Birds nest suddenly closed all its polyps

[uutank]

I have this beautiful birds nest, it’s kept high up in tank. It was doing well until yesterday when all of a sudden all of its polyps retracted.
Parameters
Cal-420
Alk- 9
Nitrate- 0
Ammonia- 0
Phosphate-0.25
All other corals are doing good, I’ve one clam that’s also doing good. So I guess there’s no problem with water chemistry.

When Lights off

When lights on

 

[Dr. Reef Verified Sponsor]

Few things:
This coral generally dont need intense light.
It's too close to top and probably under too much light.

Nitrates being absolute 0 is not a good thing. You need to maintain them between 2-10ppm

Phos at 0.25 are high need to bring it down to 0.01 to 0.05 ish range.

My first guess would be to much light.
with proper care flow and light it may recover.

 

[uutank]

Few things:
This coral generally dont need intense light.
It's too close to top and probably under too much light.

Nitrates being absolute 0 is not a good thing. You need to maintain them between 2-10ppm

Phos at 0.25 are high need to bring it down to 0.01 to 0.05 ish range.

My first guess would be to much light.
with proper care flow and light it may recover.

It’s been at top for quite some time now. I’ve seen it grow also. But honestly I too suspect the light doing the problem. I’ll bring it down today.
As per the nitrate issue that’s a whole different problem. I feed my tank heavily but somehow my nitrates are always zero.
Phosphate has always been around 0.25 never had any problem with any other coral so far.

 

[Graffiti Spot]

I don't think lights alone will do that to a coral especially one that was adjusted and growing under it before.

 

[uutank]

I don't think lights alone will do that to a coral especially one that was adjusted and growing under it before.

Do you suspect anything else. Do share. I’m pretty scared with the sudden behaviour of it.

 

[mtraylor]

How old is this aquarium and how long have you had the coral? The aquarium looks like you started it recently.

 

[Graffiti Spot]

Could be a wide range of problems, share some stuff about your tank along with pics and maybe one of us can help.

 

[coral-boss]

when I had a birdnest in my tank it would act like that when something was wrong with my alk. a while back a long time reefer told me "corals are not always immediately reacting to some kind of change in water quality. it may be upset from something that happened a few days ago or longer. just because your water parameters look normal today doesn't mean something didn't happen a few days ago." how true that statement is im really not sure but it seems to make sense.

 

[uutank]

How old is this aquarium and how long have you had the coral? The aquarium looks like you started it recently.

Nope the aquarium is almost a year old.
I’ve gorgonians and clam also. So the tank is pretty established no doubt in that.

 

[uutank]

when I had a birdnest in my tank it would act like that when something was wrong with my alk. a while back a long time reefer told me "corals are not always immediately reacting to some kind of change in water quality. it may be upset from something that happened a few days ago or longer. just because your water parameters look normal today doesn't mean something didn't happen a few days ago." how true that statement is im really not sure but it seems to make sense.

That statement seems true in my case. Had a alk swings few days ago.

 

[coral-boss]

give it time. it should bounce back. just keep it stable

 

[uutank]

give it time. it should bounce back. just keep it stable

I hope So. Though I was seeing some bleaching on it too so I’ve brought it down from top. Tonight it’s on the sand bed tomorrow morning I’ll place it to a new area somewhere middle of the tank