RTN & Hydnophora

[tabwyo]

I came home to a disturbing situation in my new display. For one the was a serrious algae problem but no measuarble parameter "red flags" to go with it. As in, no phosphates/nitrates/trites/ammonia. I may have jumped the gun on adding the frag so soon. The syatem runs through a filter sock wich is changed every other day. A skimmer modified to run wet (2 quarts every 24 hours) for a 29g system. It is fed daily because of the orange line chromis's I have but what isn't eaten is caught in the sock and disposed of within the next day to day and a half. My wife did forget to adjust for the wet skimming and allowed the salinity to fall to 1.015. Without any other glareing warning sings I have to think that the low salinty stressed the frag into an RTN event. Has anybody else experienced RTN brought on by low salinity?

[Wiskey]

Hydnophora? There is some question as to weather or not that is an SPS, some call it a LPS do mainly I think to it's very powerfull sting.

To answer your question however I almost lost a frag of Hydnophora when I did the same thing in my BB tank, I was wet skimming, and not paying attention, and I let the SG, ALK, and CA all drop, then I quickly fixed it. I think it was the quick fix that really got me though.

Whiskey

[tabwyo]

Well, emergency surgery and a Loguls dip seem to have stopped the RTN event (no more tissue loss in the last 24 hours) I hope. I removed all effected tissue and all marginal tissue. Pretty much leaving only the healthy tissue at the base. Wich is another thing that caught me as odd. I was under the assumption that RTN usually starts at the base of a coral and not at the tips.

As for the SPS/LPS classification. If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck firmly applies here. I think people lump these into the SPS catagory due to the care criteria. High flow, high light and high water quality are the hallmarks of "sps systems".

[Wiskey]

Well the argument will never be solved either because SPS and LPS are firmly hobiest terms.

I've had RTN start at the tip before.

Whiskey

[Wiskey]

Glad you got the RTN stopped! It will grow back, and rather quicly if it's happy.

Whiskey

[tabwyo]

Well based how fast the animal was basicly disolving. I think I may have it licked. Don't know if it was a function of triming of the dieing tissue, the Loguls dip or a mixture of both. But I'll be dipping new additions from now on.

[Wiskey]

I have heard that using full strength dip Q-tiped around an area of STN has helped people stop the STN.

I know cutting off above an area of "TN has helped people stop it.

You did what I would have.
Whiskey

[tabwyo]

I already have regrowth!!!!!!!!!! Well maybe it's just tissue expanding onto the cut area of the skeleton but what ever it is it's psychin me out.

[Wiskey]

Very cool! Glad to hear it!

Whiskey