mhart032 Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 I recently picked up some new sps colony's a couple of birdsnest and some digi and some green slimer. they were under t5 lighting only they seem to be loseing color the digi seems to be getting very soft and very breakable. im not sure of the parameters of the tank they came from but mine are good no ammonia no nitrates ph is good, i running kalk and rowphos and carbon. i have the corals on the top of the tank with the MH bulb running 2 hrs a day so they can get used to it. Then im running the t5s 10 hrs a day. t5s are 1 6.7k 3 actinics the birdsnest is alittle less noticeable but the digi is the one that is doing the worst. i have moved it lower to mid level back to high and nothing seems to change it. all of my other sps corals are doing well in fact i have another peice of purple digi that seems to be growing like a weed. the green slimer is showing no signs of bleaching. i have noticed the pink birds seems to have stringy stuff hanging from it alot since the acquisition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+dapettit Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 Are there other SPS in the tank? What is your calcium, dKH, and magnesium levels? These are very important to SPS. Dave- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhart032 Posted August 27, 2009 Author Share Posted August 27, 2009 yes their is another purple birsdnest thats doing well. another digi thats doing well. Mag 1350 Cal 430 DKH 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+mcallahan Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 I always start with the simple ?s: 1. Did you acclimate them properly - i.e start them on your sand bed for a week, then slowly move them up towards the stronger light? 2. Has your tank seen a large change in parameters since the pieces have been in the tank? 3. What is the flow like over these pieces? I have a piece of green birdsnest that did ok in medium flow, then I moved it over to low flow and it is much happier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhart032 Posted August 27, 2009 Author Share Posted August 27, 2009 i drip acclimated them, although i didnt put them on the sand bed. i added them to their spots right away. i had the digi on the sand bed for 3 days and it still was losing color. no big changes in the parameters since the additions. i had the digi in med flow like suggested by several sites. th birds nest is in the same flow med to high. i dont have a PH blowing directly at them or anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+mcallahan Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 If the digi was losing color as in it was going from purple to brown, pink to green, etc, then I wouldn't be too worried and would chalk it up to the coral getting used to a new tank. If it is turning white, then that's a different story. The other pieces might be going through some kind of light shock even though you aren't running your MH a lot. Also, moving then around a lot can shock them as well as they need a while to get used to their new locations. I try to leave mine in place at least a week to see how they like their new location. Sometimes its hard to leave them there when they seem to be declining, but I have to remind myself that they are picky creatures who don't like big changes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhart032 Posted August 27, 2009 Author Share Posted August 27, 2009 The Digi it going from nice green color to white. i can still see some of the polyps as on lastnight the birdsnest is doing the same turning white. the green birds seems to be doing ok. as well as the green slimer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhart032 Posted August 27, 2009 Author Share Posted August 27, 2009 its th ends of the coral that are turning.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+dapettit Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 can you post some pics? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhart032 Posted August 27, 2009 Author Share Posted August 27, 2009 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+dapettit Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 Could be a couple of things: 1. burned tips due to high light output - move lower in tank or cut back on both MH & T5 light period. 2. tissue necrosis - if this is the case if you see the tissue receding quickly cut off the white part cutting a little into the good flesh place in the bottom of the tank in low flow. Again, as you mention before you don't know the params of the tank you purchased them from so they may still be acclimating to their new home. Something else just came to mind. Do you do any kind of dip before placing in your system? Dave- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhart032 Posted August 27, 2009 Author Share Posted August 27, 2009 No i didnt do any type of dip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atxryan Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 Is the birds in question the one you got from me? Is the white moving down from the tip? I know on our birds. the tips stay white when they are growing. The darrker tissue seems to fill in about 1/4 in from the tips Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhart032 Posted August 27, 2009 Author Share Posted August 27, 2009 The one i got from you has always done very well.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manhorsedog Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 also could have a little to do with the tank still being so new, most sps dont go into tanks until at least the six month mark or after. Plus from what i have learned keeping sps is having a rock solid alk will go a long way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atxryan Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 isent there some kind of bacteria that is required to keep sps? I was under the impression that it takes a while for it to populate to a safe level. Does anyone know if I am right? Please educate.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Daniel Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 I was hoping to get those corals from ckimble, but you beat me to them! I think your best bet, considering your params look alright, is to move the corals down-- at least to the bottom third of the tank. I would also consider placing the corals to the sides of your mh and not directly underneath. The intensity of the mh lamps are probably the reason for the bleaching. isent there some kind of bacteria that is required to keep sps? I was under the impression that it takes a while for it to populate to a safe level. Does anyone know if I am right? Please educate.. I don't think there are any specific known bacterias required for sps to thrive. The primary reason for waiting to add SPS is likely because they are finicky/sensitive corals and established tanks are more stable in terms of chemistry and biology. Daniel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhart032 Posted August 27, 2009 Author Share Posted August 27, 2009 if their are bacteria for sps i should have it. im using biodigest in my tank.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+dapettit Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 BE PATIENT and let the tank mature. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+mcallahan Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 BE PATIENT c'mon Dave...no one follows that advice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhart032 Posted August 28, 2009 Author Share Posted August 28, 2009 actually i left the mh off today and moved the 67k t5 light above them and they havent lost any more color. so im gonna do 30 min increments for 3 hrs to start getting them used to it, meaning 30 on 30 off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+dapettit Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 I know but I have to say it. . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+mcallahan Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 I know but I have to say it. . . spoken like a true father. dapettit..the "father" around these parts. this guy kinda looks like you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhart032 Posted August 28, 2009 Author Share Posted August 28, 2009 its to hard to be patient. but im tring. its hard when you see a nice tank and ur like **** i need to work on my tank.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+dapettit Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 Just remember we have all been there. Give it time you will have a fantastic tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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