Corals Turning Brown

[iHexBot]

Hey all,

 

Some of my corals are losing their color and beginning to turn brown. For example, I have a Green Bali Slimer Acro that started off (4 months ago) a vibrant green and just recently has begun turning brown (picture at the end). I was wondering what causes corals to turn brown? Tank is roughly 6 months old. Massive tank stat dump incoming...

 

Salinity 1.025

Temperature 78.1F

 

PH 8.1

Ammonia 0 ppm

Nitrite 0 ppm

Nitrate 0 ppm

 

Phosphate 0 ppm

Alkalinity 8 dKH

 

Calcium 420 ppm

Magnesium 1380 ppm

 

Tank IM Fusion Lagoon 25G

Light Ocean Revive T247B Blue channel 40% white channel 30%

 

If the issue is the light channels being to dim, how much can I safely increment them on a daily / weekly basis to prevent the corals from browning further. Is it possible to return their true color with time?

 

Thanks!

 

[Mariaface]

Are you testing phosphate with a test kit that can get a reading down to 0.03 or less?

[BoxKing]

I'd go with your lighting being too dim.. Im not sure what about the incriminating process, but I'd say you could be fairly aggressive on your first increase, then work it up slower.

[smeagol108]

Five percent a week.

[Rural]

increase lights by 5% intensity weekly. do some water changes.

 

your frag rack looks too clean, not any coraline algae and other beneficial films?

 

slowly changing is either deprivation or poisoning. ? any new changes?

 

mine colored back up with 2 weeks of params getting back to normal.

[iHexBot]

Are you testing phosphate with a test kit that can get a reading down to 0.03 or less?

 

Yes, I have been using Salifert's phosphate test kit. I also have a 6 stage RO/DI system and I am religious about putting nothing but RO/DI water into my tank.

increase lights by 5% intensity weekly. do some water changes.

 

your frag rack looks too clean, not any coraline algae and other beneficial films?

 

slowly changing is either deprivation or poisoning. ? any new changes?

 

mine colored back up with 2 weeks of params getting back to normal.

 

All of my parameters are normal. Beneficial algae is beginning to form, I started with all dry rock though, so it has been a bit of a slow process.

[Mariaface]

Good, good. Are you consistently seeing 0 for phosphate? It should be slightly above zero for coral growth, somewhere between .03 and .05 - but higher levels also work as long as nutrients are in balance. Low nitrates are also beneficial, likely less than 5ppm.

 

Browning generally means the coral needs more energy and therefore encourages more zooxanthellae, but you'll want to make sure that symbiotic algae has nutrients to use as you bring lighting up. Has the lighting changed since the corals began to brown?

 

All of my parameters are normal. Beneficial algae is beginning to form, I started with all dry rock though, so it has been a bit of a slow process.

 

 

Just saw this. Algae can be bringing phosphates and nitrates down during the lighting period. If nutrients come back up too quickly/much during the night, it might be affecting corals? Have you tested just before the lights come on?

[iHexBot]

Good, good. Are you consistently seeing 0 for phosphate? It should be slightly above zero for coral growth, somewhere between .03 and .05 - but higher levels also work as long as nutrients are in balance. Low nitrates are also beneficial, likely less than 5ppm.

 

Browning generally means the coral needs more energy and therefore encourages more zooxanthellae, but you'll want to make sure that symbiotic algae has nutrients to use as you bring lighting up. Has the lighting changed since the corals began to brown?

 

 

Just saw this. Algae can be bringing phosphates and nitrates down during the lighting period. If nutrients come back up too quickly/much during the night, it might be affecting corals? Have you tested just before the lights come on?

 

Yes, my parameters seem to stay quite consistent around the clock (except for pH when the lights go off). I add reef chili to the tank every other day so they should have a fair amount of nutrients . Maybe I should start feeding reef chili at night?

[Clown79]

I would say they need more light but slowly increase it so they acclimate to the change.

 

Ph changes throughout the day, i wouldn't be concerned.

[Mariaface]

 

Yes, my parameters seem to stay quite consistent around the clock (except for pH when the lights go off). I add reef chili to the tank every other day so they should have a fair amount of nutrients . Maybe I should start feeding reef chili at night?

 

 

I wouldn't start feeding more as a reaction to the browning, since that usually means nutrient levels are high for the light levels. Go ahead and start slowly ramping up light?

[iHexBot]

 

 

I wouldn't start feeding more as a reaction to the browning, since that usually means nutrient levels are high for the light levels. Go ahead and start slowly ramping up light?

 

Okay, I will give that a try and report back in a one to two weeks. Thanks!

[Hammerstone]

Good luck!!!