losing only 1 head of 3 different lps's?? Cause?

JOEYRM7 · 02/05/2014, 01:48 PM

had this in LPS forum but it didn't draw too much of a response so I moved it here. ANy help would be appreciated.

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I have a 4 month old system and over the past 4 weeks I have lost only 1 head of an elegance, torch,and frogspawn. The all looked good then the next day one head is retracted and then the next the cleaner shrimp makes sure nothing is left. The other heads are doing fine.

alk 9.o-9.3
cal 465
mag 1325
nitrates <5
ammonia nitrite 0
rodi
15% water change per week
switched to a aquamaxx co-1 skimmer 2 weeks ago

Notice I didn't mention phosphates. I am averaging .15-.2 I don't feed much but its there none the less. I gave up on waiting for my chaeto to do anything and have phosphate reactor coming Thursday.

Can the phosphate be the cause of my problem or something else? I have not found any pests as yet but I keep looking.

Thanks

MellowReefer · 02/05/2014, 06:17 PM

What type of lights do you have on what size tank? I'm having a similar problem, losing heads on several LPS, although my water tests perfect. Had a local expert come over and he recommended adding T5s to my LED setup, said he found that LPS corals don't seem to do well with just LEDs.

From what I know I don't think that level of phosphate would cause it.

JOEYRM7 · 02/05/2014, 06:23 PM

I have ai sols at a max of 63%. Lighting doesnt seem to be an answer for me as some are doing great and others mext to it not. Also at different hights. Hope its phospate which i will cure but waiting for responses

triggreef · 02/06/2014, 01:03 AM

Look very close, like macro close, at your frogspawn. See if you can see tiny little white spots that move sometimes. They are a little tiny LPS eating pod. almost too tiny to see unless the coral is near the glass. I've lost some heads of frogspawn a while back and once fixed the bugs they all recovered well. Doesn't seem to go for hammers, but I don't have torch or elegance so I don't know whether they would attack those or not. Got rid of them with a series of bayer dips.

triggreef · 02/06/2014, 01:05 AM

Your numbers look fine, I dont think that little elevated po4 will kill. Flow could also be an issue.

02/05/2014, 01:48 PM	#1
JOEYRM7 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: NEW YORK Posts: 335	losing only 1 head of 3 different lps's?? Cause? had this in LPS forum but it didn't draw too much of a response so I moved it here. ANy help would be appreciated. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I have a 4 month old system and over the past 4 weeks I have lost only 1 head of an elegance, torch,and frogspawn. The all looked good then the next day one head is retracted and then the next the cleaner shrimp makes sure nothing is left. The other heads are doing fine. alk 9.o-9.3 cal 465 mag 1325 nitrates <5 ammonia nitrite 0 rodi 15% water change per week switched to a aquamaxx co-1 skimmer 2 weeks ago Notice I didn't mention phosphates. I am averaging .15-.2 I don't feed much but its there none the less. I gave up on waiting for my chaeto to do anything and have phosphate reactor coming Thursday. Can the phosphate be the cause of my problem or something else? I have not found any pests as yet but I keep looking. Thanks

02/05/2014, 06:17 PM	#2
MellowReefer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 854	What type of lights do you have on what size tank? I'm having a similar problem, losing heads on several LPS, although my water tests perfect. Had a local expert come over and he recommended adding T5s to my LED setup, said he found that LPS corals don't seem to do well with just LEDs. From what I know I don't think that level of phosphate would cause it. __________________ Current tank: 125 Gallon Mixed Reef set up February 2012

02/06/2014, 01:03 AM	#4
triggreef Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: East Hampton, CT Posts: 2,917	Look very close, like macro close, at your frogspawn. See if you can see tiny little white spots that move sometimes. They are a little tiny LPS eating pod. almost too tiny to see unless the coral is near the glass. I've lost some heads of frogspawn a while back and once fixed the bugs they all recovered well. Doesn't seem to go for hammers, but I don't have torch or elegance so I don't know whether they would attack those or not. Got rid of them with a series of bayer dips. __________________ 200g DD Marineland. Acro and monti heavy with some birdsnest, LPS, and zoas. 125g FOWLR

02/06/2014, 01:05 AM	#5
triggreef Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: East Hampton, CT Posts: 2,917	Your numbers look fine, I dont think that little elevated po4 will kill. Flow could also be an issue. __________________ 200g DD Marineland. Acro and monti heavy with some birdsnest, LPS, and zoas. 125g FOWLR

02/05/2014, 06:23 PM	#3
JOEYRM7 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: NEW YORK Posts: 335	I have ai sols at a max of 63%. Lighting doesnt seem to be an answer for me as some are doing great and others mext to it not. Also at different hights. Hope its phospate which i will cure but waiting for responses