OP
OP
I've been pushing out this update over and over in hopes that things would turn around and I would have some better news to share. Things haven't improved though, so I guess it's about time I shared some updates.
My switch to using my T5s (2x blues 2x actinic) as my 'primary' lights has led to a mass bleaching/STN/RTN event throughout the whole tank. That's really the whole story in a nutshell. My params have been reasonably stable throughout the last few months, so I'm attributing the SPS deaths to the lighting changes. Happy to hear thoughts all-around, but that's my best 'educated' guess. More on this later.
I'm not even gonna name some of my higher end pieces that have just melted away, it hurts my pride/wallet too much. My lovely BB Draw Jopper colony was one of the victims, and thankfully fragging it has worked and I've been able to save a few pieces scattered throughout the tank.
Cyano takes over in any dead spots, really strange honestly as I only see Cyano in the tank where things have died.
No other photos to share as it's just been too depressing to document deaths. Many started with a STN at the base (for like 2-4 days) and progressed in to a RTN over 24 hours. I've lost at least 5 pieces, with a few other currently STNing at the bases.
More info on lighting:
Prior to moving to T5 primaries my peak par during the day was ~400 at the top of my rocks. Difficult to say 'how long' I had that peak par going, but it wasn't less than 2 hours. My T5s were supplement and going for 6hrs each with that 1-2hr overlap in the middle of the day.
I wanted more 'coverage' for the tank, so my dumb dumb self figured if I just reduced my LED output and put the T5s on together this would be the perfect combo. Dec 7 I started the progression of migrating from LED primary to T5. Immediately I reduced Led output on the 7th, and over the next 2 weeks (ending on Dec 21) I started to gradually close the gap of the T5s being on together. I initially started at only 4 hours on with a 30min overlap, then 1hr overlap two days later, then 1.5hr overlap another 2 days later. I measured par at 350 at the PEAK of the day and that was only for ~1hr. I figured this was going to be cake if I just kept my par in check.
Well, the "Oh !*@#, something's wrong" moment came a few days before Christmas - I noticed bleached tips on a few pieces. Too much light? Certainly seemed that way. I reduced LED output some. The bleached tips proceeded over the next week and I continued lowering LED output. Early Jan my BB Draw starts to STN and a few others as well, with nearly all pieces showing signs of tissue regression or complete stalled growth. At this point my peak par is <270 so I'm just completely baffled at the continued downturn.
Today, I don't really know where things stand. The T5s continue as my primary at 6hrs on with 5.5hr overlap. LEDs are ramping up/down 3+ hours on other side of those - with a total photo period of 11hrs. At least two SPS pieces are still showing signs of their bases STN'ing.
I'm banging my head against the wall for trying to make this T5 switch. I regret immensely, but at this point I feel I'm a bit in the sunken cost fallacy. If I were to revert my changing I feel I risk introducing another bleaching event. Alk consumption has continued throughout this process, albeit at a slower rate (I suspect because my LPS pieces haven't shown much stress at all.)
So yeah, that's where we are today. Super disappointed I'm my own worst enemy.
Photo of STN that's started from the base. This is a today photo. STN is about 1-2 week's on this GC Acroberry.
My switch to using my T5s (2x blues 2x actinic) as my 'primary' lights has led to a mass bleaching/STN/RTN event throughout the whole tank. That's really the whole story in a nutshell. My params have been reasonably stable throughout the last few months, so I'm attributing the SPS deaths to the lighting changes. Happy to hear thoughts all-around, but that's my best 'educated' guess. More on this later.
I'm not even gonna name some of my higher end pieces that have just melted away, it hurts my pride/wallet too much. My lovely BB Draw Jopper colony was one of the victims, and thankfully fragging it has worked and I've been able to save a few pieces scattered throughout the tank.
Cyano takes over in any dead spots, really strange honestly as I only see Cyano in the tank where things have died.
No other photos to share as it's just been too depressing to document deaths. Many started with a STN at the base (for like 2-4 days) and progressed in to a RTN over 24 hours. I've lost at least 5 pieces, with a few other currently STNing at the bases.
More info on lighting:
Prior to moving to T5 primaries my peak par during the day was ~400 at the top of my rocks. Difficult to say 'how long' I had that peak par going, but it wasn't less than 2 hours. My T5s were supplement and going for 6hrs each with that 1-2hr overlap in the middle of the day.
I wanted more 'coverage' for the tank, so my dumb dumb self figured if I just reduced my LED output and put the T5s on together this would be the perfect combo. Dec 7 I started the progression of migrating from LED primary to T5. Immediately I reduced Led output on the 7th, and over the next 2 weeks (ending on Dec 21) I started to gradually close the gap of the T5s being on together. I initially started at only 4 hours on with a 30min overlap, then 1hr overlap two days later, then 1.5hr overlap another 2 days later. I measured par at 350 at the PEAK of the day and that was only for ~1hr. I figured this was going to be cake if I just kept my par in check.
Well, the "Oh !*@#, something's wrong" moment came a few days before Christmas - I noticed bleached tips on a few pieces. Too much light? Certainly seemed that way. I reduced LED output some. The bleached tips proceeded over the next week and I continued lowering LED output. Early Jan my BB Draw starts to STN and a few others as well, with nearly all pieces showing signs of tissue regression or complete stalled growth. At this point my peak par is <270 so I'm just completely baffled at the continued downturn.
Today, I don't really know where things stand. The T5s continue as my primary at 6hrs on with 5.5hr overlap. LEDs are ramping up/down 3+ hours on other side of those - with a total photo period of 11hrs. At least two SPS pieces are still showing signs of their bases STN'ing.
I'm banging my head against the wall for trying to make this T5 switch. I regret immensely, but at this point I feel I'm a bit in the sunken cost fallacy. If I were to revert my changing I feel I risk introducing another bleaching event. Alk consumption has continued throughout this process, albeit at a slower rate (I suspect because my LPS pieces haven't shown much stress at all.)
So yeah, that's where we are today. Super disappointed I'm my own worst enemy.
Photo of STN that's started from the base. This is a today photo. STN is about 1-2 week's on this GC Acroberry.
I 'fixed' my pH issue 1/28 and recalibrated, long story short the air pump I was using to push CO2 scrubbed air wasn't working properly. I'm generally able to keep it above 8 at night now. The only real issue I see is my nutrients are still a bit higher than what they've been in the past (they're now at ~12 nitrate and ~0.1 phosphate.) My Alk has been reasonably stable around ~8. I'm throwing my hands up and just accepting the losses as they are. I think attempting to make any changes (unsure what to do other than more water changes) will only upset the other acros that have somehow managed to survive.
