Acropora Bleaching?

[groves1989]

Hey all,

I bought this frag from my LFS last week and the bottom is a full green. Is this bleaching? Should I cut this section off?

Any information is appreciated!

 

[Dburr1014]

Hey all,

I bought this frag from my LFS last week and the bottom is a full green. Is this bleaching? Should I cut this section off?

Any information is appreciated!

IMO, snap a couple small branches off.
Looks like RTN. How fast did that happen?

 

[groves1989]

I’ve only had it for around a week but I would say the full portion has maybe doubled in size, if not a little less. I was thinking the same thing about cutting off a few pieces.

 

[groves1989]

Here is a slightly better picture

 

[sculpin01]

What are your nutrient levels (nitrate and phosphate) and how old is your tank?

That looks like low nutrient STN to me.

 

[groves1989]

What are your nutrient levels (nitrate and phosphate) and how old is your tank?

That looks like low nutrient STN to me.

My nitrates sit at 5 ppm and phosphates .09, the tank is relatively new, roughly 3 to 4 months. I was thinking RTN or STN too but I don’t see any obvious (to me at least) tissue loss.

 

[chipmunkofdoom2]

My nitrates sit at 5 ppm and phosphates .09, the tank is relatively new, roughly 3 to 4 months. I was thinking RTN or STN too but I don’t see any obvious (to me at least) tissue loss.

Judging by the picture, the green is tissue loss. Tissue died, exposed skeleton, and the skeleton turned green as micro algae started growing.

 

[vetteguy53081]

This is tissue loss and may be due to several factors such as :
- Alkalinity spike
- Temperature spike
- Salinity spike
- Low dissolved oxygen
- Poor water quality related with phosphate levels up to 5 ppm
- Change in water flow
- Additions of sand
- Changes in brand of salt
- Bad test kits giving faulty results
- Levels of minor elements such as Iodine, Potassium, Strontium
- Light intensity
- - Changes in water flow
- Addition of new corals
- - Pesticides used near tank
- Airborne Contaminants or sprays

 

[groves1989]

Judging by the picture, the green is tissue loss. Tissue died, exposed skeleton, and the skeleton turned green as micro algae started growing.

Oh okay, thank you for the information. I am new to the hobby so this helps a lot. Any advice on what to do, should I trim off the dead portion and hope for the best?

 

[groves1989]

This is tissue loss and may be due to several factors such as :
- Alkalinity spike
- Temperature spike
- Salinity spike
- Low dissolved oxygen
- Poor water quality related with phosphate levels up to 5 ppm
- Change in water flow
- Additions of sand
- Changes in brand of salt
- Bad test kits giving faulty results
- Levels of minor elements such as Iodine, Potassium, Strontium
- Light intensity
- - Changes in water flow
- Addition of new corals
- - Pesticides used near tank
- Airborne Contaminants or sprays

Thank you for your reply! I am able to knock some of those off the list but not all. My guess would be that it is a change in parameters from the store water to mine. Any suggestions on what to do moving forward? Maybe trim off a piece and hope for the best or is there a chance it can make it through?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Thank you for your reply! I am able to knock some of those off the list but not all. My guess would be that it is a change in parameters from the store water to mine. Any suggestions on what to do moving forward? Maybe trim off a piece and hope for the best or is there a chance it can make it through?

I believe it was DeBurr who suugested to cut off dead area- I would recommend the same and refrag and you Dont have to place on a plug if not desired.

 

[groves1989]

I believe it was DeBurr who suugested to cut off dead are- I would recommend the same and refrag and you Dont have to place on a plug if not desired.

Okay, yes they did. I haven’t had a chance to yet but will when I am home from work. I appreciate everyone!

 

[ScottB]

Okay, yes they did. I haven’t had a chance to yet but will when I am home from work. I appreciate everyone!

At 3-4 months, don't beat yourself up too much. It can take many months for your microbiome to really settle out. Far fewer months if you started with live rock from the ocean or a mature system.

It may not look like it, but it is a battlefield in there right now with all kinds of invisible algae and bacteria fighting it out. Makes for a noisy, volatile atmosphere. Many of our corals can deal with it just fine. Acropora, not so much.

 

[exnisstech]

I buy sps frags in quantity and hope some of them make it :face-with-hand-over-mouth:

 

[ScottB]

I buy sps frags in quantity and hope some of them make it :face-with-hand-over-mouth:

Not bad way to go really, just avoid the super pricey stuff for a while until your survival rate picks up.

 

[groves1989]

At 3-4 months, don't beat yourself up too much. It can take many months for your microbiome to really settle out. Far fewer months if you started with live rock from the ocean or a mature system.

It may not look like it, but it is a battlefield in there right now with all kinds of invisible algae and bacteria fighting it out. Makes for a noisy, volatile atmosphere. Many of our corals can deal with it just fine. Acropora, not so much.

Thank you for your words of encouragement! Definitely a learning curve but still very enjoyable. Live and learn I guess!

I buy sps frags in quantity and hope some of them make it :face-with-hand-over-mouth:

Do you have a place you prefer to get them from?

 

[exnisstech]

Do you have a place you prefer to get them from?

It was was kind of a joke at myself because I have lost quite a few as a 7 month sps newb and they really weren't bottom shelf stuff. I don't really buy in bulk per se but I do like to buy in small groups of 4 or 5 to combine or get free shipping. The livestock classifieds here have been where in bought my last few groups. Prices seem better and frags larger than many of the vendors.

 

[groves1989]

It was was kind of a joke at myself because I have lost quite a few as a 7 month sps newb and they really weren't bottom shelf stuff. I don't really buy in bulk per se but I do like to buy in small groups of 4 or 5 to combine or get free shipping. The livestock classifieds here have been where in bought my last few groups. Prices seem better and frags larger than many of the vendors.

I think I’ll likely adopt that kind of policy, probably the best way to do it so I don’t stress over a couples losses. I appreciate the info!

 

[Dburr1014]

Any locals in your area that grow sps?
That's a good way to get some rest pieces.

VG, your moving down there soon, right?

 

[groves1989]

Any locals in your area that grow sps?
That's a good way to get some rest pieces.

Unfortunately not that I’m aware of and the shops around here are consistently overpriced even when compared to WWC or TSA.