Tank problems

christyf5 · #1 07-18-2006, 07:51 PM

Thanks for the input Jason.

Its not like anything really grows super fast in my tank. If anything they are gaining mere millimeters of growth and those that are faster growers are just frags. I agree about changing up the placement of my powerheads just to see if that is the problem but those corals that are experiencing the tissue recession have ample flow IMO, I can see their polyps waving about, so I'm not sure about that. But heck, I don't seem to be sure about much in this hobby so it can't hurt.

I think I'm going to take your advice about the refugium. Its only been set up for a short while (since about November) but that doesn't mean it can't be causing problems all on its own. There isn't much in there and what is in there isn't doing all that fantastically well anyways (its mostly a cyano/gack factory) so I'll have a go at cleaning up the sand and restarting it.

danny zubot · #2 07-18-2006, 08:37 PM

Quote:

A couple of things I've been finding, A lot of my SPS are causing there own demise. They out grow the flow in the tank, or another SPS grows and cuts off flow to a part of another coral

I totally understand this catch 22. I've been trying to find the best way to set up flow in my tank so that my flow loving prostrata gets its share, while trying not to upset my milli and other acros. One suction cup from a ph came loose and directed flow right onto a milli for a day, it now has a dead patch, which doesn't seem to be growing at all thankfully. And where flow hits my caps directly, they grow brown hair algae! Whats up with that!

The bottom line is that I probably have too many large corals for my tank, and I can't accomidate all of them perfectly. As far as flow is concerned.

Delphinus · #3 07-18-2006, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danny zubot

And where flow hits my caps directly, they grow brown hair algae! Whats up with that!

Caps don't deal well with direct flow. The flow is basically a shearing force, and the exposed skeleton gets the algae.

Quote:

The bottom line is that I probably have too many large corals for my tank, and I can't accomidate all of them perfectly. As far as flow is concerned.

As much as I like caps that's basically the reason I don't have them any longer myself, they just grow too fast for my 75g.

Samw · #4 07-18-2006, 10:56 PM

I'm guessing it's bacteria such as vibrio.

sumpfinfishe · #5 07-19-2006, 05:29 AM

Sorry to hear the news Christy

After talking with you today I thought about heat or flow as the cause of your STN. However after reading this thread I can see you have those bases covered and I had a feeling you would have looked at both of those areas.

I had this same problem about a year ago and the more that I think about it the more I think it may be due to what you first suggested-Chemical Warfare!

Last year I had a green milli that slowly died from STN and due to it's slimming over the course of a week or so I 'm pretty sure it was the cause of almost loosing three other SPS located near bye. Try checking in on the reef via flashlight during the night to see if any corals are slimming up or if there are stingers drifting in the water column, maybe this might be the cause of your STN.

Goodluck and keep us posted, Rich

Jack · #6 07-20-2006, 07:15 AM

Possibly acropora flatworms.

muck · #7 07-20-2006, 03:01 PM

woah.. who is this Jack fellow..?

(good to see you are still around)

reeferaddict · #8 07-21-2006, 12:46 PM

So I'm making a trip up Island today, and I decide to see for myself. I've never seen Christy's tank, and while her web page and blog are really well done, informative, and creative, the pictures do her tank no justice! Nice wavy polyps fully extended, beautiful patches of various corals growing all over her rocks, but all we have been able to see is a tank shot at a distance, and some of the really neat macros that Christy has taken. I "just happened" to have my camera with me and I remembered I promised Ruth and Rory I would post some wide angle shots from a lens she really wants, and at the same time I thought it might be time to show Christy's tank with a little perspective, if not even a little distortion... this lens is amazing folks... Christy's tank as never seen before...

Even these pictures don't do it justice... so you've got a couple of sloughing colonies... you're doing it right... get to the bottom of it... but don't panic and do anything rash to screw it up now... you've done a fantastic job!

So we came to the conclusion that Christy has been staring into her tank for too long and that she doesn't need the advice of fellow Canreefers, but rather that of a psychiatrist...

muck · #9 07-21-2006, 03:29 PM

Holey Crap!! Tank is looking pretty good, Christy!! Thanks for posting addict.

Your Regal Tang actually is blue.. all this time I thought you had a rare purple morph..

Delphinus · #10 07-21-2006, 03:43 PM

What magical lens do you speak of, reeferaddict?

You can't make some kind of ringing endorsement like "This lens is amazing, folks" and then not make mention what it is in the same post!

Tank doesn't look so bad to me Christy, it has a long way to catch up to mine

Hang in there - it may be too late for me but I don't think it's too late for you yet. Good luck!