I am losing my favorite sps..help please.

[waterfaller1]

Hello all. I recently replaced my bulbs w/ new and shortly after, I increased flow. My tort colony has been affected for some reason. It started w/ recession just below the tips,now it's getting worse. Some branches are white almost 1/2 way,tissue is just peeling off.:( The tort is however getting an overall more intense color.:confused:

http://reefbucket.com//files/9/Picture%20432.jpg Here's a pic just shortly after it started.

[dustin Combs]

try to lower the tort to the bottom of your tank and shorten the photo period. with your experience i doubt that you have it in a direct flow area and your param's are good. But it does sound like it is stressed and starting to RTN? If the tissue is sluffing off get your frags before it is all gone. Good luck!

[wentreefgirl]

Could be sunburn from the new lights. Keep any eye on others as well. I would move him down a bit.

[waterfaller1]

If I move him,he will have to be whacked off the rock..it is a main rock in the center.:(

http://reefbucket.com//files/9/Picture%20420.jpg

[jy544]

I would frag the effected branches and lower your photoperiod.
How long has the recession taken to get 1/2 way down the branches? Is it on all or just some?

[fishypets]

I had a friend that had a few of his tips do the same thing from his alk being a little high due to "vapor lock" in his CA reactor. After a week or so they healed nicely.

[waterfaller1]

Last check on ALK was 3.43 a couple days ago. I have snapped a couple of the tips off J, it seems that more of the branches have it. Now I just noticed the small blue acro next to it is doing the same exact thing. They are both in the center under the glass brace. I will do total parameter check.

[fishypets]

waterfaller,

Your colors all look good in you sps. Are you feeding and if so how much/often.

[tang_man_montreal]

You mentioned that you recently changed bulbs.
The intensity of the new bulbs may be stressing the coral(s). Since you are unable to move them down, another option would be to use some layers of screening (similar to that used on patio screen doors) in order to reduce the intensity of the bulbs.

Try putting 3 layers of screen (less if too dark), and remove one layer of screen every 4-5 days in order to "acclimate" the corals to the new bulbs.

[waterfaller1]

Thanks for everyone's input so far.
I have seen people say put the screen on, how do you get it to stay, and what kind of screen?
Thanks fishy, I feed a varied diet to the fish.daily, which sometimes includes Zoe,Selcon and cyclop-eeze. Specific feeding for the corals is either Coral Vibrance at night and meaty stuff for the LPS, a couple times a week.

[tang_man_montreal]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6871737#post6871737 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by waterfaller1
I have seen people say put the screen on, how do you get it to stay, and what kind of screen?


I've been successful by making a wood frame from scrap pieces of wood large enough to sit on the edges of the tank (24" x 24"). The screening was the plastic/fiberglass type used for patio screen-doors (sold in rolls) which I simply stapled to the wooden frame. Addtional screen layers were simpy laid on top of the stapled one.

[creepereefer]

cut your light time back run them half the time you would normally run them slowly increase the light time over few weeks back up no need to move the coral

[sps_addict]

First off, nice tank waterfaller. It is totally different from what I've seen of it on SWF several years back.

I would try either to add some screens or cut back photoperiod like suggested. Good luck.

[tgcreef]

all i have to say is wow what a nice tank and i love ur bubble

[REEFUR]

that stinks

[waterfaller1]

Thanks Steve..and everyone else for the kind words.
Yes..it has come along way from this:CC substrate...check out the aluminum foil on top!:D There were five big rocks w/ GSP..it was like a field of green.I am still fighting a small swatch of that stuff!
Oh nano man..are you talking about the alveopora at the bottom front? I don't have a bubble. All really stinging type LPS and leathers were either moved to my 65 or given away.

http://reefbucket.com//files/9/fulla.jpg

[DMK]

that blows, IMO due to not acclimating correctly after new bulbs were added. i always use eggcrate when new corals are added OR bulbs are replaced. i also cut back on photoperiod a good amount for a few days, then bump it up 1/2 hr/day till i'm back to normal. then eggcrate comes off.

[6-line]

I believe he thinks your purple styophora is a bubble coral--it is extremely beautiful--i love stylos...

[merlock116]

use the screen or raise your lights

[microbubbles]

wow, that's a really cool looking mille!

i would agree w/ the suggestion that you cut the halide photoperiod and slowly increase it; and definitely raise the lights away from your tank if possible

[waterfaller1]

I cannot raise the lights because of the way the canopy is built. The plumbing goes through the canopy. Weird I know, but it works.
I have cut the photoperioud down to 5 hours,so we'll see if that helps. Would you suggest increasing it 1/2 hour per week?
Thank you all for the advice and compliments!;)

Here is an actinic pic from saturday which shows the damage to it and the small blue acro on the right of it.

http://reefbucket.com//files/9/Picture%20480.jpg

[wentreefgirl]

Looking good, if it gets worse id frag a peice of each and put it in a different spot somewhere lower.

[Leopardshark]

I would frag it asap.
if you take the tips off, but the main body remains healthy, eventually more branches will grow.
Mark

[waterfaller1]

Good news..I clipped off the ends and cut the hours from 8 down to 5, and it looks like the blue color is closing up over the white!:thumbsup: Thanks everyone..next time I get new bulbs I will add the screen.