[b4u]

i found my sp coral tipped over laying on the rock when i came home today. the skin looks as if its peeling off on the area that it was laying on the rock, and has to spread through out the coral body. i was just wondering is there any way to stop this?

[rlcline76]

Do some reading on coral bleaching. Where did you have this coral in the tank? Flow? Lighting?

[b4u]

it was right under my halide with a some what of a high flow, and it was close to the top of my tank

[stephaniesquires]

It may be getting too warm. I have read of coral dying off at temps over 83 in the Great Barrier Reef.

[jimw369]

Originally Posted by b4u

i found my sp coral tipped over laying on the rock when i came home today. the skin looks as if its peeling off on the area that it was laying on the rock, and has to spread through out the coral body. i was just wondering is there any way to stop this?

How long has this tank been up and running. Its hard to tell but is that diatoms still on the rock in the background? SPS corals are great but not for the new tank or less experienced.

[b4u]

well i've had the tank running for about 4 months. i checked all the lvls calcium phosphate and ph. they all checked out fine.

[b4u]

Originally Posted by stephaniesquires

It may be getting too warm. I have read of coral dying off at temps over 83 in the Great Barrier Reef.

yeah that could be a possibility, my 250w light is raising my temp, i think i might have to buy a chiller, its hitting about 87 d

[jimw369]

Originally Posted by b4u

yeah that could be a possibility, my 250w light is raising my temp, i think i might have to buy a chiller, its hitting about 87 d

87 DEGREES!!! cough cough...yes you must get the temps down a bit. Say around 79-80 so you have a little wiggle room both ways.

[b4u]

updated pics, i guess the other one i have is stressing out too

[b4u]

Originally Posted by jimw369

87 DEGREES!!! cough cough...yes you must get the temps down a bit. Say around 79-80 so you have a little wiggle room both ways.

lol.. yeah you think suspening the light would make any differance?

[jimw369]

Originally Posted by b4u

lol.. yeah you think suspening the light would make any differance?

Oh sure!!! Every inch will above the water will help curb the heat situation. Got any power heads in there? They add to heat. Return pumps can also be a source of heat along with sunlight thru a window. You can try blowing a clip on fan across the top of your sump (if you have one) or across the top of your tank. You will have more evaporation but that is a cooling process and thats what we want.

Before I would move the lights try the fan across the top of the tank and see what happens. Sometimes when you change your lights even just a little bit stuff starts happening in your tank thats a pain to deal with not to mention it can be tough on the corals.

Think about anything that causes heat to the water in your tank and one by one eliminate them or change to different brands that create less heat. The fan blowing is a big help. A heat audit on your tank if you will. After you do this (it will take a little time) you will be much more familiar with your tank components and can then decide if you really need to go with a chiller $$$. Good luck and keep us posted with those temps!!!

[stephaniesquires]

Fans on top of the tank help a lot. I have an open canopy and have 2 computer fans (flat square about 4") attached to the canopy and they provide great air flow between the lights and the tank. You might try turning the lights off for a little longer for a few days to bring the temp down.

[b4u]

yeah i have 2. a via aqua 1800 powerhead & koralia ( 850 gph ) a long with some pumps for the hang on protine skimmer ( crappy seaclone ) and hang on refugium.

[b4u]

Originally Posted by jimw369

Oh sure!!! Every inch will above the water will help curb the heat situation. Got any power heads in there? They add to heat. Return pumps can also be a source of heat along with sunlight thru a window. You can try blowing a clip on fan across the top of your sump (if you have one) or across the top of your tank. You will have more evaporation but that is a cooling process and thats what we want.

Before I would move the lights try the fan across the top of the tank and see what happens. Sometimes when you change your lights even just a little bit stuff starts happening in your tank thats a pain to deal with not to mention it can be tough on the corals.

Think about anything that causes heat to the water in your tank and one by one eliminate them or change to different brands that create less heat. The fan blowing is a big help. A heat audit on your tank if you will. After you do this (it will take a little time) you will be much more familiar with your tank components and can then decide if you really need to go with a chiller $$$. Good luck and keep us posted with those temps!!!

yay!!! i put the fan on and ajusted my heater a little and was able to being the temps to about a contant 80, and its has been at that for about 2 day now. thanks guys

[CoralGeeks]

If the skin is peeling, thats not bleaching. Thats RTN, rapid tissue necrosis. Thats a sign the coral is stressing and on the way to the big reef in the sky.

[jimw369]

Originally Posted by CoralGeeks

If the skin is peeling, thats not bleaching. Thats RTN, rapid tissue necrosis. Thats a sign the coral is stressing and on the way to the big reef in the sky.

Would a water temp of 87 degrees have something to do with the RTN?

Do you have SPS corals that make you qualified to diagnose this situation?

[CoralGeeks]

they actually prefer higher temps such as 82-84.

think about this....
what about the reefs that get exposed to 80-90 degree air temps at low tide when they are sitting out of the ocean? You dont think that would stress them out? They survive just fine like they have for 1000's of years.

As for my experience, its MY EXPERIENCE not some book I read, Ive learned by trial and error. Ive been in this hobby for over 10 yrs, from the hobbiest to the business side of it, actually started out in the business side of it. I worked hand in hand with a couple of marine biologists/ecologists. Now I currently farm corals and supply a few LFS's. Im looking into branching out cause Im tired of these websites ripping people off on corals.

Just because somebody writes a book, doesnt mean they are a expert. Especially if they publish it theirself.

[jimw369]

Well that certainly makes you more qualified than most of us here at RB. I look forward to seeing you post as Im sure you have valuable information for us to use.

[CoralGeeks]

Originally Posted by jimw369

Well that certainly makes you more qualified than most of us here at RB. I look forward to seeing you post as Im sure you have valuable information for us to use.

you're signature says it all!

[NATIVEVAMAN]

Coralgeeks,I would like to ask you if there are any authors in the aquarium hobby that you respect?Do you ever read anything to advance or help support your knowledge of aquariums?

[CoralGeeks]

Originally Posted by NATIVEVAMAN

Coralgeeks,I would like to ask you if there are any authors in the aquarium hobby that you respect?Do you ever read anything to advance or help support your knowledge of aquariums?

The only people I trust when it comes to questions ar epeople with first hand experience, not something they read somewhere or somebodies "theories". What works for one person, doesnt always work for the next person. You have to have almost the same setup to get the same results. 1 varible can throw off the whole thing wether it be known or unknown.

[NATIVEVAMAN]

So your answer to both questions is no?

[CoralGeeks]

Originally Posted by NATIVEVAMAN

So your answer to both questions is no?

I dont read what hobbiest say and so called "experts" say and take it as gospel. However, I do deal with other leaders in the industry and talk to them about their advancements etc.

One of the biggest problems in this hobby is somebody will read something or a LFS will tell them something and they will take it as thats the only way to do it. Well as granny would say "theres more then one way to skin a cat".

As for believing everything calfo says and taking it as gospel, would be kind of a bad idea. Yeah I know hes published, who published his books? Reading Tree published his books. Who is reading tree? calfo is reading tree. He writes and publishes his own books which says a lot about an english major. It doesnt say a lot about somebody telling people about their aquariums. To me that says he doesnt know enough for a real publishing company to take him serious and/or has the qualifications to be an author. I listen to marine biologists and ecologists not self proclaimed experts.

[CoralGeeks]

I am not a reef expert, however I know what Im doing when it comes to aquariums,equipment. corals and most fish. I didnt go to school for marine biology/ecology, I went to school for business and calfo went for english lit.

[rlcline76]

Aaaah the great debate...

You guys may hash this out where everyone can comment here and there (reef discussions is a nice place), but this is not the right forum. Instead of talking about an ailing coral, we are going back and forth on the scholar vs hobbyist vs someone who may or may not know something.

Let's get back to SPS.

Thanks