Help With Deepwater Acro

fkshiu · #1 10-15-2009, 05:08 AM

If it is truly a "DEEP water" acro I'd move it to where there's less light such as DEEPer in your tank.

Drock169 · #2 10-15-2009, 05:19 AM

I dont think less light is the solution in this case. They typically bleach out if they are getting too much light, not brown out. I would dip it in something like Revive, see if anything comes of the coral. Have a good look for at the base of the coral for little square bite marks on it. Because it's just a single colony affected, my guess is parasite.

viperfish · #3 10-15-2009, 05:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drock169

I dont think less light is the solution in this case. They typically bleach out if they are getting too much light, not brown out. I would dip it in something like Revive, see if anything comes of the coral. Have a good look for at the base of the coral for little square bite marks on it. Because it's just a single colony affected, my guess is parasite.

Sounds like excellent advice. I'll definitely check it out. Thanks.

fishytime · #4 10-15-2009, 03:18 PM

Could you post some more details about your system?.....how many gallons? what is your bio-load? what skimmer are you using?....how much and how often do you feed? 20ppm of nitrates is high (IMO) do you have any other acros?....if so how are they doing?

Drock169 · #5 10-15-2009, 04:21 PM

I have done VSV (vodka sugar vinegar) dosing before and probably wouldnt recommended it. Worked well at the start but I ended up having some problems 8months to a year into it and resulted in some coral morality. I think the best cure for high nitrates is a large scale water change, ie a 50% water change to bring them down to 10. However if you do the large scale water change and they climb up to 20 again, it could mean your overstocked or overfeeding. Either way, I dont think the nitrates are the issue in the situation.

viperfish · #6 10-15-2009, 04:48 PM

I have just start a turf scrubber, it's still too new to see any results but I hear good things about it if the maintenance is kept up. The price is certainly right compared to a lot of the other methods being used.

Myka · #7 10-17-2009, 08:07 PM

You have not mentioned the use of a protein skimmer, what protein skimmer are you using, and what size is the tank? Providing more information about the rest of the tank will really help. If you can post a full tank photo that could be of great assistance as well.

In order to get great coloring of any corals there are many determining factors. Lighting is usually easy to provide. The biggest factor is water quality - all aspects: stability, the availability of good nutrients, the lack of poor nutrients, clarity, etc. SPS corals are particularly sensitive, and many people cannot achieve great, colorful success with them.

As far as water goes, it needs to be pristine. High nitrates are a sign that the water really isn't up to par. Steady "big three" dosing is imperative (calcium, alkalinity, magnesium). A carbon source is often a big help to improve water quality - be it vodka, Fauna Marin, my personal choice Zeovit, or an abundance of other products, and in my opinion should be a part of any SPS system (albeit there are those more experienced reefers that prefer the "challenge" of doing it differently). In a healthy reef tank you should not get detectable nitrate or phosphate. Imo, your high nitrates are at the very least contributing greatly to the issue. I also take high nitrates as a sign that your tank isn't as healthy as it should be, and there my be other issues as well.

You may find that simply dosing Zeovit Coral Snow and ZeoBak together (as per directions in the Zeovit guide) will greatly improve your water quality. Many people don't understand that you can use just a few additives, you don't need the whole line of products to make a significant difference. The use of the above mentioned products is my recommendation to you.

fishytime · #8 10-18-2009, 03:26 PM

Ok a year old tank is definitely mature enough to handle SPS.....what are your other parameters? ( calcium,magnesium and DKH)

lorenz0 · #9 10-18-2009, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishytime

Ok a year old tank is definitely mature enough to handle SPS.....what are your other parameters? ( calcium,magnesium and DKH)

I second this. forget about zeo, i don't use anything and get good colors out of my SPS. By the looks of the coral, it looks like your nutrients is high. keep up with your water change's and your parameters in check.

viperfish · #10 10-15-2009, 05:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fkshiu

If it is truly a "DEEP water" acro I'd move it to where there's less light such as DEEPer in your tank.

I have tried that, and it made no difference. It is still an Acro. I just don't see it sitting at the same light level as my LPS, but my assumption may be wrong. As far as being a "truly" deep water Acro, I am just going on what I was told when I bought it. If I Google it, I don't get a whole lot of information to go on. I had just hoped that someone on here has gone through a similar situation. I know I need to work on my Nirates and a few folks on here are really sold on ZEO, but this hobby is expensive enough as it is without having to pump money into every latest and greatest remedy. There seems to be a million cures for nitrates, from ATS, to Vodka dosing, to reactors. It's tough sometimes to know which one is best.