*help* with STN

Blake_Cond · 07/12/2014, 07:30 AM

Hi All!

My Acropora Prostrata has STN

, all my water parameters are fine.
Salinity: 1.025
Ammonia: 0ppm
Nitrite: 0ppm
Nitrate: 0ppm
Calcium: 420ppm
Alkalinity: 11 dKH
Phosphate: 0.25ppm
Magnesium: 1350ppm
So l see that everything seems to be fine for SPS, before these parameters my nitrates were high (20ppm) and phosphates (2.0ppm). I have been using Red Sea NoPox and added some Macro algae so maybe these sudden changes to the parameters caused the Acro to get STN. But the strange thing about this necrosis is that it only occurs when the lights are out which makes me think that it's some sort of parasite that caused the STN. I can't see any AEFLW or red bugs. The coral is showing polyp extension as it has since l have purchased it. Any thoughts or tips would be great! Cheers Blake.

popsock · 08/08/2014, 01:48 PM

Hi, How quickly did you drop the nitrates and phosphates? And yes that's a good explanation for the STN. I always advise to keep nitrates about 2-3ppm there's no advantage at all in having is zero and you'll often hear of problems re. zero nitrate.

You should also get that PO4 down to <0.03ppm eventually.

swk · 08/08/2014, 04:16 PM

Alk may be too high with that low of nutrient levels. Just something to consider. I have low nutrients myself and if I get over 8 I start having stn. I run mine around 7 with nitrates of about 1 and po4 at .03

PaleHorse · 08/09/2014, 07:20 AM

Eliminate one problem at a time if you think you have bugs use bayer. If you think your alk is high lower it. If you have a ulns then I would feed more and see if any changes occur. But one think at a time and take it slow so you identify the problem

07/12/2014, 07:30 AM	#1
Blake_Cond Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: New South Wales, Australia. Posts: 26	help with STN Hi All! My Acropora Prostrata has STN , all my water parameters are fine. Salinity: 1.025 Ammonia: 0ppm Nitrite: 0ppm Nitrate: 0ppm Calcium: 420ppm Alkalinity: 11 dKH Phosphate: 0.25ppm Magnesium: 1350ppm So l see that everything seems to be fine for SPS, before these parameters my nitrates were high (20ppm) and phosphates (2.0ppm). I have been using Red Sea NoPox and added some Macro algae so maybe these sudden changes to the parameters caused the Acro to get STN. But the strange thing about this necrosis is that it only occurs when the lights are out which makes me think that it's some sort of parasite that caused the STN. I can't see any AEFLW or red bugs. The coral is showing polyp extension as it has since l have purchased it. Any thoughts or tips would be great! Cheers Blake.

08/08/2014, 04:16 PM	#3
swk Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Wine Country CA Posts: 2,593	help with STN Alk may be too high with that low of nutrient levels. Just something to consider. I have low nutrients myself and if I get over 8 I start having stn. I run mine around 7 with nitrates of about 1 and po4 at .03 __________________ Member of Wine Country Reefers Current Tank Info: 75 gal SPS dominant reef. Geo calcium reactor with masterflex pump, Deltec 1455 skimmer, 2 mp40QD, mp10wes, lit by a 6x54 dimable ATI sunpower and controlled by Reef Angel

08/08/2014, 01:48 PM	#2
popsock Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: England Posts: 193	Hi, How quickly did you drop the nitrates and phosphates? And yes that's a good explanation for the STN. I always advise to keep nitrates about 2-3ppm there's no advantage at all in having is zero and you'll often hear of problems re. zero nitrate. You should also get that PO4 down to <0.03ppm eventually.

08/09/2014, 07:20 AM	#4
PaleHorse Moved On Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 421	Eliminate one problem at a time if you think you have bugs use bayer. If you think your alk is high lower it. If you have a ulns then I would feed more and see if any changes occur. But one think at a time and take it slow so you identify the problem