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tangman99
08/17/2006, 08:08 PM
What are some common reasons that an acro would start turning white at the bottom? It is still nice and blue all over except for about 1/2 inch from where it is glued on the rock. It is a frag.

Water parameters are:

Salinity 1.026
Temp - 81-82
Nitrate, Nitrite, Ammonia - 0
Calcium - 440
Mag - 1320
Ph - 8.1

I have 770 Watts of light (500 MH 10K Reeflux and 220 VHO actinic)

Water flow is pretty good. It is sitting about half way down in my 90 gallon tank and about a foot in front of an 1100 SEIO.

Thanks for any help.

kzoo
08/17/2006, 08:48 PM
Whats your alk at ? they are very sensitive to it.

TCU Reefer
08/17/2006, 09:14 PM
Lots of factors.
As mentioned already, alkalinity swings can negatively affect SPS.

Can you see any predators on the base? Redbugs? AEFW's?

Is this a wild colony or aquacultured? Wild colonies will not be as hardy in a artificial reef compared to a colony raised in a closed system.

How long have you had it? If it was just fragged and you glued it shortly after, the glue may have also affected it.

tangman99
08/17/2006, 09:14 PM
I have been working at boosting my alk over the past 2 weeks. It used to be around 7 dkh. I have it around 9 dkh on average now it drops down to around 8 to 8.5 before dosing Randy's 2 part.

No predators. It is a frag from an aquacultured coral I think as I bought it from my LFS. I've had it for about two months.

Peter Eichler
08/17/2006, 10:23 PM
It could just be the coloring it's going to have. Acros often have darker more colorful tips with lighter colored bases. If there are still polyps and flesh around the base and they look healthy I wouldn't worry about it.

tangman99
08/18/2006, 08:09 PM
Can a yellow polyp sting an Acro? If so, I think I have figure it out. The back of the acro is perfect but the front is bleached or white. My yellow polyps have spread up on the rock and one is right in front of the acro. The white part looks to be the perfect size where the yellow polyp could touch it.

swimboy123
08/18/2006, 08:15 PM
Yes, soft corals adminster chemical warfare to compete for living space. A nematocyst laden polyp could have that effect.

tangman99
08/19/2006, 02:46 PM
That's it then. Thank you so much.