Interesting experience with RTN...

Reefer Rob · #1 06-15-2007, 03:11 PM

I read somewhere that when one coral RTNs, it can trigger RTN in other corals in the tank, causing a chain reaction of sorts. Of course this all happens for not apparent reason

danny zubot · #2 06-15-2007, 03:43 PM

I agree with the statment

Quote:

It would seem that I transferred some sort of coral disease

Though I'm not sure disease would be the term I'd use to describe it, maybe stress toxins? Who knows what kind of nasties a coral emits when it's under stress, but thats probably what caused this mess IMO. Terrible luck.

Delphinus · #3 06-15-2007, 04:10 PM

I actually think that RTN can also be called by protozoan, fungal, algal and bacterial causes.

It's sort of a double-whammy. Either conditions can be such that it will trigger RTN and STN quite easily, in which case, if one coral gets it, so too could a lot of others.

But also, because of the fact it could be protozoan, bacterial, fungal, algal, etc. -- once one host is "depleted" they look for another host and wham - again the chain reaction (even if conditions aren't "right" for promoting RTN).

Either way, RTN tends to be bad news.

I've been battling RTN and STN in my tank ever since I moved (THREE YEARS AGO). It started about 6 months after I moved. I think that I correct the cause, things are fine for a bit, then I'll have another mass loss event. You don't want to know how much money in frags I have lost in 3 years. It's now at the point where I am really uncertain about continuing in the hobby. Things are in a "holding pattern". I still have an empty 280g ready to be set up, that I've been working on, on and off for a while now, .. but .. when I look at my other tanks and see the list of problems that need to be solved, I get badly demotivated. A 280g with any of the same sorts of problems is going to be a nightmare of uncomparable magnitude. If I proceed, it has to be from ground zero. Problem is, I love my fish, they're pets, so I keep at it for their sake. But corals? Meh - I've been burned so badly on this now I honestly can't say that I care for corals other than being able to look at the pretty colours once in a while when they're not trying to have a massive death event.

Anyhow, ... sorry to rain on your thread. Hopefully your RTN is an isolated issue and not anything like mine.

untamed · #4 06-15-2007, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reefer Rob

I read somewhere that when one coral RTNs, it can trigger RTN in other corals in the tank, causing a chain reaction of sorts. Of course this all happens for not apparent reason

I'm guessing that this is what happened. There's no reason to suspect that there was anything unusual going on in the 30. That tank was stable and hadn't changed (except for corals getting bigger) for a year or so. I add one tiny RTN survivor and...bang...two corals in the immediate proximity to the piece RTN.

crystalz · #5 06-18-2007, 10:48 PM

I wonder if the problem is due to the fact that both systems are so different... Different salts, calcium additive methods, etc. Big change from one to another?... Just a thought with it being a new tank.

untamed · #6 06-20-2007, 02:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crystalz

I wonder if the problem is due to the fact that both systems are so different... Different salts, calcium additive methods, etc. Big change from one to another?... Just a thought with it being a new tank.

No way...not when the small tank has been established, happy and stable for years. Three coral have now all died in the small tank that had been growing perfectly well there for years. All within 48 hours of my trying to "rescue" that small piece.