weird UV observation

[Europhyllia]

Just thought of this again since FSU posted:

Ever since I added an LPS with some health problems to my tank I've had trouble keeping LPS. Sun corals seem to be just about the only thing that makes it!

Not long ago I decided to try one more time with Atlantic Rose Corals. Started out well and then they started to recede again :(

I figured we were doomed.

During one of the Black Friday sales I picked up a new pump for my Turbo Twist UV sterilizer and one of the Jawfish looked like it had gotten nipped by the clowns. So to avoid bacterial infection I hooked up the UV sterilizer (was offline prior due to pump being broken)

Could of course be total coincidence but the LPS corals stopped receeding! Before teh sterilizer was added they were on a path of steady decline. Now it looks like they might have a chance to bounce back.

Isn't that strange?

Anybody care to guess what's going on?

[hobogato]

i would guess that they were receding bc of bacterial (or even protozoan) infection and the uv is taking the offending germs out of the water.

[Sherita]

I think Ace is right. Bacterial infections are the biggest cause of loss in LPS, imho. Bugs in the water can cause all kinds of trouble.

[Europhyllia]

since it went so well I got an upgrade: went from a 9w sterilizer to a 18w sterilizer on the 215g tank. The Atlantic Rose corals are looking noticably better now. I think they are having a chance to bounce back now! In fact I may be able to keep LPS after all!

[allan]

You should show a picture of this coral... Or I guess I could google it. :)

[Europhyllia]

when they are happy they look like this:
http://www.dominopads.com/roseeating.jpg

they are stony corals from the Caribbean and illegal to collect from the wild. These are all single mouth one year olds that were aquacultured. Theya re super special to me and sort of 'complete' my Caribbean tank. To have them die off would really suck so I am very excited the UV seems to help them fight whatever was attacking them