SPS losing tissue. Help needed.

[Christyf5]

Hi,

I just got home from work today and 5 separate SPS are starting to lose tissue. All are growing frags that are not really that large and depending on how long I wait to do something (if indeed there is anything to be done, they will be gone within days I suspect). I have a yellow cap that has a big white spot in the center of one piece, a purple cap that has a whitish spot at one edge, some sort of brown frag (possibly an acro?) that is almost completely gone except for one tip and a pink birdsnest that has a tiny bit of white on one part, as well as a pink acro with yellow tips that is half gone. I can "rescue" (hopefully) some of these by fragging them.

I did add some of that Kents Phosphate Sponge on Sunday and left it in until today which is past the 2 days it says on the container. Does this stuff release more phosphates than it absorbs or something? That is the only thing I have done to the tank lately. The temperature is still running a bit high but is within the temperature range i have experienced in the past 2 months so that is nothing new. My dad put some doors on the stand on Monday night but I have left one open so as not to spike the temperature just in case that would seal any heat in and the temperature has remained constant. No stains, paints, or oils or anything were used. Just a chisel and hammer to take out a couple of wood chunks. Nothing landed in the sump.

Ammonia = 0
Nitrate = 0
Phosphate = less than 0.2 (thats the lowest reading on the scale)

Anyone have any ideas on what happened? Ideas on how to save what I have left? Waterchange maybe? I have enough to do a 25% water change.


TIA
Christy
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Honda CB175

 

[LauraH]

How high has the temp gotten and for how long? I know you said it's been running high for awhile, but that might be a constant stressor that's contributing to the problem.

Do you have any fans in place to help cool the water?

 

[Christyf5]

The temp spiked at 93 degrees in late July. I used a fan after that and kept the tank at about 87 or so. I lost a few small frags and developed algae as I think I lost a bit of the sandbed critters. The tank is hovering around 83 degrees now and I can't seem to get the temperature much lower than that even with the fan.

I discovered a mushroom leaning agains the back of one frag so that explains that one. Also I found my green wrasse picking at my yellow cap so who knows, maybe he has been picking at everything? I sent most of my sps home with a friend who can hopefully nurse them back to health while I figure out what is going on in my tank.

Thanks
Christy
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bank failures

 

[Anonymous]

It can take SPS corals some time to show signs of recession. It is possible that damage done in July may show now. 90 and 87 high temps and should not be allowed to be that high for more than 2-3 days. However it could be something else. 83 is an acceptable temp and also helps your corals tolerate higher temps. But if you want a lower temp and you cannot get it that low, something like a heater or pump/PH are creating excess heat and should be replaced...or you need some fans to up the evaporation rate.

Good luck

 

[Anonymous]

You might be in some trouble, however, they may still survive??? It sounds like some bleaching or something, i could be wrong...You might just have to wait and see

8)

 

[jamesw]

This is not bleaching, it's what hobbyists call RTN.

There really isn't a "cure" other than increase circulation (A LOT) over the corals and make sure to keep your temperature stable around 78.

HTH
James Wiseman

 

[Christyf5]

Yes these corals were definitely going thru RTN. There was no tissue on them whatsoever and were completely white in some places. I ended up losing 2 frags and the other ones seem to be holding their own in my friends tank. Until I figure out what is going on in my tank and I get the temperature down, that is where they will be staying.


The strange thing is that I have a couple of SPS that are completely fine. I have an entire colony of pavona that has been happy from the beginning yet all the acropora and montipora have been the only ones to show problems. I even have a clam in the tank that I thought would have been the water quality indicator/temperature indicator and its, well, as happy as a clam

Christy
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Mercedes 400