Monti cap discoloration

[ScubaZ]

I have a red monti cap in the center of my tank that was doing really good for a while and now is taking a turn for the worst. Too much light maybe? It’s right under a hydra 26hd although it’s lower in the tank. It seems to bleeching out possibly in some areas although I’m not sure. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks

25 gallon lagoon
Salt-1.024
Alk-9
Cal-420
Ph 8.4
Temp- 78°f
Nitrate- 10> ppm

 

[reef lover]

Unless uve changed the lighting i doubt its that.
Could it have grown to a point its hampering flow?
Do u know ur phosphate levels?

 

[C. Eymann]

I'd be on the lookout for black bugs and maybe nudis

 

[45ZoaGarden]

What are the phosphate levels? Salt is a bit low too

 

[ScubaZ]

Unless uve changed the lighting i doubt its that.
Could it have grown to a point its hampering flow?
Do u know ur phosphate levels?

I do not, I will have to get a test kit.

 

[45ZoaGarden]

I do not, I will have to get a test kit.

I recommend the Hanna checker, seems pretty accurate.

 

[ScubaZ]

I recommend the Hanna checker, seems pretty accurate.

Thanks! Now would you use the normal one or the Low url version?

 

[ScottB]

ULR. This one:


Montis Cap are generally good under strong lighting -- unless they came from a shaded tank directly to yours.

I am going to guess that you have a reasonable phosphate level if nitrates are 10 and your softies look happy. Still, every reefer should have a Hanna checker IMO.

I think I would also pick up a coral dip like CoralRx. It is pretty strong, so follow the directions closely, or look them up here.

Lastly as mentioned, caps like flow. How is the flow in the center?

The hard part about SPS is they don't give the strongest visual cues when unhappy until they have been unhappy for a while. Usually. How long have you had this piece and when did you first notice necrosis?

 

[ScubaZ]

ULR. This one:


Montis Cap are generally good under strong lighting -- unless they came from a shaded tank directly to yours.

I am going to guess that you have a reasonable phosphate level if nitrates are 10 and your softies look happy. Still, every reefer should have a Hanna checker IMO.

I think I would also pick up a coral dip like CoralRx. It is pretty strong, so follow the directions closely, or look them up here.

Lastly as mentioned, caps like flow. How is the flow in the center?

The hard part about SPS is they don't give the strongest visual cues when unhappy until they have been unhappy for a while. Usually. How long have you had this piece and when did you first notice necrosis?

Thanks it’s been in the tank for a while over a year and was really starting to take off untill maybe a couple months ago started to fade away. The flow is pretty strong and it used to do in that area so I don’t think it is flow. I’ve never used dip before maybe I’ll give that a shot. Thanks a lot!

 

[ScottB]

Thanks it’s been in the tank for a while over a year and was really starting to take off untill maybe a couple months ago started to fade away. The flow is pretty strong and it used to do in that area so I don’t think it is flow. I’ve never used dip before maybe I’ll give that a shot. Thanks a lot!

Hmmm. Your parameters are all fine. Have ALK and salinity been kept stable with no spikes?

 

[45ZoaGarden]

Mine isn’t the ultra low one. It’s just low range

 

[ScubaZ]

Mine isn’t the ultra low one. It’s just low range

I just bought the Hanna phosphate url and tested twice It’s reading 0.01 ppm

 

[Nicholas Dushynsky]

I just bought the Hanna phosphate url and tested twice It’s reading 0.01 ppm

you accuracy of the kit could mean you are actually at zero, that said 0.01 is still too low. That's what happened to all my montipora digi. It grew like mad to the fact I was selling frags often. Over the course of 3-4 months watching it get paler and paler, checking lighting and all other levels I had a faulty salifert p04 kit then got a second opinion at my lfs and I had 10 nitrates and 0 phosphates. That caused cyano and all my digitata to stn. I've solved the cyano and now dose phosphates. The polyps of digi that survived are regrowing.
I went from

To

Since dosing it's coming back slowly, so dont give up.

 

[45ZoaGarden]

Sheesh! That’s too low. My phosphate is .1-.07

 

[jda]

The tank in my signature has 1-2 ppb of phosphate and the montis and stuff grows like weeds. This is not likely the issue.

Double check the calibration on your refractometer and get your salinity up to 35 ppt. Double check your temperature with something that has mercury in it. Go through the basics.

 

[45ZoaGarden]

Salinity and temperature won’t do that to a Monti. I’ve seen healthy montis in 1.023 and anywhere from 76-84°

 

[45ZoaGarden]

Granted that stylo in the background looks a tad p¡ssed off as well. White in the middle...

 

[C. Eymann]

Granted that stylo in the background looks a tad p¡ssed off as well. White in the middle...

That's a poccilopora in OPs pic behind the monti, and it looks fine IMO, dense P. damicornis colonies will almost always be a little white on the inside of the colony, again, it really looks like something is munching on it to my eyes.
I'd be flipping that over and looking for nudis (about the size of a small grain of rice) and their eggs, also look really closely all over for little pod size dark grey and black things.

 

[45ZoaGarden]

That's a poccilopora in OPs pic behind the monti, and it looks fine IMO, dense P. damicornis colonies will almost always be a little white on the inside of the colony, again, it really looks like something is munching on it to my eyes.
I'd be flipping that over and looking for nudis (about the size of a small grain of rice) and their eggs, also look really closely all over for little pod size dark grey and black things.

My bad. I meant poccilopora. My brain is in another world today lol

 

[ScubaZ]

you accuracy of the kit could mean you are actually at zero, that said 0.01 is still too low. That's what happened to all my montipora digi. It grew like mad to the fact I was selling frags often. Over the course of 3-4 months watching it get paler and paler, checking lighting and all other levels I had a faulty salifert p04 kit then got a second opinion at my lfs and I had 10 nitrates and 0 phosphates. That caused cyano and all my digitata to stn. I've solved the cyano and now dose phosphates. The polyps of digi that survived are regrowing.
I went from

To

Since dosing it's coming back slowly, so dont give up.

Darn thanks so much I’m not gonna lie my understanding was zero point of sale was a good thing... I guess not what numbers should I aim for? Thanks!