Birdsnest die off

[reefer110]

So all was well when I left for work today. When I got home after a 10 hr day I found my birds nest 3/4 dead. And the other 1/4 looks great and normal. Didn't snap pic and already snipped good portion and threw rest out. didn't want whatever killed it to spread . Temp did get to 82 today but all other sps and lps look normal. No jelly or algae growth just pure white skeleton. And we are talking about a lil bigger then golf ball size colony . Not huge on sps but have enough to worry . A lot of monti and one or two acros

 

[preston469]

Mine just did this as well mine was caused by a ALK swing its called RTN...

 

[mike007]

The problem with birdnest is when they get big the bottom portions do not receive enough light and they start receding. Make sure your water parameters are up to par.

 

[reefer110]

Thanks for the quick reply Preston. So I check alk and it is 13 kh. I've been battling high kh due to what I believe was caused by using sechem marine 8.2 buffer. My kh was 16 about 3 days ago. I've switched to sechem aquavitro balance to maintain pH.

 

[reefer110]

PH 8.2
Nitrate can't ever get below 10-20
Calc 500
Not perfect but I try

 

[mike007]

Yes that could definitely be the cause . I would not add any alk. additives until that level comes down to 7-10. The problem Is with the swings.

 

[reefer110]

Mike Ive seen what u described on larger colony's . But this wasn't that big and it died all the way up only saved q tip size frag

 

[reefer110]

And thanks for the reply mike. I have much to learn in the ways of the sps ;)

 

[mike007]

You want to keep parameters as stable as possible. Sps do not like swings In any of the parameters. Most us use dosing pumps to dose our tanks once we find out what our daily consumption rate is. Sps corals are very picky.