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View Full Version : Any way to stop RTN?

chris121277
06-02-2011, 02:04 PM
Hey guys.....I was just wondering if there is any way to stop a coral from RTNing?

I believe that this has started because my Nem stung my Pocillipora (lost the entire colony) which spread to my digi which in turn spread to a purple Acro...I trimmed like a mad man trying to get it under control but alas all the above mentioned corals are now gone. :Cry:

* knocks on wood* but my remaining SPS have never looked better other then a Monti plate that appears to be very slowly loosing flesh, now this coral is about an 1.5" thick so the only way I would be able to cut it would be with a saws all and unfortunately it is attached (very firmly) to 3 large rocks so I realy don't have any way of removing it now.

Any tip's on ending this nightmare would be appreciated

A few before and after shots of the devastation

My beautiful purple Acro
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/P2080080.jpg
(it's that green stump)
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/P5300032.jpg

Pocillipora
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/P5230088.jpg
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/P5300030.jpg

Digitata, Monti Cap and Pocillipora
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/P5300031.jpg
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/P5300033.jpg

*knocks on wood* so far the only SPS's not effected are my Milli's, Stag and Tri-color Acro
apexifd
06-02-2011, 02:10 PM
weekly carbon change, and water change.

it helps...
fencer
06-02-2011, 02:20 PM
what are your nitrate levels pocis are sensitive to nitrates....
fishytime
06-02-2011, 02:27 PM
a bath in a good coral dip can sometimes help.....frag off a good healthy piece and place it somewhere else in the tank.....cut out all the dead stuff and crazy glue the edge between the living and dead tissue, that can help too.....what are your parameters?.......perhaps spring run-off issues?
chris121277
06-02-2011, 03:10 PM
I suppose it could be spring run off issue's as I don't have a phos test kit....but my other perams are
trates 0
amonia 0
ph 8.2
sal 1.026
alk 9
mag 1350
cal 400

I change 5 gals of water every week

As for trimming back that plate I just can't figure out how I would do that with out putting a saw in the the water.
phi delt reefer
06-02-2011, 03:48 PM
what temp is your tank at? I read an article where they found that RTN was more likely happen in warmer tanks and may remain dormant in cooler tanks. Try lowering your tank to 75 degrees and see if it slows the process down.
fencer
06-02-2011, 03:59 PM
I have noticed the spring runoff phenom in the past...colonies die off for no reason. You didn't do any moving of rock wok or anything that could of caused a spike in nitrates?
chris121277
06-02-2011, 08:22 PM
I have noticed the spring runoff phenom in the past...colonies die off for no reason. You didn't do any moving of rock wok or anything that could of caused a spike in nitrates?


Nope nothing, in fact I was a way for the weekend when it started......the only thing I could think of was that the Nem stretched up another inch and stung the Pocillipora.
chris121277
06-02-2011, 08:23 PM
what temp is your tank at? I read an article where they found that RTN was more likely happen in warmer tanks and may remain dormant in cooler tanks. Try lowering your tank to 75 degrees and see if it slows the process down.


It's at 78deg right now.....you don't think going down that low would hurt anything?
chris121277
06-03-2011, 12:42 AM
Here's a shot of what I'm dealing with......it has been creeping across my monti for 3 days now and I'm starting to think I'm going to have to snap off some large chunks to try and save as well as yank the Stag off the rock and move it before it's to late.

http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq339/chris121277/reef%20tank/P6020030.jpg
untamed
06-03-2011, 01:46 AM
IME, hack and slash... Remove any and all dead tissue. Dip any remaining healthy frags in an iodine based dip. My tendency is to wait too long...
chris121277
06-03-2011, 02:05 AM
IME, hack and slash... Remove any and all dead tissue. Dip any remaining healthy frags in an iodine based dip. My tendency is to wait too long...

as for the Monti...I can't remove it as it is actually part of the rock work now (it is firmly attached to 3 large rocks...maybe 60 pounds of LR)

I went in tonight snapped off the stag and turned it so it wasn't touching the monti....the gave it everything I had to break off either the monti or a large chunk...no go man (it's an inch and a half thick) so instead I broke off a bunch of healthy frags and apoxyed them to the rock work a little to the left of the mother colony.

Any tips on how to cut it wile still in the tank?
fishytime
06-03-2011, 02:36 AM
are you using a R/O unit?......do you know what the TDS is of the water your using for top up and water changes?
chris121277
06-03-2011, 03:01 AM
are you using a R/O unit?......do you know what the TDS is of the water your using for top up and water changes?

I Just changed all my pre-filters in my RO unit, membrane is about 2 years old and probably should be changed asap....unfortunately I don't have a TDS tester....but I could take a sample into the local water place to get it tested tomorrow. Our water is surface water...mid summer it is around 80-90 right out of the tap.....but I've never had it checked during spring run off.