recommendations for STN Treatment.

david campbell · Jan 7, 2023

SO, my large softball size digi is suffering from STN i believe. Is there a leader in the reefing world that has known results? I’m seeing only the following.

people have used
1. witch hazel
2. rtn stn x by fauna Marin
3. cutting off the healthy part of the coral and discarding the infected part.
4. reef moonshiners coral dip
5. antibiotic treatments, like ampicillin and paromomycin sulfate

based on my last icp test 2 -3 weeks ago. I had high levels of certain elements and metals in my tank, I stopped dosing those products and removed all metal from around or near my tank, added metal sorb, upped my rodi game to a 7 stage filters are 5m S filter-1m CB -.5m CB filter with the pro series resin cation and anion.

next icp scheduled next week. I hate chemical treatments, but I don’t want to lose this big boy.
thoughts and or options?

dwest · Jan 7, 2023

I’m following as I have the same issue on a bonsai acro.

But, in the past, I have always saved them but cutting off a fully healthy piece. If I were you, I would cut off a small piece then do whatever else you want to try for the colony.

shakacuz · Jan 7, 2023

you could also use polyfilter to remove metals out the water as well. i had a very similar issue in my tank and the culprit was very high metals and trace elements. with enough time and polyfilter everything balanced out.

anything new or any changes recently?

david campbell · Jan 7, 2023

shakacuz said:
anything new or any changes recently?

no not that i can think of

i sent off an icp test to start the moonshinners dosing method for trace elements

stopped dosing what i was dosing based on the icp results. most results were in range but high (i dont understand that). for example barium: if the target is 9.36 and im at 42.18. thats 32 over. how does that earn a green cheack of approval? same with nickel and manga, however bromine and strontium is danger high by being over the target by 23..

rodi water contains metals, thats the reason for up-ing my rodi game and meta/copper sorb

tank water is pretty clean an clear. no3-22, po4- 0.09

shakacuz · Jan 7, 2023

david campbell said:
no not that i can think of

i sent off an icp test to start the moonshinners dosing method for trace elements

stopped dosing what i was dosing based on the icp results. most results were in range but high (i dont understand that). for example barium: if the target is 9.36 and im at 42.18. thats 32 over. how does that earn a green cheack of approval? same with nickel and manga, however bromine and strontium is danger high by being over the target by 23..

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rodi water contains metals, thats the reason for up-ing my rodi game and meta/copper sorb

tank water is pretty clean an clear. no3-22, po4- 0.09

what are your other values?

also, don’t go off too much with what those values are they’re a reference point. input your numbers into andre’s dosing calculator and you’ll see what you need to do.

as of now you could try which hazel as you can dose in your DT but do make sure to read his article on the process of how to dose it. if push comes to shove, definitely invest in some polyfilter to remove metals out of the water which includes those you pictured above. test your water weekly and be patient! if only one coral is showing signs of STN there is still hope your tank can bounce back quickly.