SPS question for people

[dhoch]

I've noticed some of my SPS have show some tissue loss at the base. Two of these colonies then went STN on me... with me unable to save frags.

 

Params are all good: Calcium: 400-420, Alk: 9.7-10.5, Mag: 1230, NO3 0.1-1, no Ammonia, or nitrite, Salinity 1.025. P04 = 0. pH 8.0-8.3, Temp ~79.8-80.0, Good skimmer (deltec), Refugium on off cycle, Water changes: ~30-45 gallons/week (in 2-3 15 gallon changes for a 180 display + 29 refugium + sump... ~10-15 gallons in sump)

 

I've treated (without adding anything new in terms of corals) for Red Bugs, and have dipped suspected coral in iodine with no detection of AEFW.

 

Currently I'm stumped as what could be causing it... it's only a couple of colonies. A net search turned up something called Coral Shut Down Syndrome?

 

I'm thinking about running carbon (which I don't run on a consistant basis).

 

Anyone with any thoughts? (LPS are doing fine, Anemonies (RBTA) no problem, nor issues with the couple of clams, inverts or fish... no softies in the tank other than a small # of zoanthids).

 

Thanks,

 

Dave

[dschflier]

Just out of curiosity, why do you think carbon would help?

Edited February 3, 2008 by dschflier

[dhoch]

Theory is that there is some kind of build up in the system (since I can't find any "pests") that is causing the problem... carbon (and potentially a poly filter) might remove it.

 

Dave

[lanman]

I've noticed some of my SPS have show some tissue loss at the base. Two of these colonies then went STN on me... with me unable to save frags.

 

Params are all good: Calcium: 400-420, Alk: 9.7-10.5, Mag: 1230, NO3 0.1-1, no Ammonia, or nitrite, Salinity 1.025. P04 = 0. pH 8.0-8.3, Temp ~79.8-80.0, Good skimmer (deltec), Refugium on off cycle, Water changes: ~30-45 gallons/week (in 2-3 15 gallon changes for a 180 display + 29 refugium + sump... ~10-15 gallons in sump)

 

I've treated (without adding anything new in terms of corals) for Red Bugs, and have dipped suspected coral in iodine with no detection of AEFW.

 

Currently I'm stumped as what could be causing it... it's only a couple of colonies. A net search turned up something called Coral Shut Down Syndrome?

 

I'm thinking about running carbon (which I don't run on a consistant basis).

 

Anyone with any thoughts? (LPS are doing fine, Anemonies (RBTA) no problem, nor issues with the couple of clams, inverts or fish... no softies in the tank other than a small # of zoanthids).

 

Thanks,

 

Dave

 

I'll be following this closely. I have had a couple of corals that STN'd from the base. Very slowly. Odd to see a coral growing very well, but losing tissue at the base. I did a little searching, but only found a few veiled references to 'STN from the base'; none informative.

 

bob

[vaironman]

Thank you Dave for posting this question. Same issue, tagging along.

[davelin315]

Sounds like what I would think "old tank syndrome" is.

 

One possibility is the buildup of detritus in the rock itself. When was the last time you blasted the rock? Since porous is better, detritus has a tendency to build up in the rock itself. This is something that you may not even see. A lot of the stuff in my rock is from fish pooping above the rock and from snails eating and pooping as they move along. My rock gets blasted periodically and tons of junk comes out of it.

[Freezerburn]

I had similar issues with that happening in my 29 gallon SPS. I Quickly started doing Lugol's Dip think Kent makes it. It stopped the Skin deterioration and the corals slowly started growing back. Not sure if we have the same thing but its worth a try. Make sure you take the infected corals under a unmagnified glass and check for parasites. Sometimes things like Red Bugs are very small. usually red bugs will bleach the coral a little before finally killing it off.

 

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~Sea...de~vendor~.html

[Gadgets]

Are you running any type of PO4 remover? I would also raise the MG, 1230 is a bit low. Running carbon is always good IME. Just don't overdo it.

 

Sounds like what I would think "old tank syndrome" is.

 

One possibility is the buildup of detritus in the rock itself. When was the last time you blasted the rock? Since porous is better, detritus has a tendency to build up in the rock itself. This is something that you may not even see. A lot of the stuff in my rock is from fish pooping above the rock and from snails eating and pooping as they move along. My rock gets blasted periodically and tons of junk comes out of it.

 

Interesting. Maybe it's time for a sand bed replacement.

[dhoch]

Sounds like what I would think "old tank syndrome" is.

 

One possibility is the buildup of detritus in the rock itself. When was the last time you blasted the rock? Since porous is better, detritus has a tendency to build up in the rock itself. This is something that you may not even see. A lot of the stuff in my rock is from fish pooping above the rock and from snails eating and pooping as they move along. My rock gets blasted periodically and tons of junk comes out of it.

 

Actually I have blasted the rock a fair amount... it's part of my regular treatment regime... It could be OTS, but why only selective corals... if it was ONLY ones that had been in my tank, or only new ones, or there was some pattern I would belive this, but I'm not convinced.

 

I had similar issues with that happening in my 29 gallon SPS. I Quickly started doing Lugol's Dip think Kent makes it. It stopped the Skin deterioration and the corals slowly started growing back. Not sure if we have the same thing but its worth a try. Make sure you take the infected corals under a unmagnified glass and check for parasites. Sometimes things like Red Bugs are very small. usually red bugs will bleach the coral a little before finally killing it off.

 

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~Sea...de~vendor~.html

 

As much as I appreciated the response, did you read my entire post? (I have allready dipped many corals in iodine allready... which is all that Lugol's is... I actually used Tropic Marine's version, but it's 6 of 1/2 a dozen of other...) I also have a microscope and have seen both red bugs and AEFW before under microscope and neither are present.

 

Are you running any type of PO4 remover? I would also raise the MG, 1230 is a bit low. Running carbon is always good IME. Just don't overdo it.

 

Interesting. Maybe it's time for a sand bed replacement.

 

For PO4... no, I have in the past (search for a thread about what it did to a red cap of mine)....

 

Mag 1230 is low? (I thought 1200 was target... I can increase it).

 

Carbon as I mentioned is something I am seriously considering.

 

Sand bed replacement which would tie to the Old tank syndrome, may be the issue, but wow... that seems like a lot of work for something that I'm not sure will solve the problem and may stress corals and live stock more.... This would be a last resort.

 

Dave