montipora trouble

[Wiz]

So I am extremely busy right now just bought a new house and I'm about to move my system. Therefore I have not given it the attention that it deserves lately. About 2 or 3 weeks ago My red cap Got a large white spot in the middle of it.Very similar to what happens when a piece of another Coral lands on it.That has happened occasionally so I did not give it much thought and waited for it to get better.That spot started to get a bit better after a couple of days. Within another few days there was another large spot on the Red Cap.That started to freak me out so I began to look at it at night and in the morning.To make a long story short Every montipora in my tank is now showing these dead spots randomly. They appear to be getting worse faster than they can get better. It is only montipora but every type. I have 5 different colored caps 3 Different digis, a saragosa and setosa. My cell phone magnification is very good and I can see extremely close. I have not found any trace of nudie branches or eggs. Water parameters are fine. I have acropora as well as other delicate corals that are doing well. I am lost And I'm losing all of my montipora. Anyone know what might be going on?

 

[FLAdaboy]

If it's limited to just your montis, you may have a nudibranch problem. Shine a light on them at night after the lights have been off for a few hours.

 

[Wiz]

It is only my Montis. But I have looked and looked and looked at 3 in the morning at 4 in the morning all night long. There is no sign of nudie branches. These pictures were taken at about 1:30 in the morning

If it's limited to just your montis, you may have a nudibranch problem. Shine a light on them at night after the lights have been off for a few hours.

 

[FLAdaboy]

What's your temp, alk, ph? What test kits are you using?

 

[Wiz]

Sg-1.025. Refractometer
Nitrate 0 master kit
Ammonia 0 master kit
Ph 8.2 master kit
Phos 0 api
Calc 430 red sea pro
Mag 1300 red sea pro
Alk 10.2 salifert
Temp 83º glass therm

All parameters have been stable for About a year.All my Montis have done well and grown well.

 

[FLAdaboy]

Temp is a little high but if that's normal for you then cool. Stability is always the key. I can tell you that I have had montis give up on me before and all my other SPS were fine. Your situation is difficult. Just keep monitoring. It doesn't look like rtn because there is no flesh coming off. That's why I suspected nudis.

 

[Wiz]

The only things I sew around the damage is asternia. But Ive had them forever. Those, micro brittles and bluehermits. Only things around the damage.

 

[JasReef]

My montis had some issues when the potassium dipped low. Salifert has a kit available now and It is one I only check monthly or if I start to see issues with montis. Remember this is potassium(K), not potassium iodide. Good luck.

 

[Wiz]

I've been wanting a potassium test. Guess nows the time. :-)

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Uh oh dude. :eek:
[HASHTAG]#reefsquald[/HASHTAG]

 

[Wiz]

Got this vid this morning. Looks like there is flesh loss. :-(

Temp is a little high but if that's normal for you then cool. Stability is always the key. I can tell you that I have had montis give up on me before and all my other SPS were fine. Your situation is difficult. Just keep monitoring. It doesn't look like rtn because there is no flesh coming off. That's why I suspected nudis.

 

[Wiz]

And a dark spot on newly dead area. Almost like debris. :-(

 

[themcnertney]

The only things I sew around the damage is asternia. But Ive had them forever. Those, micro brittles and bluehermits. Only things around the damage.

Probably feeding on the dead coral. Keep an eye on alk.

 

[Wiz]

Alk was my first thought too. But I dose the same amount daily and tested yesterday it was 10.2 which is about where I keep it

Probably feeding on the dead coral. Keep an eye on alk.

 

[themcnertney]

Any change in lighting?

 

[Wiz]

The last time I ramped them up a bit was about 4 months ago

 

[DeniseAndy]

I lost almost all my montis in my large system to a one day alk swing. Took time. Over 5 months I watched them slowly die. It was horrible. Some was my fault as I decided to frag them thinking it would help, but they were so huge I had to do it in system. Not a good idea. I think I spread infection and lost my four huge colonies. My frags were lost too, but about 2 years later two that were on the base rocks came back. Weird.

I wish you the best of luck. Just make sure you have stable parameters, no pests (sounds like you have searched for those), do not add anything new to system, do water changes. You could also try an antibiotic that is more reef safe. I really wish I had tried that.

 

[Wiz]

After moving all montis have stoped dying and are growing :-) had to be a deficiency in the water. Only difference is 50% new salt water. So happy most are still there. No matter how small. Only lost my setosa.:-( but a former frag buyer of mine is going to return a small piece of the one he got from me. :-)