Help Identify

[kill4u]

Hello,

I noticed that a piece of coral that died all of a sudden got all of these dark spots on the stems..... The coral had been dead for months before I noticed that the stalks got these marks..... Any ideas what these are??? Good or Bad???

All of the hammer and torch corals in that tank have died over the last 6 months.... I have been unsuccessfully fighting ph/alkalinity problems which have contributed to the deaths...... I have always had water stability problems over the last 9 years..... And a BRS TV video just stated that you should not keep saltwater mixed with a heater (and small circulation pump) for more than a day or so before you use it or it will leave a lot of precipitate in your holding tank and you will have ph/alkalinity problems...... So I most likely have found my problem.......

Thanks for any info you might be able to provide...

Brian

[AlSimmons]

They're probably just some type of sponge. (good)

[crawlerman]

Yes, looks like sponge. Every time I have trouble maintaining alk it seems to be when my magnesium is low. Calcium, Alk and mag all need to be in balance.

[kill4u]

Thanks..... Brian