Dead Acro Tips

[chadhender]

I have two acros with some dying tips/tops and wanted to see if you guys had any thoughts of what is going on.

Nitrate: 16
Phosphate: .08 (came down from .25 over 3 weeks)
Temp: 77-78
Alk: fluctuates between 8-8.25 (monitored with trident and confirmed with Hanna weekly)

These are the only two corals showing these signs and they are in the same area.

 

[tbrown]

@billyocean

 

[Dorsetsteve]

Is this since you began reducing the Phosphates? Did you use a chemical remover, like Rowaphos etc?

 

[386reeftrader]

Probably lowering po4. I just dropped mine pretty quick from a similar number to .05 and saw some burnt tips on a few pieces. I did also have a small spike in kh, but ime a quick drop in po4 alone can cause TN. I just take bone cutter snip off the dead. If the coral is still healthy it will recover much quicker that way otherwise you’ll end up with algae on the dead tips and they never grow.

 

[chadhender]

I used Phosphate RX and yes the timing is probably about right.

 

[mcarroll]

I used Phosphate RX and yes the timing is probably about right.

You might not like to know this, but reducing the PO4 level was totally unnecessary. Nothing wrong with your prior numbers.

 

[billyocean]

There can be many factors. I probably would just leave them alone and see if any algae grows on them. If it does, then you can clip the tips as someone mentioned. It wasnt that bad but why did p04 get higher in the first place? If its pellet foods then cut back on pellets etc...

 

[mcarroll]

Of its pellet foods then cut back on pellets etc...

Good point!

...and it reminds me...

@chadhender ...if it's broadcast feeding, I'd stop that altogether.

 

[Dorsetsteve]

I used Phosphate RX and yes the timing is probably about right.

Typically burnt tips is due to excesses of things, but I think in your case it was balance. Certainly it would appear that GFO affects water chemistry more than simply phosphate reduction, I’m not sure if lanthanum is the same but I wouldn’t be surprised. It terms of SPS i personally feel phosphate reduction is one of the most dangerous things that you can get up to.