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RTN on Acros

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by Actuary, Mar 28, 2011.

  1. Mar 28, 2011 #1
    Actuary Adel, IA

    Actuary Well-Known ReefKeeper

    705
    Adel, IA
    Ratings:
    +145 / 1 / -0

    Well I bought quite a few SPS frags at Springfest.. mostly acros.  It seems like every time I have ever purchased multiple acros (from Vivid, Liveaquaria, or frag fests) a minority of them will end up shedding all their flesh after a couple days.  In my last purchase from Vivid this happened to 1 of 5 frags and it happened to 3 (so far) of 24 from Springfest.  Does this happen to anyone else?  I can't figure out what the cause of it is for the life of me.
    System specs:
    125g display (150g total system volume) with about 100g net volume
    Calc rx with arag and dolomite to maintain Ca, Alk, and Mg
    H&S A150 skimmer rated for 225g
    S.G.: 1.0250
    PO4: .01 ppm (Hanna Checker)
    NO3: 0 ppm (API)
    Ca: 500 ppm (API)
    Alk: 8 dkH (API)
    Mg: 1360 ppm (Salifert)
    pH: 7.90-8.00 (Pinpoint monitor)
    Filtration methods:  Zeovit, GAC, and felt filter sock
    Lighting: 2x400W 14K MH 10 hours a day (2 months old), 48W actinic 12 hours a day (1 year old)
    Flow: 2 x Vortech MP40s and OceanRunner 1800 in closed loop
    Reef type: Primarily SPS. 
    System has been running for about 20 months
    Live rock weight: 200 lbs
    Temp: 78F
    Salt: Oceanic
    Water Change Schedule: 5% weekly
    I dipped the recent batch of corals in ReVive (Two Little Fishes). 
    Is it possible that since there is such a wide variety among acropora that some of them just don't handle the 400w halides well and end up shedding all of their tissue quite rapidly?  Any other ideas?  Or is this something that just happens every now and then with acros?
    Thanks!
     
  2. Mar 28, 2011 #2
    JB Marion

    JB Veteran Reefkeeper

    5,146
    Marion
    Ratings:
    +3 / 0 / -0
    You may be on to something with your 400 halides. I've has this happen (rarely) after putting in new bulbs. If the increased output from new bulbs is enough, I'm sure the shock of going to 400's could do it to.

    There is also the case of how you acclimated and how you transported your corals. If they got too cold or too hot during transport, it could cause it. Some corals are just more sensitive across the board. Hawkin's Blue Echinata for example can be touchy.
     
  3. Mar 28, 2011 #3
    Actuary Adel, IA

    Actuary Well-Known ReefKeeper

    705
    Adel, IA
    Ratings:
    +145 / 1 / -0
    Interesting... 2 of the 3 were actually echinatas. One was even located near the bottom of my 28.5" tall tank so I wouldn't think it would be from too much light. The other was a blue tort acro.
     
  4. Mar 28, 2011 #4
    mthomp

    mthomp Inactive User

    3,985
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    yeah I have 2 right now i think is having rtn issues myself. it is unfortuneate but i kinda expect a few to not make it everytime . its just how it goes i guess
     
  5. Mar 28, 2011 #5
    glaspie69

    glaspie69 Experienced Reefkeeper

    1,792
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    In the past I've had better luck acclimating new corals into a 10 or 20 gallon qt tank for a week or two before dipping them, It's usually two or three certain things that trigger rtn'ing this helps combat that problem. Might not work for everyone but I've had good luck with it
     
  6. Mar 31, 2011 #6
    Sponge Marshalltown, IA

    Sponge Expert Reefkeeper Vendor

    3,347
    Marshalltown, IA
    Ratings:
    +233 / 1 / -0
    How interesting as I was just going to start a new thread about my Acro's I got at SF...I have had 2 succumb to RTN so far.  I don't think it's lighting in my situation.  I dipped in CoralRx and put them in a 30g QT with a 36w 50/50 light.  Each coral was bought at YZ.  The 2 times that I have bought from him, the Acro's went on to RTN.  None of them made it so I hope I have better luck this time.  Now don't get me wrong, I'm not blaming him but I find it odd that it's only been his corals.  I'm keeping a close eye on the others but mine are happening within a 6--12 hour window.
    I'm curious, is anyone else having this happen besides us 3?
     
  7. Apr 1, 2011 #7
    iaJim

    iaJim Inactive User

    775
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    I bought three frags from YZ and two of them are doing great, the other one suffered RTN. I suppose the one that died might have been a more sensitive coral, I don't know... It's always a chance when you buy anything in cold weather. They've just been transported and set up in a new tank, and then you take them out and transport them again and set them up in a new environment.
     
  8. Apr 1, 2011 #8
    Actuary Adel, IA

    Actuary Well-Known ReefKeeper

    705
    Adel, IA
    Ratings:
    +145 / 1 / -0
    Hmmm... 2 of my 3 that died from RTN were from YZ. One was a hawkin's echinata and another was a blue acro. One possible cause I guess is light intensity... even though I had the hawkin's near the bottom of the tank. I talked to him a bit and he said that he keeps his SPS corals under 3x250w MH's in a 180g... I'm guessing most of us SPS keepers are above 4w/g. He made it sound like I was crazy for having 6.4w/g though which I thought was a bit odd.
     
  9. Apr 2, 2011 #9
    Sponge Marshalltown, IA

    Sponge Expert Reefkeeper Vendor

    3,347
    Marshalltown, IA
    Ratings:
    +233 / 1 / -0
    Well Acro 3 from YZ just went from RTN in 6 hours! Three more to go from him.... P's me off!!! I won't be buying fro him in the future.
     

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