Acro STN help thread

[jgraz]

As some of you may know I am in the process of a large scale Acro STN event. I have been unable to find a reason at this point. Its kind of been progressing for awhile but I can at least trace it back to before the swap. I am at a complete loss at this point so any and all assistance is appreicated. This is currently only affecting Acropora. All LPS and other SPS like birdsnest and montis look great with no ill effect. The Acro's have lost some color but other wise have good PE on unaffected areas. Though almost all are receding from base up slowly.
System: 90gal, 40 breeder sump, SWC 160 cone skimmer, TEK 8x54w T5, BRS Dosers for Calcium(55ml per day) and ALK(55ml per day), ECOBAK pellets in a Reef Octopus reactor, 2 MP40's for flow.

Parameters: Salinity- .024
Ammonia/Nitrites-0
Nitrates-0
PO4-.02 on Hanna
Calcium-430 Red sea Kit
Alk-7.2 Red sea Kit

Dosing/Feeding: I feed just about everyday a variety of different food and different days. I dose Zeobak every saturday and Amino's 2 times per week. Cal/Alk are also handled by dosers.

Livestock: 2 O.Clowns, Hippo, Kole, Yellow Tang, Blue spot watchman goby, Melunarus and Sixline Wrasse, Bangaii cardinal, Mandarin, Cleaner shrimp and the usual compliment of Hermits and Snails.

I have done several dips over the last few weeks and no pests have been observed. I have dipped in Bayer and Coral RX during those sessions. I may have seen a slowing of recession after a couple of the dips but it picks back up after a few days. I have fragged a few of the corals above the STN line and remounted on fresh plugs with mixed results. I have also tried to use glue around the STN line but that also failed to halt progression.

Im kind of at a loss here. I have had my testing checked buy another person using their kits and have had comparable results. I have also tested at various times during the day and have seen no significant swings/changes in alk or temps. Thanks in advance

John

 

[Premiumfrags]

I hate RTN/STN/melting events (which is what ill call this). Im meticulous, even OCD at times about tracking and record keeping....and from what i have seen there isnt always a smoking gun for these events. I hope someone comes up with a good idea for you!

 

[Raffle King]

Well John I had the same thing happen to me, I come down to taking the Bio pellets out and just do water changes every 10 days to 2 weeks, and went back to GFO and carbon my tank never look better, that is my 2 cents.

 

[ecam]

I agree with Raffle King.... I had the same STN issue, took the Biopellets off and I have seen improvements. Im going back to basics my self.... Just adding the Reactor with the new build

 

[jgraz]

Well John I had the same thing happen to me, I come down to taking the Bio pellets out and just do water changes every 10 days to 2 weeks, and went back to GFO and carbon my tank never look better, that is my 2 cents.

Was planning on doing that soon. Ive been hesitant though not knowing what to expect if I suddenly pull them off. I guess the WC's should off set any problems though. The last few weeks i have upped my WC's so i guess this is a good a time as any to give it a shot.

 

[Raffle King]

Just take them off and go back to the GFO and carbon and you will see improvement.

 

[Premiumfrags]

I dont have a ton of experience with BP's so i didnt want to jump in that direction, but ive had a few friends give me anecdotal evidence that they had trouble with BP's as well. But at the same time, the nicest sps tank ive ever seen in person runs BP's and the tank is going on 12+ months of doing great.

 

[jgraz]

I dont have a ton of experience with BP's so i didnt want to jump in that direction, but ive had a few friends give me anecdotal evidence that they had trouble with BP's as well. But at the same time, the nicest sps tank ive ever seen in person runs BP's and the tank is going on 12+ months of doing great.

I'll tell you, My tank looked great for a while with the pellets. I've been running them for about 7 months. I posted a thread a few weeks ago about going back to basics, guess its time. Time for some new macro.

 

[ecam]

Get Gfo going first. Then just pull the pellets.

Was planning on doing that soon. Ive been hesitant though not knowing what to expect if I suddenly pull them off. I guess the WC's should off set any problems though. The last few weeks i have upped my WC's so i guess this is a good a time as any to give it a shot.

 

[NyteGTI]

I'll tell you, My tank looked great for a while with the pellets. I've been running them for about 7 months. I posted a thread a few weeks ago about going back to basics, guess its time. Time for some new macro.

John if you need Cheato I've got a neverending supply waiting for ya.

 

[jgraz]

Get Gfo going first. Then just pull the pellets.

Had them going since a couple of months after the pellets were started. Needed it to keep the PO4 down.

 

[jgraz]

John if you need Cheato I've got a neverending supply waiting for ya.

I'll let you know Ryan. I might have enough in my sons tank.

 

[redfishbluefish]

Mr. Ignorance here! So both of you were seeing RTNing were also running biopellets. Where was the alk number? It’s my ignorant opinion that alk needs to be on the low side when running biopellets. Could you be seeing alk burn because of “relatively” high alk with the pellets?

I’ve just started biopellets (four weeks ago) and I’m targeting my alk between 7 and 8 dKH.

 

[jgraz]

Mr. Ignorance here! So both of you were seeing RTNing were also running biopellets. Where was the alk number? It’s my ignorant opinion that alk needs to be on the low side when running biopellets. Could you be seeing alk burn because of “relatively” high alk with the pellets?

I’ve just started biopellets (four weeks ago) and I’m targeting my alk between 7 and 8 dKH.

This is why I target 7 as my Alk. Since I've been using pellets my Alk has early drifted out of the 6.6-7.4 range.

 

[jgraz]

Well someone else asked a question about anything that changed in my system and it made me think back over the last few months. In April and may I went through a bought of AEFW's and was dipping weekly. This ended right around the time I started noticing the STN. Is it possible that the weekly dipping and basting stressed them out that bad.

 

[ecam]

I was running on the high side between 9-10. With swings. So I shot myself in the foot

This is why I target 7 as my Alk. Since I've been using pellets my Alk has early drifted out of the 6.6-7.4 range.

 

[ecam]

This is why I target 7 as my Alk. Since I've been using pellets my Alk has early drifted out of the 6.6-7.4 range.

Isn't 6.6 to 7 too acidic. That could be a key issue

 

[downbeach]

It seems like the common denominator is your issues with the AEFW, and treatment. FWIW, I've been using BP's for a couple years, and my Alk and Ca are always about 7 dKH and 410ppm. If your system is otherwise healthy I don't think I'd be taking the pellets off line. If you do, I'd do it incrementally.

 

[jgraz]

Isn't 6.6 to 7 too acidic. That could be a key issue

Usually UNLS runs lower alk. I believe some of the full blown Zeo guys run around 6 dkh

 

[jgraz]

It seems like the common denominator is your issues with the AEFW, and treatment. FWIW, I've been using BP's for a couple years, and my Alk and Ca are always about 7 dKH and 410ppm. If your system is otherwise healthy I don't think I'd be taking the pellets off line. If you do, I'd do it incrementally.

I tend to agree Jim. The more i think about it, the more I think my aggressive basting while dipping the acros might have done them in so to speak. Before and even with the worms everything really looked good. Ive got some stuff to think about before the weekend. My monti's are really my prize pieces, those are the ones that I'll be devestated if I lose.