What causes coral tissue recession?

[Swiftsea]

Noticed some tissue recession on my Acropora lately. Parameters seem stable, 78F, 1.025 salinity, 8 dKH, 450 Ca, 1400 Mg. Any ideas what's causing this?

[tetraTim]

Could be a few things. How's your flow? Too much direct flow can stress them out. Also, check for pests like flatworms or nudibranchs. They're sneaky little buggers.

[whiskerfan]

My Zoas did the same thing last month. Turned out my nitrates were creeping up. You testing for NO3?

[harvester]

My Zoas did the same thing last month. Turned out my nitrates were creeping up. You testing for NO3?

Yep, nitrates are a common culprit. Also, how old are your bulbs? Worn out T5s can mess with coral health.

[raid]

Lighting could be it. My tank had similar issues when I switched to LEDs too quickly. Corals need time to adjust.

[bronzefox]

Tissue recession often ties to bacterial infections. Have you dipped the affected pieces? A quick iodine bath might help if it's bacterial.

[morningglow]

I've had luck with amino acid supplements when my corals looked sketchy. Maybe try dosing some? Also, double-check your alk stability, swings are brutal.

[Swiftsea]

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone. Gonna check for pests and test nitrates again. Appreciate the help!

[tetraTim]

Keep us posted. Sometimes it's just a weird vibe in the tank, and things settle on their own.

[whiskerfan]

Yeah, tanks can be finicky. My Duncan's took months to chill after a move.