Help: SPS bleaching and STN

[daniella3d]

Can low alkalinity burn tips? Mostly it is high alkalinity. Before I started dosing my alkalinity was often low, even lower than 6 and it never burnt any tips in my sps.

Burnt tips and STN are probably 2 different problems and that they happen at the same time probably means that there is something quite out of wack with your system, not sure what.

Originally Posted by ChizerBunoi

I'm assuming with the ALK at 6.2 dKH, the tips got burnt and the STN started.

I'm going to put all 6 banks on 6500K and just grow the coral out. Once they are large enough, i'll focus on coloring them up.

[Myka]

Originally Posted by daniella3d

Can low alkalinity burn tips? Mostly it is high alkalinity.

I was thinking the same thing, but OP wants to experiment.

[albert_dao]

Probiotics with a kH over 8.2 is just asking for it. Leave it between 7.0 and 8.0.

/experienced Zeovit user here.

[Myka]

Originally Posted by albert_dao

Probiotics with a kH over 8.2 is just asking for it. Leave it between 7.0 and 8.0.

/experienced Zeovit user here.

Albert, I assume you're referring to this:

Originally Posted by ChizerBunoi

I was dosing vodka at 1ML per day, but stopped it completely when cyano appeared. That was my only form of nutrient control. Only dosing Zeobac (bacteria) to help with the battle against cyano.

Just to elaborate for OP, it's not not the bacteria, but the carbon source. Using a carbon source with higher alkalinity will often cause STN or even RTN. Albert might be onto something though, did your STN and burned tips show up during your vodka dosing or before that or after that?

No I'm not dosing probiotics anymore as I plan to KISS.

I did experience the STN while dosing vodka. That was when the cyano began. I then discontinued vodka dosing and continued bacteria dosing. Shortly afterwards, the select SPS began to bleach.

I was using that ALK regent that was wrong all that time. So I can assume that my ALk levels were low.

[Myka]

Like how low? Under 7 dKH? That will cause bleaching and STN.

Yes it was around 6.2 dKH. Then with a water change, it raised the Alk levels higher (more than 1.5 dKH that day).