Help Diagnosing ‘burnt’ tips of Birds Nest?

[saxplaya]

Hey all! I’ve seen similar posts but I am not sure they exactly apply here.

I’ve had my birds next for 9mo or so and it’s grown a lot! I’ve noticed recently these bare new growth sections which are either tips or the top. I turned down my light a few points this morning thinking maybe it’s burn but I wanted to post so someone with more experience can point me in the right direction.

Thanks!

 

[SaltyT]

The most common reason is usually an alk swing. How are your parameters? Can you post them for us?

 

[blasterman]

Those aren't burnt tips - it's dead tissue / RTN.

Most likely cause in a Birdsnest is not alk swings, IMO, but phosphate dives or nitrate surges.

 

[saxplaya]

I have not had any changes in levels as far as phosphates or nitrates. They have been very stable.

I don’t have an alk measurement but that’s next on my list to get a Hanna meter.

last check my levels were: pH 8.1, NO2 0, NO3 2-3, Po4 ~.5, Sal 1.025 and I didn’t write down the calcium level but it was in the middle of the ideal reef tank range.

All other corals are happy for the most part save a new blue candy cane which isn’t puffed out as much as my nuclear but it’s also been bumped once or twice.

Thanks!

 

[saxplaya]

So, ordered a Hanna DKH meter and checked today.

It's 5.4 so clearly low.

Any recommendations on slowly bringing this up? I just am starting to get into checking the trace elements/dosing all-for-reef.

 

[SaltyT]

You can raise it by 1 dKH per day. Dosing sodium bicarbonate or Kalkwasser are common methods.

 

[saxplaya]

You can raise it by 1 dKH per day. Dosing sodium bicarbonate or Kalkwasser are common methods.

I'm going to go to a local LFS and get some Bicarbonate most likely and get it up and then figure out what my daily consumption is and work out a routine for that.

Does anyone dose this into their ATO tank daily as a dosing method? I haven't gotten any dosing pumps or into that equipment at this point and I don't have room for another reactor at the moment with my current setup so I'll either have to dump into the tank or am wondering if the ATO will give me a method of doing this and I just integrate adding the powder mix into pitchers of RODI water as I fill my ATO reservoir.

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

I'm going to go to a local LFS and get some Bicarbonate most likely and get it up and then figure out what my daily consumption is and work out a routine for that.

Does anyone dose this into their ATO tank daily as a dosing method? I haven't gotten any dosing pumps or into that equipment at this point and I don't have room for another reactor at the moment with my current setup so I'll either have to dump into the tank or am wondering if the ATO will give me a method of doing this and I just integrate adding the powder mix into pitchers of RODI water as I fill my ATO reservoir.

Just pour it into an area of high flow.

 

[LOVEROCK]

Just pour it into an area of high flow.

Just out of curiosity would that damage some sps If it were poured in front of power head

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

Just out of curiosity would that damage some sps If it were poured in front of power head

Not that I know of. Add it slowly and it will dissolve in a matter of seconds

 

[LOVEROCK]

Not that I know of. Add it slowly and it will dissolve in a matter of seconds

Because I did that last time and I noticed some tip die back , suspecting that I forgot to dim down lights now