Help with SPS

[Chaetomorpha]

I only have two SPS's in my aquarium, one has been thriving and this new one has not had a lot of growth, now I noticed a tip is turning white, is this something I need to leave alone and watch my parameters? or snip it off so the other unaffected areas dont die out.



Here is how it looked today

This was from 7/31/12

 

[Chaetomorpha]

All parameters are fine, but I might have overfed it last night (mixture of coral frenzy and Cyclofreeze, once a week)

 

[Montrosereef]

White tips show growing unless you see flesh come off

 

[kuyatwo]

if you are running a ulns tank you need to have a low alk around 8-9 dkh? we really need to know more about your system what you dose and the parameter numbers before we can narrow down what is happening

 

[Montrosereef]

Alk shouldn't be a problem. Red Sea program recommends 12dkh for sps frags.

 

[kuyatwo]

12 dkh is way to high 10 dkh at the most, if you are running biopellets or a ulns tank like zeovit dkh needs to be around 8 dkh.

 

[FaviaFreak]

if you are running a ulns tank you need to have a low alk around 8-9 dkh? we really need to know more about your system what you dose and the parameter numbers before we can narrow down what is happening

this!!... otherwise it is growth which I believe it to be

 

[Montrosereef]

8dkh? This would get down to 7dkh without paying attention. I almost have a tank crash when it was 7 dkh.

 

[ritter6788]

12 dkh is way to high 10 dkh at the most, if you are running biopellets or a ulns tank like zeovit dkh needs to be around 8 dkh.

Agreed. 12 is too high for an sps tank. I've had alk burn on my sps at 10 while running GFO. I keep mine in the 8-9 range, no more no less.

 

[Chaetomorpha]

Thanks for the info guys, my alk is on the low side around 8 which might be the problem. It looks like it is not growth since some of the flesh is now turning white. What is the best course of action besides raising alk? should I cut off the branch that is dying so it doesnt spread? or leave it alone hoping that it comes back. Only one branch is affected.

 

[Giancarlo]

I wouldn't cut it, its hard to tell from the pic but is there any polyp extension? Either way i would let it settle, i am assuming you put them in your tank recently, just give it time to adapt.

 

[ritter6788]

Thanks for the info guys, my alk is on the low side around 8 which might be the problem. It looks like it is not growth since some of the flesh is now turning white. What is the best course of action besides raising alk? should I cut off the branch that is dying so it doesnt spread? or leave it alone hoping that it comes back. Only one branch is affected.

Your alk is fine. In fact it's closer to NSW which is good IMO. Raising alk may stress it out more. I can't tell from the pic but if that tip is dead then I would clip it off.

 

[Montrosereef]

I would leave it alone. Sps would come back even died.

 

[Chaetomorpha]

Ok, wish I was home I would take another pic. Ill keep you all informed.

My tank parameters are stable and are kept: Temp 80.4 (swing never over 1.0) , Nitrates 0, Ammonia 0, Phosphates .01 (tested with Hannah), Calcium 390 (seems like I can never get this up this past 2 months, initially took advise from my LFS and purchased crap instant ocean salt, ALK 8, magnesium 1100. PH 8.0, My other SPS is thriving like crazy, zoas are growing really well and all my softies doing great. Only issue I have is with cyano bacteria (syphon it out when i do water changes and try to cut back on feeding...

 

[ritter6788]

Your mag is too low. That's why you can't increase the calcium. Did you change salts already? That may fix your issues right there.