What should I do with this one?

[ollski]

Not too sure what has caused this, I have just installed a calcium reactor and my chemistry has been changing substansially over the last week or so. I also had my stream pointing straight at the glass in front of it and probably bouncing back and hitting it with fair force for a few hours while I was doing some maintenance. Should I break the damaged tips off or just leave them?

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q1/white.jpg

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q1/white1.jpg

[simon garratt]

Yes, i would break them off just below the damage line. The tissue should grow back over quite quickly.

If you leave the dead sections on there, they will encorage a growth of algae and exessive bacterial colonisation that can lead to infection at the damaged tissue line.

regards

Si.

[GaryM]

make sure stream does not push flow directly onto any of your corals as this is the outcome, and i agree with Si with regards the rest

[ollski]

Getting worse unfortunately and there has been no direct flow on it at all since the last post.
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q1/111.jpg

[Twistedpro]

what are your phospahte levels in the tank?

[GOTAREEFTOKEEP]

Frag it in to fair size bits and hope one of them stays the course and in a few years youll be back to a nice size colony.

This still the only coral in your set up doing this ?

[Twistedpro]

have you had many other corals go this way? i saw another post of yours with stn at the tips

[Gav Cornwall]

I would take 5-6 frags before its too late.

Have you checked your strontium level ?

[ollski]

Yes you're right I have had another go completely which I chucked into the sump....should I have reoved it from the system?. I have also had to cut another down 50% to remove the skeleton with dying tissue. If it was a waterborne infection though wouldn't all the acros be suffering?. I have never checked strontium as I have read some reports say it may have minor benefit and some say not. As for phosphate my level is currently undetectable.

[GOTAREEFTOKEEP]

Somthing has got to be up if you having a problem with more than one of them though, not very good with problem solving with them though sorry

Matt

[ollski]

I have read another post about metal in the tank and this has got me thinking about my media bags which are sone up with clothes pegs.....I am thinking maybe some corrosion on them may be a problem. I am just about to replace them with plastic zip ties.

[Twistedpro]

how long have the corals been in the system? this one looks large, has this been a recent thing?

[ollski]

This one has probably been in about 6 months but only become a problem in the last coupleof weeks. It does seem to correspond with the installation of my calcium reactor and big increases in mag, alk, and calcium over the period.My polyp extension and growth rates have always been poor though especially on my monti frags.

[Gav Cornwall]

Clothes pegs ? with Aluminium springs ?? :eek:

Aluminium is fairly toxic in a reef tank, so perhaps you have found your problem.

[ollski]

I would imagine they are a coated spring steel rather than aluminium, but even so probably not beneficial.

[Gav Cornwall]

Yeah i was thinking steel springs, coated with aluminium to stop them rusting..

I'm actually not sure what the springs are made from though, was just a guess :P

[discusdean]

had a simular problem last year stream came of mount during the night and gave full force to an acro could have been there 8 hourse before i got to it .lost that and two more acros near by in the same way as you .do frag while you have the chance i did not and do regret it .believe it may be a chemical release from thre original though and seemed to stop apon the changeing of my carbon and elimiphos media hope this helps

[ollski]

Ok it's dying quite fast so I will be fragging it in a couple of hours....any tips, best to snap with pliers or by hand?...will it make any difference as it seems to be dying fom tips inwards?

[ollski]

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q1/frag.jpg

[GOTAREEFTOKEEP]

Are you running your calcium reactor with a ph control unit ?

[ollski]

Are you running your calcium reactor with a ph control unit ?

I am, but I'm not running it at all at the moment as I ran out of gas, waitng on my bro to drop round a big industrial cylinder.