.

WHat do you measure salinity with? What is it calibrated to? and where is your salinity now?

mike oglesby · Nov 16, 2012

We do a 30 gal per week change. Measure Sal with a refact. It's at 1.025 calibrate with the solution to set it at 0.
Was using 're sea coral pro salt. Have changed to Salinity . Changed after die off started. Was running a carbon reactor and a phosban reactor stopped after die off started.

ralph atl · Nov 16, 2012

mike oglesby;812942 wrote: What brand is the best

Get yourself these two kits quick:

http://www.elosusa.com/store/product/174/aqua-test-po4-professional-phosphate-test-kit">http://www.elosusa.com/store/product/174/aqua-test-po4-professional-phosphate-test-kit</a>

(it's the low range PO4 as Elos has 2 kits.... or get the HACH or LOW RANGE Colormeter)
 

[IMG]http://www.petstore.com/ps_viewitem.aspx?idproduct=TP4123&child=TP4123&utm_source=mdcseshopping2&utm_medium=cse&utm_campaign=mdcseshopping2&utm_content=TP4123">http://www.petstore.com/ps_viewitem.aspx?idproduct=TP4123&child=TP4123&utm_source=mdcseshopping2&utm_medium=cse&utm_campaign=mdcseshopping2&utm_content=TP4123</a>

and a low range Nitrate Kit! Get locally if you can!
 
(or Elos, Salifert, Red Sea)
 
....and Elos Mag & Alk for sure!

[QUOTE=][B]mysterybox;812941 wrote:[/B] that's not accurate!

API is OK on Calcium, maybe ALK.....that's about it.

What is you ALK? Magnesium?

or you can swing by here when I get back on town and I'll test it for ya!

Acropora must have consistent ALK, Calcium, Magnesium above 1300 or so, and Trates <1.0 and phates <0.03

Those test kits aren't gonna let you measure in those ranges.....

I would assume you have an issue and start thinging of a nutrient export plan, one for trates & one for phates and do some water changes in the meantime.

WHat do you measure salinity with? What is it calibrated to? and where is your salinity now?[/QUOTE]

mike oglesby · Nov 16, 2012

Ok will order tonight

grouper therapy · Nov 16, 2012

Do you run a UV? While the numbers stated above are excellent numbers to maintain and to expect growth they are not an absolute for Acro's to survive.

mike oglesby · Nov 16, 2012

No uv temp is 80-81

grouper therapy · Nov 16, 2012

Hmm? It will be interesting to see your levels . Sorry I reread your post on the temp. I've seen two other systems lately that had perfect stable systems and parameters doing the same thing. I think it may be bacterial. Maybe not your case.

ralph atl · Nov 16, 2012

mike oglesby;812942 wrote: We do a 30 gal per week change. Measure Sal with a refact. It's at 1.025 calibrate with the solution to set it at 0.
Was using 're sea coral pro salt. Have changed to Salinity . Changed after die off started. Was running a carbon reactor and a phosban reactor stopped after die off started.

first off, you can't calibrate salinity with a refractor at 0.....well, I guess you can, but it isn't accurate. While you are ordering kits, get a couple of pinpoint salinity calibration fluid for like 5 bucks. it's at 1.026! Calibrate from there.

great salt (both), weekly changes are good...

That leaves nutrient export.

put your carbon back on line (fresh, rinsed...prefer Rox if u can) & (GFO, fresh rinsed well)........Use only 20% what is reccomended......at first........Your Acros were already dying from high nutrients, and either the sudden change or "not enough removal" quick enough, did it....So let's start slow, and change weekly....

go back to running that......

rdnelson · Nov 16, 2012

mike oglesby;812942 wrote: We do a 30 gal per week change. Measure Sal with a refact. It's at 1.025 calibrate with the solution to set it at 0.
Was using 're sea coral pro salt. Have changed to Salinity . Changed after die off started. Was running a carbon reactor and a phosban reactor stopped after die off started.

These other guys know a lot more than I do about this but I don't think it was your salt. I find RSCP to keep Mag a bit on the high side, calcium is good unless you have a ton of stuff consuming it. The one place I find it lacking a bit is alk. If I were in your shoes I would be checking alk first. But as I said, these guys know a lot more than I do.

grouper therapy · Nov 16, 2012

mysterybox;812963 wrote: first off, you can't calibrate salinity with a refractor at 0.....well, I guess you can, but it isn't accurate. While you are ordering kits, get a couple of pinpoint salinity calibration fluid for like 5 bucks. it's at 1.026! Calibrate from there.

great salt (both), weekly changes are good...

That leaves nutrient export.

put your carbon back on line (fresh, rinsed...prefer Rox if u can) & (GFO, fresh rinsed well)........Use only 20% what is reccomended......at first........Your Acros were already dying from high nutrients, and either the sudden change or "not enough removal" quick enough, did it....So let's start slow, and change weekly....

go back to running that......

That may not be the case Ralph .How can you assume that without knowing the numbers?

Edit: Higher than ideal nutrient level is not the only cause for STN in Acropora.

mike oglesby · Nov 16, 2012

Not arguing but if it was a phosphate problem. I would think the acros would turn brown or loss the color before they die. The acros have good colors and look great be fore they start to die

grouper therapy · Nov 16, 2012

mike oglesby;812967 wrote: Not arguing but if it was a phosphate problem. I would think the acros would turn brown or loss the color before they die. The acros have good colors and look great be fore they start to die

That is usually the case Mike. Like I mentioned above . I know a system that is experiencing the same problem and it's numbers are spot on. It is run by one of if not the most experienced individual in Atlanta with reef tanks.

mike oglesby · Nov 16, 2012

As for the bacterial view how would you fix that

ralph atl · Nov 16, 2012

grouper therapy;812966 wrote: That may not be the case Ralph How can you assume that with not knowing the numbers?

in my previous post, I said, "I would assume"

because at this point, from base up he is doing everything right, except we need to find out about dosing Calcium & ALK.......

Using carbon and changing it out, what harm? even if it's a phantom menace, CARBON will help!

USING and Changing GFO? lol.......ARE you kidding? He needs to get on board with that anyway..............

So, either way, these changes with what info he has posted will not only help, but most likely (assumption) also fix the problem!

If he is changing his water with Salinity, weekly, then most likely his mag & alk (both assumptions, but again, good ones) are correct!

go build a stand or something usefull, lol!

but THIS IS A START WITH THE INFO HE HAS PRESENTED! AT LEAST HE CAN GO DO SOMETHING instead of sit and watch his coral die, and this will only help his future....of course there can be a billion other things wrong..........I.e., is there a copper penny in your tank? air freshner sprayed in you tank? blah, blah, blah.......

ripped tide · Nov 16, 2012

Aefw? Or bacteria? Any cyano?

Die of of Acros

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