Only montis dying:(

[Still_human]

I have all kinds of corals, some doing better than others, due to lighting issues, but things like favias and blastos(most), and even stylocenellas, and ACROS do great, but 95% of my montis die quickly. It’s not parasites, they just QUICKLY fade color and bleach to death. Montis have always been one of the easiest corals I’ve ever kept before, but now they’re one of the hardest! No matter what level or placement in the tank:( how can my tank and lighting be fine for stylocenellas and acros, but not montis????

[DaJMasta]

Check your magnesium and maybe dose some anyways.  Could also be potassium, but that usually has a broader effect early on.

 

If you are already checking, it may be worth confirming the result with a different kit.

[Still_human]

Thank you, I’ve been a little lax on dosing

[ReefdUp]

Please provide parameters so we can properly troubleshoot. This should include alk, ca, mag, nitrate, and phosphate.

 

Please also detail how your colors are looking across all SPS. How are the greens, reds, pinks, purples, blues, etc. for the colors you have. Are there any that are less vibrant than ideal or have shifted (e.g., red to brown, blue to purple, green to yellow)?

 

As mentioned, magnesium and potassium can cause this. Back in my day (insert me hobbling about with a cane and hunched back), I had low potassium before it was really a known *thing.* By the time I was able to get a test kit, all of my Montis were nearly dead. And, regardless, at the time there weren't even good ways to raise the levels (and salt mixes were atrocious for it.) It was a miserable experience. But, this seems to be a fairly rare occurrence nowadays, as salt mixes include it, and our tanks don't use a lot (typically). 

 

My bet is on another parameter or a lighting/parameter combo issue. Corals can bleach with various parameter issues, which can be compounded by high/low lighting.

[lowsingle]

Monti’s are notoriously known for being sensitive to magnesium levels, so I would start there (echo DajMasta)….usually lower levels is what bothers them.

 

Darren

 

[Still_human]

I’m having less success with acros now, too:(

[DaJMasta]

If your magnesium and potassium are both looking good, I would start looking into other less likely things.  It may be worth checking for stray voltage, for cracks in magnets or pumps that could rust, making sure that your lights and pumps are working properly, maybe sending away for an ICP to look for high levels of heavy metals.

 

Did the montis make any kind of recovery?

[ReefdUp]

Can you post more information so we can try to help your narrow down to a root cause?  Please provide parameters so we can properly troubleshoot. This should include alk, ca, mag, nitrate, and phosphate.

 

 Please also detail how your colors are looking across all SPS. How are the greens, reds, pinks, purples, blues, etc. for the colors you have. Are there any that are less vibrant than ideal or have shifted (e.g., red to brown, blue to purple, green to yellow)?