Acan showing skeleton overnight?

[jordanrb]

I've had this acan for a while now. No issues, always fully extended every day. Accepts mysis shrimp every other day. Noticed today the skin is peeling off the bottom. My parameters have been at Cal 440, Mag 1350, Alk 8-8.4, Phos .03-.02 ppm, Nitrate 36 ppm, Ph 8. I know nitrates are considered a little high but they have been like that since day one. Could it be a fish or invert bothering it? I have no idea what would be causing this overnight. Moved my one power head in that area over two inches to account for a growing acro colony. Other than that I have not changed anything.

 

[BryanM]

what fish do you have? Something definitely could be nibbling on it.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

skeleton is usually pointy, looks like something is growing there?

 

[Shirak]

Maybe the powerhead move is causing it to hit the front lower side in an upward direction? I would not consider 36ppm NO3 high. I would consider .02-.03ppm PO4 dangerously low. Has it always been that low? My Acans always did best with some sort of targeted feeding a few times a week. So I like the mysis plan but if phosphates are low the symbiotic algae will struggle to photosynthesize.

 

[Uncle99]

I've had this acan for a while now. No issues, always fully extended every day. Accepts mysis shrimp every other day. Noticed today the skin is peeling off the bottom. My parameters have been at Cal 440, Mag 1350, Alk 8-8.4, Phos .03-.02 ppm, Nitrate 36 ppm, Ph 8. I know nitrates are considered a little high but they have been like that since day one. Could it be a fish or invert bothering it? I have no idea what would be causing this overnight. Moved my one power head in that area over two inches to account for a growing acro colony. Other than that I have not changed anything.

For me, any “overnight” damage is what I call, a tasting event rather than environmental.

 

[BryanM]

For me, any “overnight” damage is what I call, a tasting event rather than environmental.

I like this, except for the fact that its likely someone got a taste for corals now, and it will just continue until you remove the offender.

 

[DSC reef]

Its showing mesenterial filaments so its stressed. Ive had this happen from nipping and scans falling into the sand. If recession keeps going an iodine dip might be in order.

 

[jordanrb]

what fish do you have? Something definitely could be nibbling on it.

I have a firefish, clown that stays at the top, 6 line that ive never seen bother with it, gumdrop goby that stays in his cave and a yellow watchman thats never ventured to that side of the tank lol

 

[jordanrb]

Maybe the powerhead move is causing it to hit the front lower side in an upward direction? I would not consider 36ppm NO3 high. I would consider .02-.03ppm PO4 dangerously low. Has it always been that low? My Acans always did best with some sort of targeted feeding a few times a week. So I like the mysis plan but if phosphates are low the symbiotic algae will struggle to photosynthesize.

I was always under the impression .02 is on the low end but ok. It has slowly gone down in the last month. Used to sit around .05. What would you recommend?

 

[jordanrb]

Its showing mesenterial filaments so its stressed. Ive had this happen from nipping and scans falling into the sand. If recession keeps going an iodine dip might be in order.

I Will keep watching for now. Would be my first coral needing to dip

 

[jordanrb]

I like this, except for the fact that its likely someone got a taste for corals now, and it will just continue until you remove the offender.

I really hope not

 

[Shirak]

I was always under the impression .02 is on the low end but ok. It has slowly gone down in the last month. Used to sit around .05. What would you recommend?

Test kits have a margin of error so even the ulr Hanna is +- .02ppm with a 5% margin of accuracy so .02ppm could be 0 or it could be .04
RHF is recommending .05 - .1ppm phosphate. I try to keep mine in this range.

I don't know if this is the cause but it's the only thing that stands out to me other then you moving the powerhead. I personally don't think it's something nibbling. I would expect damage on the more accessible outer edges of the polyps, which I don't see.

 

[jordanrb]

Test kits have a margin of error so even the ulr Hanna is +- .02ppm with a 5% margin of accuracy so .02ppm could be 0 or it could be .04
RHF is recommending .05 - .1ppm phosphate. I try to keep mine in this range.

I don't know if this is the cause but it's the only thing that stands out to me other then you moving the powerhead. I personally don't think it's something nibbling. I would expect damage on the more accessible outer edges of the polyps, which I don't see.

Ok so that could definitely be the issue. I am using a ulr hanna. So maybe I am actually at 0 phosphate.

I will dose with neophos for the next while and try to bring it up. Would it be bad to try and get rhat to .05-.06 quickly or should I do it over a longer period?

 

[Shirak]

Ok so that could definitely be the issue. I am using a ulr hanna. So maybe I am actually at 0 phosphate.

I will dose with neophos for the next while and try to bring it up. Would it be bad to try and get rhat to .05-.06 quickly or should I do it over a longer period?

Shouldn't be a problem to go to .05-.06 in one shot

 

[BryanM]

I doubt phos is the issue though.

I would set up a phone at night to record the acan, and walk away from it for half hour. Come back and review the footage and see if there's a nibbler.

 

[jordanrb]

Shouldn't be a problem to go to .05-.06 in one shot

Ok just to make sure i want to go from my current .02 to .05-.06 quickly

 

[jordanrb]

I doubt phos is the issue though.

I would set up a phone at night to record the acan, and walk away from it for half hour. Come back and review the footage and see if there's a nibbler.

Ok I have a camera I can record tonight haha

 

[BryanM]

Ok I have a camera I can record tonight haha

I hope there's nothing to see, but I agree with the thought that overnight that happened, someone had a snack.