Help Bleaching out :(

combiemaster · 12-24-2006, 08:10 PM

ok guys i got a acro colony about 1 week ago it was nice and brown now the back side it bleached white the front half is still brown but looks like its following the same path. I had not done a water change in a while maybe a month here are the test results before and after the WC:

dec 24 test before water change
Nitrate 40.0
Nitrite 00.0
ALK 180.00-200.00
PH 7.8
Calcium 490.00

DEC 24 TEST AFTER WATER CHANGE 5 hours later
Nitrate 20.0
Nitrite 00.0
ALK 250.00
Ph 8.4
Calcium 490.00

All other corals are doing fine all look happy exept for the brown acro. It is about 3 inches from the water line and the MH are about 9 inches above that. i will post a updated video of my tank in the next 2-3 minutes i just shot about 20 min ago

combiemaster · 12-24-2006, 08:17 PM

combiemaster · 12-24-2006, 08:19 PM

There we go are my water parameters ok? or are they out of wack this tank has pretty much been running since Feb. All is great exept for the Acro

combiemaster · 12-24-2006, 10:10 PM

Tim224DT · 12-24-2006, 10:25 PM

nitrates are a little high with SPS corals you want to keep your nitrates to around 5 or less. Less is always better.

TIm

combiemaster · 12-24-2006, 10:34 PM

yeah i will do another 35 gallon WC in the next week or two. It went from 40 to 20 with a 30g WC another one should get it down. what do you think of the other water parameters?

Wiskey · 12-25-2006, 03:34 AM

I can't view your vid because I'm on dialup for the next while.

What is that Alk measured in? I like to keep my alk at 9 Dkh, but it crept to 10 and I had a few issues, so I've now let it stablize at 8.4.

Your CA is a bit high, but it should not cause bleaching, I like my CA around 420.

High nitrates often goes along with a dirty system,... Meaning high phosphate, a major cause of browning, and SPS death (STN) people often confuse bleaching with STN. The problem is that Phosphate test kits only measure one kind of phosphate, and even at undetectable your system could be overloaded.

I'd like to hear more about your filtration system, I probably won't be able to check back myself (on vacation), but I'm sure someone could help make suggestions.

Whiskey

hng · 12-25-2006, 06:09 AM

The first thing that jumps out at me is the huge swing in your pH after the water change. The other thing is an acclimation problem. You've had the coral for a week and it is in a very intense light. Did it come from a tank with similar lighting?

Spanky · 12-25-2006, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by combiemaster

ok guys i got a acro colony about 1 week ago it was nice and brown now the back side it bleached white the front half is still brown but looks like its following the same path.

It is about 3 inches from the water line and the MH are about 9 inches above that.

Nice and brown usually means low light and/or high nutrients.
and one week is about the time frame for one burning up from too much light.

Pauli · 12-25-2006, 11:15 AM

Just curious STN=??? and what test kit did you use to test the Nitrites?

combiemaster · 12-25-2006, 12:30 PM

Thanks guys for the responce ok ill answer the questions:

Q:What is that Alk measured in? I like to keep my alk at 9 Dkh, but it crept to 10 and I had a few issues, so I've now let it stablize at 8.4.

A:I use the test strips from jungle. You dip them in and in 60 seconds you have results. They have worked great in the past and still do. I get my nitrate,nitrite,ALK,and PH reading from them. As for the ALK it reads 250.0 is that high or to low? How can i control that?

Q:I'd like to hear more about your filtration system, I probably won't be able to check back myself (on vacation), but I'm sure someone could help make suggestions.

A: for filtration all i have is the skimmer. All the water that comes out from the drain hose goes into the ASM skimmer. Well at least 85-90% does the other escapes from the sides. After that it goes into the baffels and on to the return pump back up to the tank. I had not done a WC in 5 weeks and there was alot of detirius around the skimmer too i cleaned all that out yesterday during the WC.

Q:Your CA is a bit high, but it should not cause bleaching, I like my CA around 420.

A: I use no additives for calcium i use natural sea water from the LFS i have always used for the past year.

Q:You've had the coral for a week and it is in a very intense light. Did it come from a tank with similar lighting?

A:i did the acclimation like any other coral drip method for 1.5 hours and floated for temp. The tank it came from had florecent not MH.

Q:Nice and brown usually means low light and/or high nutrients.
and one week is about the time frame for one burning up from too much light.

A:The name of the Acro was Brown Acro. I had been looking at it for the last couple of weeks there looked really nice. Its a Wild piece not Aqua Cultured

Q:Just curious STN=??? and what test kit did you use to test the Nitrites?

A:Yeah what are STN? And for nitrate test i have 2 of them the first one is from Jungle test strips and the other is from red Sea Marine Lab they both give me the same results. Also for Calcium i use the Salifert test kits.

So do you think that the light difference is hurting the coral?Should i move it down a Peg? thx guys for the help

Reef-Keeper · 12-25-2006, 02:31 PM

A:I use the test strips from jungle. You dip them in and in 60 seconds you have results. They have worked great in the past and still do. I get my nitrate,nitrite,ALK,and PH reading from them. As for the ALK it reads 250.0 is that high or to low? How can i control that?

A:i did the acclimation like any other coral drip method for 1.5 hours and floated for temp. The tank it came from had florecent not MH.

i think these 2 things could be the problems.

may i suggest a NON- dip test kit ?? i like the Hagan test kit.

going from flouresent lighting to Halides is a HUGE stress on the coral. i would say that this is your MAIN problem. try moving the coral down to the sand and out of direct light for a week ... then move it up a little higher each week until you get it where it will stay.

combiemaster · 12-25-2006, 03:34 PM

ok ill move it to the sand today then ill move it up every week. Also as for the part that is white already is it ok to still leave it in the tank and if ever if does completely turn white is it ok to leave it in the tank for decoration or does it need to be thrown out? How do you know when its really dead?

Reef-Keeper · 12-25-2006, 03:40 PM

if the mojority of it is still alive i would leave it. it only takes a single living cell to bring the whole colony back to life. it will take a long time but odds are ... it is not 100% dead.

i would take it out if it all bleaches and let it sit out for a few weeks or so. then it should be ok to return to the tank for decor.

combiemaster · 12-25-2006, 03:45 PM

BTW so when ever i get more acro and its under florecent lights then start it off on the sand and work it up then? Also what are the things that must be kept in line for SPS i am so clueless on it. I got the fish keeping and soft corals down but lost on SPS. My calcium is great the nitrate is no problem i can get it down with WC. My PH got out of wack because i droped in a Sea Labs 28 cube so it kinda messed it up (never again) before that the Ph has always been stable at 8.4.
My nitrite is at 0 but the only thing tha worries me is the Alk. how do i control that and it my alk level of 250 good. On the test it says it is good but i am confused on the alk because i see alk/kh what is this????
I dont plan on doing a full blown Acro i just want about 3-4 pieces for color.