Acro loosing tissue from the tips

[ovi_vl]

Hello! My acropora started loosing tissue from the tips , it looks like it was scraped by something. I have not seen any visible pests, it has been in my tank for more than 2 months, it was just starting to encrust. Parameters are quite stable 9.4dkh , 500ish calcium 1500ish mag , the only thing that happened recently was my light schedule just finished aclimation.

 

[ryanjohn1]

Looks like something rubbed it

 

[ovi_vl]

Looks like something rubbed it

It looks like it s getting worse...I did a 1 min dip with iodine...should I move it lower?

 

[crazyfishmom]

That looks like it might be burnt tips. These usually happy from an alkalinity swing or if there’s a slight imbalance in growth.

 

[Miami Reef]

Looks like STN to me.

 

[ovi_vl]

Looks like STN to me.

Yeah, those tips were fine before. But what could of caused or triggered STN? It's the classic "others are doing well" case ...

 

[Miami Reef]

Yeah, those tips were fine before. But what could have caused or triggered STN? It's the classic "others are doing well" case ...

Do you know the phosphate level?

 

[Pod_01]

What are your NO3 and PO4 values?
Also as mentioned how stable is your Alk? You say stable but how stable is it?

At a glance assuming the values are correct calcium is high, I prefer 420 and Mag is also up there I prefer 1350. Alk I prefer at 7.5-8.5 range.

How is your salinity? The elevated 3 might suggest elevated salinity.

Good luck,

 

[ovi_vl]

I am testing right now, those values were from memory. Here is a picture with measurements

What are your NO3 and PO4 values?
Also as mentioned how stable is your Alk? You say stable but how stable is it?

At a glance assuming the values are correct calcium is high, I prefer 420 and Mag is also up there I prefer 1350. Alk I prefer at 7.5-8.5 range.

How is your salinity? The elevated 3 might suggest elevated salinity.

Good luck,

 

[crazyfishmom]

I am testing right now, those values were from memory. Here is a picture with measurements

That’s a big swing in alkalinity. That kind of swing can definitely cause burnt tips and tissue necrosis in SPS.

 

[ovi_vl]

That’s a big swing in alkalinity. That kind of swing can definitely cause burnt tips and tissue necrosis in SPS.

The swing is over 1 month - I don't think there is a issue

 

[Troylee]

Looks like STN to me.

Nah… stn always starts at the base unless it was stung or something.. it’s burnt tips from alk or possibly lighting.. his alk hasn’t swung so I’d say lighting myself.

 

[Miami Reef]

Nah… stn always starts at the base unless it was stung or something.. it’s burnt tips from alk or possibly lighting.. his alk hasn’t swung so I’d say lighting myself.

I could be wrong, but I wasn’t aware that STN always needed to start from the base.

To me, it doesn’t look like tip burn. It looks like the tissue is necrosing. I can see the peeling shape.

To me, tip burn happens when the calcification happens quicker than the flesh can catch up. This acro doesn’t seem to have new growth.

This is just my opinion. I think diagnosing coral issues can be very tricky. Take what I say with a grain of salt.

 

[UMALUM]

With those levels, I'd have a lot more nitrate in there.

 

[East1]

With those levels, I'd have a lot more nitrate in there.

This is likely the issue. Acropora will experience stress when alk is high (compared to a 7 dkh baseline) and also nitrate us low (south of about 5ppm). Elevated phosphate above .1 in conjunction causes metabolic stress and the coral begins to burn, it's metabolic so likely the increase in lighting pushed it over the edge.

I'd recommend increasing your nitrate value and lowering your alk. A sub 1dkh swing in a day is not excessive.

 

[ovi_vl]

Now it looks like this, should I clip the exposed parts?

 

[Reefahholic]

What is your white intensity and overall par during the peak period?

 

[ovi_vl]

What is your white intensity and overall par during the peak period?

I don't know about par but CW is at 52%, you can see the light scheduel în this thread.

 

[Reefahholic]

I don't know about par but CW is at 52%, you can see the light scheduel în this thread.

If I were you, I’d bump it down to 15-20% and run mostly blue so that coral can recover.

 

[ovi_vl]

Implemented advice! let's see what happens