Burnt shortcake - frag? iodine? move? what to do?

Duckhams · #1 03-24-2016, 06:16 PM

Hi guys,
I have a microclados (possible strawberry shortcake) in my system. It's pink/purple since I got it and has never coloured up. I fragged a piece and put it in the highest lighting/PAR spot I could find and sure enough it's starting to develop a green base. The problem is, the mother colony is getting burnt tips and not colouring up. Im still determining the cause of the burnt tips, it wasnt an alk swing, could have been an increase in my radion intensity, but here's my question:

Should I frag the whole colony and move them higher in the tank?
Just snip off the burnt tips and leave it?
Snip the burnt tips and move it into higher light like the frag?
Add iodine to help the burt tips heal?

What do you guys recommend?

Bblinks · #2 03-24-2016, 08:22 PM

I would just move it out of the light for a bit and let it heal up. You can dip it in iodine if you like.

Duckhams · #3 03-25-2016, 06:22 PM

Will it heal up if I keep algae off it in a low light area? or do you think fragging the tips is a good idea?

r2r · #4 03-26-2016, 04:20 AM

did you check you alk? I saw that you said it wasn't alk swing, but from the picture it does look like it.

SSC is very sensitive to alk.

Duckhams · #5 03-26-2016, 09:17 PM

Alk has been solid at 9.5 dKH. Lowered from 10.2 over a month. Im thinking its from an increase in red/green LED's on the radion's that did it along with a 5% increase on intensity. I could be wrong though.
I just don't want to lose it and the tips are getting algae on them. I don't want to risk moving it and causing more damage. I've lowered the light intensity and Red/Green LED's and will trim the exposed tips off as best I can and hope it recovers.

Myka · #6 03-29-2016, 03:13 PM

My SSC is the first one to get burned tips when my alkalinity wanders up. Mine does not like high alkalinity. It will grow over the burned parts though.

Duckhams · #7 03-29-2016, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Myka

My SSC is the first one to get burned tips when my alkalinity wanders up. Mine does not like high alkalinity. It will grow over the burned parts though.

yeah it seems to be super sensitive. Im going to have to trim quite a lot and hope it all heals up. Im stressed about it.

Duckhams · #8 03-29-2016, 07:22 PM

I trimmed it all back as best I could and put it in a lower light area to hopefully heal. It's in pretty poor state. I hope it recovers. Thanks for all the input.