What is going on here?

What is going on here? Help!

#1 Guest_Quigs_*

Group: Guests

Posted 09 December 2008 - 11:52 AM

Ok - Ive actually managed to get my head around photobucket and got my a** in gear to enable me to post up what I tend to suffer with every few weeks. Hopefully below there is a couple of shots of a very slow upward growing acro which every few weeks, the tips go white, almost as if the colour peels off. The polyp is still there underneath and most of the time it heals again. Parameters are pretty much as follows:

Ph - 8.10-8.22
No3 - 2-3
PO4 - 0.03-0.04
CA - 450
Mg - 1380
Kh - 9.6-10.2 (thereabouts!)

Flow = Sequence 10000 return, 2 x Stream 6100's on alternative flow pattern.
Lighting - 400w 10k Reeflux approx 12" above water level - Coral approx 9" below water level.

Any ideas?

Posted Image

#2 jason@jasonsaquatics

shark with HUGE teeth

Group: Administrators
Posts: 4,687
Joined: 08-January 06

Posted 09 December 2008 - 03:48 PM

Hi Graham

First off is it damage ie Does it look like abrasion to the tips as new growth can be soft and if a fish bumps nips them this can course what i see in this pic .

If there is no damage to the tips do you notice any growth when they have coloured up again ?

I would say its not an issue with the acro as it sure does look in good health and as this is an ongoing situation i would say if the acro had problems it would have bailed out by now .

I would also rule out any lighting issues as again this would be an issue that would show its head more than once every few weeks .

If i was to take a guess i would say its down to new growth being soft and gets nipped on or knocked before it has time to harden off .

Jas

#3 Guest_Quigs_*

Group: Guests

Posted 09 December 2008 - 07:12 PM

Hi Jas - Thanks for the reply. I did wonder about damage from fish and like you say, as it comes and goes, would suggest this may be the case. Wondered if it may be a flow issue as Ive mentioned before about the growth patterns of my acros. If you look closely you see about 10x the amount of base growth compared to height and also if you look to the left, that tiny frag has nothing but encrusted. Although Ive ruled this out as there is only a gentle flow hitting corals in this area. I'll try and get some better pictures with a decent camera.

#4 jason@jasonsaquatics

shark with HUGE teeth

Group: Administrators
Posts: 4,687
Joined: 08-January 06

Posted 09 December 2008 - 10:13 PM

Hi Graham

I would go with good lighting with the encrusting as they don't have to reach so the natural thing for the coral to do is encrust and this sure will make a good start for a well established acro in a year or so.

I would keep a close eye on the larger fish to see if there bumping them ,also keep a close eye out for crabs like Teddy's and eunicid worm as they have been found to course damage from time to time

jas