Sps receding at tips- help

[mfollen]

Update: ICP showed high lithium.

Perhaps from the external maxspect gyre magnet in the overflow water? Maybe these magnets aren’t so safe as recommended?

Thank you all!

The magnet was only in for maybe a week of that.

 

[Whasmack]

I think BRS stated that some salt mixes have higher lithium content than others... could be wrong though.
Is that side of the magnet water-proof?

 

[mfollen]

Otherwise I have what I believe is little to no iodine? Not sure if this is another element...

 

[Whasmack]

I'm not sure that would cause STN coral mortality; but it's something to keep in your pocket if what you are currently trying does not work out... (Move slowly when trying to solve an issue!)

 

[Whasmack]

Things going well?

 

[mfollen]

I was planning on posting an update, but first wanted to thank everyone for your help. I very likely would be a hurting reefer right now.

Thankfully the acros have never looked better. The tissue recession has not only reversed, but the corals have colored up and are certainly trending in the right direction. I lost some nice strains, but I could of lost a lot more. Thank you all.

I turned the skimmer off, dialed in PO4 & no3. Started daily dosing of reef energy a and b. Broadcast fed every couple of days. I also just got my PAR dialed in yesterday too.

I don’t know whether it was one specific thing or the culmination of the entire review of nutrition. All I know is I’m grateful where the corals are now.

 

[mfollen]

And I certainly believe reed energy a and b made a big difference. Thank you @whasmack

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

What was the before and after par values

 

[mfollen]

For where problems were happening: around 220-280. Now 250-340.

 

[ScottB]

Thanks for the good news; great to hear.

So, if you had to speculate about the most effective change(s) made, would you say it was:
a) nutrition? From the A/B or NO3 and PO4?
b) Flow change?
c) PAR change?

How high are you running PO4 now?

 

[mfollen]

I’d guess nutrition as many of the acros went from pale colors to more vibrant.

In regards to the stringy recession at the tips? Hard to tell... could be due to the lack of overarching nutritional needs being met...

Flow is ruled out as the flow is back to close to what it was.

All that said, I’m still holding my breath and letting time tell.

PO4 I’m trying to keep around .003 - but they varied a little as I honed in on dosing. Nitrates were bumped up to 15, now closer to 5.

 

[ScottB]

Got it, thanks.

Early in this hobby for me, it was all about low nutrient -- nearly 0/0 for NO3 and PO4. I got lucky for a while, but then got hammered by dinoflagellates.

I now test and dose religiously to keep my levels up around 10 and .08.

Dinnos are an ugly place to be.

 

[mfollen]

Agreed @ScottB - it’s all a process. But the nutrition component is too overlooked. I am a part of that as well.

Figured that I’m feeding my fish, the nutrients are in there, just not detectable.

I am a fan of reef energy a and b so far.

 

[mfollen]

Update: Not good. Full out SPS crash Green turf algae has exploded.

The new thread has the details:

Unknown Cause: SPS Crash

Hello all, I unfortunately am going through an absolute SPS crash, all SPS have receded and are almost all gone. This has has been an absolutely devastating loss time and financially. I need to identify this issue if I'm going to get back on my feet. Can anyone please help me identify the...

www.reef2reef.com

All in all I will say that while the changes helped short-term, overall either I failed in execution (likely) or this did not work.

 

[ScottB]

dang. Sorry to hear this. Will follow the other thread.