Having some coral issues

BigJim · Aug 14, 2016

I apologize for the lengthy post. I have been having issues with my corals for about two weeks. Most of the impacted corals are sps, but my zoas are not opening fully and one favia has lost some tissue at the base. I have dipped several problem corals and taken tons of macro photos, and I found no aefw or red bugs. My levels are below.

alk: 8.5 dKH
ca: 440
mg: 1280
po4: 0
no3: 2

Most corals are doing well still but it seems like it is slowly spreading. There are two things I thought could be the issue but I really have no idea. I noticed vermetid snails near several of the corals having issues but removing them did not seem to help. The last couple corals with issues did not have vermetid snails near them.

I also added a glass brace using silicone two weeks ago because the plastic brace appeared to be coming apart slightly. I used RTV 108 silicone after removing about 20% of the water from the tank. I added a thermometer and airstone to the DT and let the silicone cure for 36 hours. I also left the powerheads on for flow. When I filled it back up the water was hitting the bottom of the brace. I'm wondering if the silicone had not cured and added some chemical to the tank.

Below are some pictures of the corals. The first two seem to have white squiggly things coming out of the top of the corals. Any ideas what they are and if they may be the issue.

rovster · Aug 14, 2016

What was your alk right before you added the brace? What was your alk a day or 2 after you were online? How do you supplement alk?

Reason I ask is anytime you have a change corals can stalk out and if you don't turn off dosers you can spike levels. Damage doesn't show up for a few days later and doesn't get better for a while. Looks like alk burn. Just my 2...

saltyfilmfolks · Aug 15, 2016

Not familiar with the silicone. Most reef safe silicone has no anti mold. The rtv brand I do not know.

I think you took good steps on clean up. Perhaps carbon a reactor or canister would prob be best. And then water changes. The soloution is dilution theory.

I can't comment on the alk burn. But I did notice you have quite low No and Po. In my very limited experience in SPS. Hungry corals are easier to hurt or kill.

maroun.c · Aug 15, 2016

Unless you have a clear cause in your tests results then the only thing you can do is a sequence ID water changes making sure the water matches at least your alk levels. And changing carbon every few days coming 2 weeks. If there's any chance any heavy metal has leached into the tank then maybe a heavy metal removing media.
Hope u manage to turn it without major losses.

Lenny_S · Aug 15, 2016

Something is definitely bothering them, agree with earlier posts, I suggest TLF MetaSorb (the large size) and carbon. I would also dose TLF AcroPower to keep them fed well and speed recovery.

BigJim · Aug 15, 2016

There was definitely a little alk swing because I didn't remember to turn the dosing pump off until about 12 hours into the silicone curing period. I was manually dosing the tank and keeping it around 8.2. I didn't test alk again until 3 days after I brought the tank back online and it was 8.5 where it has remained. The PC Rainbow in the first and third pics just started showing issues Saturday and the coral in the last pic keeps getting worse. That leads me to believe it is something else.

I have been doing big water changes and running larger amounts of carbon. I use the Marinepure media which many people thing leaches aluminum. I am thinking about removing them to see if it helps.

reeferfoxx · Aug 15, 2016

After you have ran some actived carbon, Acropower is a good source for amino acids. It will also help raise nitrates. Others suggest 'stump remover' from local hardware store. With acros i wouldn't go above 10 nitrates but that is a good number to keep it at. You should also raise po4 to 0.01-0.04ppm. Phosphates are easy to raise but maintaining po4 can be difficult.

MontiFanatic402 · Aug 15, 2016

I'm having the exact same issue, my corals are pale and also send out those filaments... And then stn on me,.my nitrate is 2 and PO4 is undetectable via salifert. Seems like the tank is nutrient deprived.

reeferfoxx · Aug 15, 2016

Food can help raise nutrients. Reef roids, coral frenzy and other fine particle foods can help feed sps and filter feeders while raising phosphates. Pale corals can be a sign of high alkalinity with low nutrients and/or too much lighting.

Lenny_S · Aug 15, 2016

reeferfoxx said:
Food can help raise nutrients. Reef roids, coral frenzy and other fine particle foods can help feed sps and filter feeders while raising phosphates. Pale corals can be a sign of high alkalinity with low nutrients and/or too much lighting.

+1... But if corals are weak aminos will get them healthy again better than fine particle foods. Feeding on those requires energy from the coral they don't usually have when they are struggling a bit.
Raising PO4 is easy... Just add frozen food to your feedings and don't rinse it. I tested the liquid from my frozen food and it was loaded with phosphate. Even though I can't detect it with my Hanna low range, I know it's going in.

reeferfoxx · Aug 15, 2016

Lenny_S said:
+1... But if corals are weak aminos will get them healthy again better than fine particle foods. Feeding on those requires energy from the coral they don't usually have when they are struggling a bit.
Raising PO4 is easy... Just add frozen food to your feedings and don't rinse it. I tested the liquid from my frozen food and it was loaded with phosphate. Even though I can't detect it with my Hanna low range, I know it's going in.

His nitrates are 2ppm. I figured he was already on the right path. But yes nitrates are essential. Acropower is a safe way to add nitrates/amino acids without raising po4. Others suggest using 'stump remover' from a local hardware store. Only difference is there isn't instructions on what to dose, with stump remover.

BigJim · Aug 15, 2016

I actually add Acropower (5ml daily to a 155 gallon tank) and was adding KZ Flatworm Stop because I heard it strengthened the corals. I have never had flatworms. I ran out of the Flatworm Stop about three weeks ago and didn't buy more because it's expensive and I didn't really know if it helped. It also made me have to clean the glass every two days. I started using it again last Thursday and also added Coral Booster to the mix to see if it helps.

Lenny_S · Aug 15, 2016

5 ml isn't much, you can easily and safely bump that up to 15 ml daily... I dose that much routinely to a 160 gallon tank every day for 2-3 weeks when I add fresh cut frags. I also shut down the protein skimmer and carbon 1/2 the day and dose during that time (basically day time)

ECreefer · Oct 31, 2016

Jim,

How are your corals doing? Did you resolve the issues.

BigJim · Oct 31, 2016

I'm still not 100% sure it is over. I lost the blue acro in the pictures above and most of the others look exactly the same (not better but not worse). I have been dosing Korallen Zucht Flatworm Stop and Coral Booster to try to strengthen the corals. I also added a few fish and started feeding heavier. My Ca and Alk usage has doubled, so the healthy corals are loving the changes. I'm wondering now if it is some kind of bacterial infection.

ECreefer · Nov 1, 2016

Sorry to hear that it hasn't resolved itself yet but glad that the happier corals are doing well! Have you tried to increase the flow on the problem corals? I wouldn't think its a nutrient issue, but if you are running GFO or some kind of phosphate removal, I would either feed more or back off on it a bit.