Sps Receding

JAMSOURY · Oct 4, 2020

Anyone have any experience with sps receding at the base? It doesn’t seem to be stn’ ing, seems like parts where it is encrusted seems to be pulling back/disappearing. Could that be a flow issue?

X-37B · Oct 4, 2020

Pics?
I have had it and it was from emerald crabs.
I am trying to remove all of them from my tank.
They pick at the base causing stress.
Some recovered some did not.

JAMSOURY · Oct 4, 2020

90's reefer said:
Pics?
I have had it and it was from emerald crabs.
I am trying to remove all of them from my tank.
They pick at the base causing stress.
Some recovered some did not.

No emerald crabs in my system but I’ve heard the same. The whole bottom part of the base was fully encrusted for this piece.

Ike · Oct 4, 2020

Low nutrients and alk dips are two things that seem to cause base recession. What's your PO4 and fish load/feeding regimen like?

JAMSOURY · Oct 4, 2020

Ike said:
Low nutrients and alk dips are two things that seem to cause base recession. What's your PO4 and fish load/feeding regimen like?

Alk has been pretty consistent with my calcium reactor. PO4 is at 0.15. Nitrates have been pretty low between 2-5, could that be it?

I feed frozen food daily. Brine, mysis, and Lrs mix

alk at 8.4

X-37B · Oct 4, 2020

JAMSOURY said:
No emerald crabs in my system but I’ve heard the same. The whole bottom part of the base was fully encrusted for this piece.

After seeing the pic it is different than my experience from crabs.
Any urchins as I had one that would eat coral and had to remove.
With 2-4 no3 in my tank I run .02 po4.
For me your po4 is very high but I dont think it would have anything to do with your issue.

Charlie’s Frags · Oct 4, 2020

JAMSOURY said:
No emerald crabs in my system but I’ve heard the same. The whole bottom part of the base was fully encrusted for this piece.

Looks like Vermatid snails. Hate those little buggers

Rjmul · Oct 4, 2020

I have this same issue sometimes. Following

JAMSOURY · Oct 5, 2020

Rjmul said:
I have this same issue sometimes. Following

If I was to guess, it might be due to low nitrates. Maybe my nitrates bottom out or are just too low, considering this piece is getting 500par

Charlie’s Frags · Oct 5, 2020

JAMSOURY said:
If I was to guess, it might be due to low nitrates. Maybe my nitrates bottom out or are just too low, considering this piece is getting 500par

500 par from what lights?

JAMSOURY · Oct 5, 2020

Chaswood79 said:
500 par from what lights?

G5 radion pros with t5 supplements.

Charlie’s Frags · Oct 5, 2020

I don’t see any PE on any of your other acros. How many hours are they receiving 500 par?

jda · Oct 6, 2020

N and P are fine. Are you feeding the fish enough - ammonia/ammonium from the fish waste is really the only source of nitrogen for SPS?

I would very wary of giving any acropora 500 PAR from a Radion alone... the quality is just not there to go that high and 350 is a good place to stop for most people. 500 PAR from T5 or a MH is usually no issue, so you have to really pay attention to the light source when people post about PAR that they are getting a coral.

JAMSOURY · Oct 6, 2020

Ot

Chaswood79 said:
I don’t see any PE on any of your other acros. How many hours are they receiving 500 par?

They’re getting about 8 hours at 500

JAMSOURY · Oct 6, 2020

jda said:
N and P are fine. Are you feeding the fish enough - ammonia/ammonium from the fish waste is really the only source of nitrogen for SPS?

I would very wary of giving any acropora 500 PAR from a Radion alone... the quality is just not there to go that high and 350 is a good place to stop for most people. 500 PAR from T5 or a MH is usually no issue, so you have to really pay attention to the light source when people post about PAR that they are getting a coral.

Yes, at least i believe I’m feeding them enough! You may be right about running 500 with leds. Maybe I’ll dial that down and see if it has any positive effect

Rjmul · Oct 6, 2020

JAMSOURY said:
If I was to guess, it might be due to low nitrates. Maybe my nitrates bottom out or are just too low, considering this piece is getting 500par

My nitrates are 5
Phosphate .06

my guess for my tank is trace. Again, a guess