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View Full Version : Pale kenya, zoa skirts, pocillopora, monti cap - Tech M overdose? Or new tank?(pics)


llebcire
03/22/2009, 11:47 PM
More of an observation/conversation thread than troubleshooting.

As the title says, I have some corals that have gone pale on me, others are just fine.

Set this tank up March 5th with new mix (actually the new Reef Crystals) only keeping 10 gallons of old water (old RC), new 4x54w T5's (came from 14g Biocube w/48w PC which explains the 10g). Everything looked great with better coloration, didn't acclimate to the new lights and kept the old lighting schedule.

I had an algae outbreak that several people informed me (here on Reef Central) was bryopsis - popular cure for bryopsis is heavily dosing Tech M. There is a theory that the elevated magnesium levels don't kill the algae but rather some byproduct in the Tech M.

Could be:
1. The brand new formulation of Reef Crystals (had older product - takes a while to kill a 160g bucket with a Biocube!)
2. The overwhelming volume of new water and light bioload (2 clowns) that is low in nutrients
3. New intense lighting without acclimation - 48w PC ->216w T5 HO
4. Coincidence
5. Tech M overdose

I don't remember reading that people have lost corals with Tech M, but they are sometimes irritated.

Algae in question has changed form dark green to pale green, clowns/snails wouldn't touch it before and now where they've eaten it hasn't really returned.

I'm not overly concerned at this point, haven't done water changes but have cut lighting times. I realize that it can take time for corals to show stress from new mix and lighting so I'm waiting.

Rainbow frogspawn is loving life, red monti cap is fine, blue/green tree leather fine, cabbage fine, palys fine, GSP fine, shrooms fine, bam-bams fine, fish, snails, crabs, bristles all healthy.

Corals of concern have great extension, look healthy and show growth.

I dosed an entire 16 oz. bottle of Tech M over 24 hours (+/- 65g volume) on the 16th - pics from the 19th (and earlier for comparison). Elos test kit didn't show a change in Mg levels (thinking bad kit).

Can't get decent pics of the green monti caps - showing growth but have turned a very pale green color.

Armor of Gods:
8th
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y130/llebcire/72%20Bowfront/Initial%20Setup/03-08-2009/IMG_7570.jpg
11th
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y130/llebcire/72%20Bowfront/Initial%20Setup/03-11-2009/IMG_7677.jpg
19th
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y130/llebcire/72%20Bowfront/Initial%20Setup/03-19-2009/IMG_8010.jpg

Other Zoas (specifically with orange skirts)
9th
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y130/llebcire/72%20Bowfront/Initial%20Setup/03-09-2009/IMG_7633.jpg
19th
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y130/llebcire/72%20Bowfront/Initial%20Setup/03-19-2009/IMG_8006.jpg

llebcire
03/22/2009, 11:58 PM
Kenya Tree
9th
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y130/llebcire/72%20Bowfront/Initial%20Setup/03-09-2009/IMG_7627.jpg
19th
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y130/llebcire/72%20Bowfront/Initial%20Setup/03-19-2009/IMG_7961.jpg

Pocillopora
9th
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y130/llebcire/72%20Bowfront/Initial%20Setup/03-09-2009/IMG_7636.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y130/llebcire/72%20Bowfront/Initial%20Setup/03-09-2009/IMG_7638.jpg
19th
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y130/llebcire/72%20Bowfront/Initial%20Setup/03-19-2009/IMG_7967.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y130/llebcire/72%20Bowfront/Initial%20Setup/03-19-2009/IMG_7994.jpg

llebcire
03/23/2009, 12:06 AM
My thought is that the Tech M, while affecting the nuisance algae, has also damaged the zooxanthellae in the other corals.

I'm considering increasing the lighting to compensate.

gmneil
03/23/2009, 12:20 AM
my zoas got really brigth when i dosed to get rid of my hair algae, but after about a month they went back to normal.,

llebcire
03/23/2009, 07:22 AM
Sounds like this is normal for soft corals with no long term effect.

Interesting development, though.

MrRyanT
03/23/2009, 08:54 AM
Suppose you'll get several opinions here, but I'm leaning towards the increased lighting without acclimation to have caused this. Should recover with a little time.

llebcire
03/23/2009, 10:12 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14671953#post14671953 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MrRyanT
Suppose you'll get several opinions here, but I'm leaning towards the increased lighting without acclimation to have caused this. Should recover with a little time.

I agree as the only option that isn't really feasible from my first post is #4 - coincidence.

I do find it perculiar, though, that the tank was set up on the 5th, everything looked fine on the 16th (dose day) and the 17th, but had gone to this on the 18th (shot pics on the 19th).

I am going to test params in a little bit just to see.

-Eric

llebcire
03/24/2009, 06:29 PM
Thought I should check a few simple params:

SG - 1.0275 - whoops! Doing an immediate 4g ->4g RO/DI change which should drop it to approx 1.026, I'll check it again in the morning and adjust of needed (use refractometer)
Nitrates - 0
Ammonia - .025 -This surprised me (Going to check trites as well in a bit)
Phosphate - 0
Temp 79
With these surprises, I'm going to check calcium/Alk and PH as well.

Still doesn't explain the problem but I'm sure going from 1.0245 ->1.0275 didn't help! I don't know if this is technically hyper-salinity, but I'm sure it's close!

llebcire
03/24/2009, 09:35 PM
4 gallons took me to 1.026 - I'll check again tomorrow night and will do another 3 gallons to get me in the lower 1.025's where I'll keep it.

llebcire
03/25/2009, 09:49 AM
Checked SG this morning and it was @ 1.0265 so I did a 3 gallon swap - will test again tonight and adjust if needed.

Temp 77
SG 1.0265
Ca 440
Phos 0
Dkh 6 (107.4) - I know it's low
PH 8.2
Ammonia 0.25
Trites <.05
Trates 0
Mg 1,400 (could have guessed that)

And my AOG's either pooping or expelling more algae
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y130/llebcire/72%20Bowfront/Initial%20Setup/03-25-2009/IMG_8193.jpg