SPS Brown Algae on tips...

brian moran

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2 of my SPS frags have brown algae build up on a few branches after a recent move. The rest of the frags are looking ok. Should I be alarmed & what should I do about it?

Thanks,
 

saltyfilmfolks

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Just clip the tips. May want to keep a closer eye and figure out why the tips are dying.
 

joeyhatch11

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Please post up your nitrate and phosphate levels. If unsure or not able to test for them reach out to someone that can properly test them for you. Likely they are elevated and causing this issue. Yes cutting the tips may be a quick solution but not going to cure the overall problem.
 

saltyfilmfolks

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Please post up your nitrate and phosphate levels. If unsure or not able to test for them reach out to someone that can properly test them for you. Likely they are elevated and causing this issue. Yes cutting the tips may be a quick solution but not going to cure the overall problem.
From my experience , it's the actual dying flesh feeding the algae. I have a couple that just haven't healed that it happens to.
 

BigJim

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Often an alk spike can cause burnt tips which then get covered with algae. I would think it is possible the new tank had higher alk than the previous tank. I agree with saltyfilmfolks' advice. Just clip the tips and you will be okay if your parameters are steady.
 
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brian moran

brian moran

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Just clipped them both. Checking now, but I think my parameters are OK. I will post when I get them... Thanks,
 

SashimiTurtle

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From my experience, an alk spike will cause the tips to die off. If there's not enough N and P and also flow to help the coral recover, algae will cover the tips feeding on the dying coral tissue, like Salty said. The move probably stressed the corals, then parameters were off to cause some die off in the less hardy sticks.
 
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brian moran

brian moran

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OK>..

Nitrite... .05
Nitrate... 10
Alkalinity- 7.0
PH- 8.0
Calcium- 390
Magnesium- 1250
Phosphates-.03

*Note: The tank had Cyano so when I moved the tank I treated with ChemiClean. That treatment ended Thursday & I have done 3 20% water changes along with hooking up my UV.
 

Mangelotta1

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I'm having the same issue.. sps frags are getting brown tips. My colonies are fine... Is my.water to dirty? Should I turn off my skimmer? Should I turn off carbon or gfo? Any help please. My ALK is running between 9.6 and 10.0
 

saltyfilmfolks

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I'm having the same issue.. sps frags are getting brown tips. My colonies are fine... Is my.water to dirty? Should I turn off my skimmer? Should I turn off carbon or gfo? Any help please. My ALK is running between 9.6 and 10.0
I'd look at flow.
 

saltyfilmfolks

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Would u say more flow or less flow??[/QUOTE

I'd have to see it.

But if everyone elese is fine, I'd say the water is fine.
It's slightly possible is a bit to much light , can't see them.
 

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