Tissue loss in new acro frag

[ak4890]

Hi Everyone, I have a new acro frag that seems to experiencing some tissue loss along the corallite. I had a mild alk swing earlier in the week, but otherwise have maintained alk stably around 7.5, and calcium is currently around 390 PPM. Does this look like the result of too strong of a PAR, and should I try to move the frag lower in the tank? I still seem to have decent polyp extension on much of the frag..

 

[tzabor10]

White at the tips. Are you sure it’s not growing?

 

[JTP424]

How old is your tank? That looks like fresh rock...

 

[ak4890]

How old is your tank? That looks like fresh rock...

It's about a year old — I added more rock recently for SPS to be higher in the tank for higher PAR. The other rock is starting to have decent coralline growth, specks all over.

 

[ak4890]

White at the tips. Are you sure it’s not growing?

It goes a decent chunk of the way down one side of the frag..not sure if the non-apical corallites should also look white if it's growing? Also, this has developed over the course of a week

 

[JTP424]

Hmm... can you post some more info about the tank? Full tank shot? Parameters? Lights? Flow?

 

[ak4890]

Hmm... can you post some more info about the tank? Full tank shot? Parameters? Lights? Flow?

Here's a full tank shot, its a RedSea reefer 350 build. I have a couple of Radion XR15s running, registering 250-300 PAR where the Millie frag is currently located. I'm just getting started stocking coral in this tank, hoping for an SPS dominant set up eventually.

Current params (will update after measuring others later today)
Alk: 7.5 DKH (134 ppm)
Calcium: 390 ppm
Salinity: ~35 ppt
pH: 8.2

 

[JTP424]

Calcium and Alk are SLIGHTLY low for those. But that's just based on "recommendations" How is the flow at its spot? What is your lighting schedule like?

 

[ak4890]

Calcium and Alk are SLIGHTLY low for those. But that's just based on "recommendations" How is the flow at its spot? What is your lighting schedule like?

Flow looks reasonably good, can see polyp extension and tentacles moving gently with the flow. I'm using the coral lab AB+ lighting schedule template on Mobius, which is a 9 hour full spectrum photoperiod at maximum intensity.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

Have you ever had coral in the tank?

 

[ak4890]

Have you ever had coral in the tank?

I did try around the 6 month mark, but I think it was premature. Everything RTN'd shortly after introduction, so I'm trying with just one frag now to try to get things going. There are a couple of gonis also in the tank that seem to be relatively happy.

 

[JTP424]

Flow looks reasonably good, can see polyp extension and tentacles moving gently with the flow. I'm using the coral lab AB+ lighting schedule template on Mobius, which is a 9 hour full spectrum photoperiod at maximum intensity.

Does the room have other light sources hitting the tank? When the lights aren't on? Might be a bit too high, did you acclimate with the light or put them in without ramping up your lighting schedule? Can you show us a shot of the gonis when you get a chance? Apologies for all the questions, there are a LOT of variables.

 

[JTP424]

Also are those dead urchins? Did you do an ammonia check?

 

[ak4890]

Does the room have other light sources hitting the tank? When the lights aren't on? Might be a bit too high, did you acclimate with the light or put them in without ramping up your lighting schedule? Can you show us a shot of the gonis when you get a chance? Apologies for all the questions, there are a LOT of variables.

It does have other light sources hitting the tank — I'm worries some of them were left on over the weekend, when I'm not in to check on it. I did acclimate them for 10 days starting at 50%. The urchins died many months ago, I've been regularly monitoring and there's never been an ammonia spike. Here's what the gonis look like:

 

[Cichlid Dad]

Ok, so a year old tank when ready for hard coral will let you know when you and the tank are ready. Coraline algae will take a stable water parameter environment same as coral to grow and cover rocks. Seeing just spots after a year shows to me the tank is fluctuating parameters. When you get parameters to

375-450 cal
8-10 dkh
1375- 1450 magnesium
And only have little to no swings, you will see the Coraline take off. When you see this happening then you and your tank can keep things like acro. Start with plating monti, bird's nest first, when you can make them happy and grow, then add your acro. Just my 2 pennies

 

[JTP424]

Ok, so a year old tank when ready for hard coral will let you know when you and the tank are ready. Coraline algae will take a stable water parameter environment same as coral to grow and cover rocks. Seeing just spots after a year shows to me the tank is fluctuating parameters. When you get parameters to

375-450 cal
8-10 dkh
1375- 1450
And only have little to no swings, you will see the Coraline take off. When you see this happening then you and your tank can keep things like acro. Start with plating monti, bird's nest first, when you can make them happy and grow, then add your acro. Just my 2 pennies

What he said :)

 

[ak4890]

Ok, so a year old tank when ready for hard coral will let you know when you and the tank are ready. Coraline algae will take a stable water parameter environment same as coral to grow and cover rocks. Seeing just spots after a year shows to me the tank is fluctuating parameters. When you get parameters to

375-450 cal
8-10 dkh
1375- 1450 magnesium
And only have little to no swings, you will see the Coraline take off. When you see this happening then you and your tank can keep things like acro. Start with plating monti, bird's nest first, when you can make them happy and grow, then add your acro. Just my 2 pennies

Thanks a lot! This is solid advice, what should I expect to see re: coralline taking off? Would it be completely encrusting rocks? Also, would have recommendations on how to figure out calcium/alk/magnesium dosing in a consistent way that doesn't need my constant intervention

 

[Cichlid Dad]

Thanks a lot! This is solid advice, what should I expect to see re: coralline taking off? Would it be completely encrusting rocks? Also, would have recommendations on how to figure out calcium/alk/magnesium dosing in a consistent way that doesn't need my constant intervention

So If you do it correctly with in a month you will see it just go nuts.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

Thanks a lot! This is solid advice, what should I expect to see re: coralline taking off? Would it be completely encrusting rocks? Also, would have recommendations on how to figure out calcium/alk/magnesium dosing in a consistent way that doesn't need my constant intervention

Your light schedule must also remain rock steady. Same intense and hours.

 

[ak4890]

Your light schedule must also remain rock steady. Same intense and hours.

Got it — does this include ambient lights as well? I have less control over those sometimes..