Half of my montipora is gone!

[Miami Reef]

Look how half is dead. I just noticed it now. I honestly see a lot of my SPS corals having STN/RTN.

 

[Miami Reef]

 

[Miami Reef]

Parameters:

Alk: 9.8dkh
Cal:440
Mag: 1360
Phosphates: 0.08
Nitrates: 5ppm
Temp: 78

I have been adjusting my lights a LOT recently. Same schedule but different intensities and spectrums because I wasn’t satisfied how the tank looked with my LED’s.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Light and flow have a heavy impact and may be part of the issue. Parameters seem good- what test kits are you using?

 

[Miami Reef]

Hannah checker for alk and Red Sea for the rest and I even double checked the alk and it matched with alk.

 

[Miami Reef]

I think flow hurt these guys on top. The acro on left was 320 par and the right was 260ish

 

[T-J]

How new is that tank? I don't see any coralline on the back glass.

 

[Miami Reef]

It’s a new tank. But I’m getting an explosion of coralline algae.


I glued my aquascape together and there’s evidence of coralline algae growth on the glue. It’s also on the rocks and some are starting on the back wall too. But yes, it’s a new tank.

 

[Uncle99]

New tanks are generally too unstable for Stoney corals.
They don’t have the required bacteria pop at that time.
Softies in new tanks usually fine.
Those numbers are fine.

 

[Dkmoo]

SPS needs stability in the right range above all else - stability both for things we can measure, and things we can't. RTN and STN suggests one or more of the above is not right. Changing the light so much very likely is part of the cause. In young tanks, the stuff we can't measure could also be unstable, but its much more difficult to diagnose or check if thats part of the cause. This is why generally people recommend a mature tank before SPS

 

[T-J]

+1 tank too young
+1 fiddling with lights too much

 

[tehmadreefer]

+1 tank too young
+1 fiddling with lights too much

This 100%
The more one messes with stuff, the more your corals are going to suffer, as you are experiencing first hand. Plus, thank is too new, for someone that is new to the hobby, meaning several years of quantified coral care.
Another tidbit, even if
Your “numbers” are in range of keeping corals, none of that will matter without the proper maturity and biodiversity. Which newbies just don’t understand.

 

[elorablue]

Did this happen after you added the water and other things from the ocean?

 

[T-J]

Did this happen after you added the water and other things from the ocean?

Wait, what? There's no mention of using anything that this person plucked out of the ocean.

 

[Miami Reef]

Wait, what? There's no mention of using anything that this person plucked out of the ocean.

No no. That person was referring to my other thread where I added some sand and water from the beach. I used half of a 5 gallon bucket to collect ocean water and sand.

 

[elorablue]

Wait, what? There's no mention of using anything that this person plucked out of the ocean.

It's in another thread iirc , or maybe I'm finally getting that flashback ive been promised all these years

 

[Miami Reef]

Update. I cut half of the montipora that was dead yesterday but some edges of the RTN was still there. It spread even more today! Looks like not too much longer until this coral is dead. It was purchased as a bigger piece, and I’m glad I split it in half because the other piece is well.

 

[LeftyReefer]

If your water params are all good, I would suspect the lighting. (too much!)
I dang near killed all my monti's when I first started. I bought monti's thinking they were easy, and then struggled getting any of them to live, let alone grow. Realized my lighting was way too intense. Backed off the lighting and they all recovered and are now doing great.

 

[fishguy242]

size tank ? interceptor? @Eagle_Steve ??

 

[Miami Reef]

If your water params are all good, I would suspect the lighting. (too much!)
I dang near killed all my monti's when I first started. I bought monti's thinking they were easy, and then struggled getting any of them to live, let alone grow. Realized my lighting was way too intense. Backed off the lighting and they all recovered and are now doing great.

I think that’s the main reason I’m having issues. I’m using 4 ai hydras and I put all the frags on the highest rock without light acclimation.