SPS troubles...

crvz · 06-29-2007, 09:19 AM

So I've recently swapped/upgraded tanks, and I'm sure it's been no small stress on a number of the coral in the tank. I expected some loss, and so far I've done pretty well (with my fingers still crossed!). I lost 1 smaller coral (of which I had 2) that I had placed down near the bottom of the tank in an area that had almost no flow. I tried to frag the pieces that were not completely skeleton, but I don't really think it was worth it. It's not a very exciting piece, and I have another larger colony.

But this morning I was surprised to find a frag of the tricolor I have almost completely sloughed of flesh. This piece was also in a low flow area, and most of the excretion of flesh still clung to the coral, indicating its discontent. I have since moved it into an area of higher flow , and the tricolor colony (pictured below) looks fine so far.

I somewhat attirbute the failed frag to new lights (8 new T5 bulbs just a week old), a couple weeks of perpetually changing conditions (from 58 to 30 with no skimming to 156), too little flow, and recovery time for a new frag. But maybe there is something more scientific?

Can anyone (tims? I need some reading!) point me in the right direction for research/understanding how this happens and how to prevent it? I'm still getting this tank in order, and I've got a 25 gallon water change (150 gallon setup) on the books this evening, but I like to be prepared. Thanks!

hng · 06-29-2007, 09:42 AM

It's a beautiful tricolor. I think the answer will be related to flow.

Fly Guy · 06-29-2007, 11:32 AM

fwiw........i will always lose a little piece of something or another when i go through major moves/disruptions in the tank. If you put it in a area of low flow that just makes it more likely to happen during the disruption.

Its very likely nothing is really wrong....just the stress you are already aware of

crvz · 06-29-2007, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fly Guy

fwiw........i will always lose a little piece of something or another when i go through major moves/disruptions in the tank. If you put it in a area of low flow that just makes it more likely to happen during the disruption.

Its very likely nothing is really wrong....just the stress you are already aware of

Quote:

Originally Posted by hng

It's a beautiful tricolor. I think the answer will be related to flow.

You guys are singing my song! I didnt really want to worry too much over it, but sometimes it's hard not to. Of course, I'll be in tears if I go home from work and it's another story...

leveldrummer · 06-29-2007, 05:13 PM

as long as all your params are in order, i think you will be ok, stressing everything out through the whole move, i think you did great not loosing more, but that tri color is very strange, and id like to "study" if further, so please ship it over.

crvz · 06-29-2007, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leveldrummer

as long as all your params are in order, i think you will be ok, stressing everything out through the whole move, i think you did great not loosing more, but that tri color is very strange, and id like to "study" if further, so please ship it over.

You're the boss, Andy!

leveldrummer · 06-30-2007, 12:32 AM

i figure, given the odds, if i try to trick enough people into mailing me corals, one day it just might work.

salt-rookie · 06-30-2007, 10:29 AM

What are your calcium, Alk and Magnesium readings? Specific Gravity at 1.026?

crvz · 06-30-2007, 10:41 AM

Yep, salinity is in line (~1.025 or so), calc at 375 and alk around 8.6dkh. Mag is over 1150. Some may feel these values are a little low, but theyve been here for over a year (including the entire life of this coral), and without a sand bed the demand is considerably reduced compared to some other tanks.

Fly Guy · 06-30-2007, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crvz

Yep, salinity is in line (~1.025 or so), calc at 375 and alk around 8.6dkh. Mag is over 1150. Some may feel these values are a little low, but theyve been here for over a year (including the entire life of this coral), and without a sand bed the demand is considerably reduced compared to some other tanks.

Thats about what i keep my BB tank at as well. Alk i actually keep a touch lower. dsb tank i keep 450, 10, 1500.

Casey · 06-30-2007, 12:34 PM

Sounds like general stress to me to many changes at once not good for SPS.