STN bleaching? Able to reverse or stop?

[Richs2k6]

So after some closer inspection of my SPS corals I noticed that they are starting to bleach at the base. I think I was over confident and bought some pricier corals that my tank wasn't ready for. My parameters have been pretty stable so I'm thinking the only issues is a problem with phosphates as I do have what looks to be hair algae growing on the back wall. I bought a phosphate reactor and am going to run some GFO but it won't be here for probably another week.

Considering how slow it's progressing is it possible to reverse the STN or at leas stop it in it's tracks if I get the phosphates down to zero (if that's the problem). The corals still look pretty good at the moment.

Also, as an alternative would it be fair to try and sell them to someone who has a stable tank who might be able to nurse them back to health. If so, what would a fair price be? I paid $80 for the combo green and purple acro and $60 for the Ora bird of paradise. The pic of the bird of paradise was after the lights were out for a bit. During the day the polyps extend like crazy.

 

[EvoCorals]

How long have you had the corals?

 

[OCReefMadness]

Nice birdsnet coral. Do you get it from Coral Island yesterday?

 

[Richs2k6]

The bird of paradise I've had for at least a couple of months. The acro I've only had for a couple of weeks but it may have already been bleaching in the store, not sure since it's at the base and I could only tell while inspecting with a flashlight at night. In the future I will definitely inspect them more before I buy them and after I take them home. Do you also dip all of your SPS before you put them in your display tank?

 

[Richs2k6]

Nice birdsnet coral. Do you get it from Coral Island yesterday?

No I actually got it at Coral Island a couple of months ago. It still looks pretty good but like I said, I noticed it and the acro were bleaching from the base only after inspecting one night with a flashlight. At first I didn't think much of it since the rest of both looked great but I'm starting to think it's a slow decline towards death. Sucks I blew $140 but I guess that's the price you pay for learning. I think the bird of paradise has even grown since I got him after comparing it to pictures I took the day I purchased it.

 

[OCReefMadness]

Do you deep before you put in your tank?

 

[BigDaddyStar]

Is it lacking light at the base...not uncommon for the undersides to die off since they get little light from being killed by the overgrowth....But who knows....SPS here today gone tomorrow

 

[Richs2k6]

Is it lacking light at the base...not uncommon for the undersides to die off since they get little light from being killed by the overgrowth

Well that's what I was thinking especially because the bird of paradise is bleaching from the underside on the right so it seems like on both corals it was parts that weren't getting a lot of light. When I googled "sps bleaching from the base" all of the threads said it was STN and you better frag it to try and save what's left. Maybe I shouldn't worry about it as much.

 

[wickedfish]

Last ditch effort is to cut it above the STN area and super glue it. You can't sell damaged goods, well you can but that's no bueno.

You can however let someone nurse it back to health and have them keep a piece for their troubles. Something in your tank is off. What's the alk at? Salinity? Those two things will cause what you are describing. High phosphates will cause pooh brown coral about it.


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[BigDaddyStar]

Yeah, first off what kind of lights are you running?

If you think your lights are inferior move it to the top. I run 2 400w halides and I see the bases on some corals look a little dead.

Its a tough choice, To frag or not to frag but the base is dead so you really have nothing to lose.

 

[Richs2k6]

I have a 12 LED hood that I built myself. They are 3 watt LED's, 7 blue and 5 white and I don't have it turned up all the way. My alk started at 11 and eventually dropped to 9 the last couple of times I checked. The salinity has always been around 1.023 or 1.024. Along with the phosphate reactor I purchased the Red Sea Pro Phosphate test kit, Salifalert Alk test kit and a PH probe. I've been using the API test kits but I decided to invest in better kits along with the reactor in hopes of getting more acurate results.

Also, if the base is dead does that mean it won't continue to grow at all?

 

[BigDaddyStar]

Depends..I have had corals look almost dead then come back completely..SPS are weird like that or just die completely the next day....Lighting is probably the issue if it has been slowly happening over like 2 weeks or more...

I have a 12 LED hood that I built myself. They are 3 watt LED's, 7 blue and 5 white and I don't have it turned up all the way. My alk started at 11 and eventually dropped to 9 the last couple of times I checked. The salinity has always been around 1.023 or 1.024. Along with the phosphate reactor I purchased the Red Sea Pro Phosphate test kit, Salifalert Alk test kit and a PH probe. I've been using the API test kits but I decided to invest in better kits along with the reactor in hopes of getting more acurate results.

Also, if the base is dead does that mean it won't continue to grow at all?

 

[wickedfish]

It will grow a new base if it likes the aquarium it's in. If your salinity is unstable your Sps will surely not flourish. Alk has to be tight or same thing. Sps especially wild captured don't like swings and usually die when it happens.


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[lowbudget]

that looks like a steve garrett plug

Nice birdsnet coral. Do you get it from Coral Island yesterday?

 

[lowbudget]

yeah i would check your parameters ca alk mg and sa high sa will make it stn from the bottom alk spike get you burn tip thats what i did. and paying for it dearly now.

 

[Evanski9]

I had a couple sps stn. They did the same thing at the base and all of a sudden 2 days later all dead. I'm guessing lights and your tank is not mature enough

 

[EvoCorals]

Could be lack of flow. What you using?

 

[Confuse]

Like the hombres above said, it could be an alk swing. I had the same issue a week back while I was trying to get my alk up, but got sloppy and let it drop too low due to not checking it and raised it too fast. I had STN/RTN from the base. I had to chop it from under.

 

[cymaster007]

check your alk