SPS HELP. RTN?

[NolaReefer17]

Help! I’ve been having issues with SPS for months now. Every SPS I introduce to the tank develops RTN within 48 hours. All of my LPS corals are doing fine. Even this coral has good polyp extension when in the water. I have not seen any pests on them, but i could just be overlooking. I added this one on Thursday and took this picture last night (2 days later). Before adding it i removed all SPS and kept it that way for 2 months hoping if it is a pest it would die off. PAR is not the issue because it is on a frag rack at the bottom of the tank. I did have someone i trust suggest it could be something bacterial and to run a cycle of chemiclean. Will also be running an ICP test when it comes in. I am open to any other suggestions. Thanks

Also my numbers
PH: 7.8-8.0
Alk: 9-9.5
Cal: 470
Mag: 1420
Nitrate: 8-9
Phosphate: 0.1

 

[Dburr1014]

Help! I’ve been having issues with SPS for months now. Every SPS I introduce to the tank develops RTN within 48 hours. All of my LPS corals are doing fine. Even this coral has good polyp extension when in the water. I have not seen any pests on them, but i could just be overlooking. I added this one on Thursday and took this picture last night (2 days later). Before adding it i removed all SPS and kept it that way for 2 months hoping if it is a pest it would die off. PAR is not the issue because it is on a frag rack at the bottom of the tank.

Why do you think it's not par? Could be too low par. It shouldn't cause rtn but how low par is it?

I did have someone i trust suggest it could be something bacterial and to run a cycle of chemiclean. Will also be running an ICP test when it comes in. I am open to any other suggestions. Thanks

Also my numbers
PH: 7.8-8.0

Not horrible but have you tried any methods to raise this number?

Alk: 9-9.5

Is this where you always run? Is it stable? Would you consider lowering it to 8ish?

Cal: 470
Mag: 1420
Nitrate: 8-9
Phosphate: 0.1

Other thoughts...

How old is the tank and was this a dry rock start?

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

That doesn’t look like typical rtn and pest won’t cause that type of tissue damage in just 24 hours. They typically start at the base and in the areas that are shaded. Lighting won’t do that either unless you put it in +800 par after a heavy stressful dip.
A pic of what it looks like in the tank would be a lot more helpful.

Looks to me like a fish or invert took a bite out of it. Can you list all of your fish and inverts?

 

[MoshJosh]

What exactly happened to the other sps corals, you had/have? Did they die or completely bleach, or do they just have spots like the one you have pictured question mark?

 

[NolaReefer17]

What exactly happened to the other sps corals, you had/have? Did they die or completely bleach, or do they just have spots like the one you have pictured question

They all started like this. They would start losing polyps then bleach out and all the skin would peel off.

 

[NolaReefer17]

That doesn’t look like typical rtn and pest won’t cause that type of tissue damage in just 24 hours. They typically start at the base and in the areas that are shaded. Lighting won’t do that either unless you put it in +800 par after a heavy stressful dip.
A pic of what it looks like in the tank would be a lot more helpful.

Looks to me like a fish or invert took a bite out of it. Can you list all of your fish and inverts?

 

[NolaReefer17]

That doesn’t look like typical rtn and pest won’t cause that type of tissue damage in just 24 hours. They typically start at the base and in the areas that are shaded. Lighting won’t do that either unless you put it in +800 par after a heavy stressful dip.
A pic of what it looks like in the tank would be a lot more helpful.

Looks to me like a fish or invert took a bite out of it. Can you list all of your fish and inverts?

All i currently have is a blonde naso, foxface, flame angel and coral beauty(they were added after the last died, and before i added the current one, 4 chromis, 2 clowns. And around 50 blue leg crabs.

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

All i currently have is a blonde naso, foxface, flame angel and coral beauty(they were added after the last died, and before i added the current one, 4 chromis, 2 clowns. And around 50 blue leg crabs.

I bet one of those angels has been munching on your sps

 

[NolaReefer17]

I bet one of those angels has been munching on your sps

Same exact thing was happening before the angels were added though. I just added the angels right before i put that frag in. Not saying impossible, but heck of a coincidence.

 

[Zuluuz]

Alk too high for that nutrient level. Also could have high levels of metal contamination. Get ICP asap

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

Same exact thing was happening before the angels were added though. I just added the angels right before i put that frag in. Not saying impossible, but heck of a coincidence.

That spot on the coral in your first pic looks like a fish bite, not typical rtn/stn. How is it doing now?

 

[NolaReefer17]

That spot on the coral in your first pic looks like a fish bite, not typical rtn/stn. How is it doing now?

Went on vacation and came back yesterday. The tip of another branch started losing too before i left Thursday morning. But it looks the same as when i left. Polyps still fully extended.

 

[NolaReefer17]

That spot on the coral in your first pic looks like a fish bite, not typical rtn/stn. How is it doing now?

 

[billyocean]

Polyp extension doesn't mean the coral is fine. Growth is the better indicator.