Birdsnest Trouble

[rapurcell85]

I think my birdsnest may be bleaching at the base. I've had it about a month. This is my first SPS, any advice would be appreciated. Nor really sure what to do, everything else looks very happy.
34 to 35 ppt salinity
37 ppm nitrates
.14 ppm phosphate
460 ppm Ca
1350 ppm Mg
9.1 Alk
8.0 pH

 

[bradreef]

Sps like stable parameters, good flow, mature tanks, good lighting. That isn't bleaching. it's stn. You might want to cut off the white and reglue it somewhere else. Try a dif spot, maybe.

Generally, for a newer tank. It's recommended to have lower trates and phos.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I think my birdsnest may be bleaching at the base. I've had it about a month. This is my first SPS, any advice would be appreciated. Nor really sure what to do, everything else looks very happy.
34 to 35 ppt salinity
37 ppm nitrates
.14 ppm phosphate
460 ppm Ca
1350 ppm Mg
9.1 Alk
8.0 pH

Your phos is becoming elevated - not yet dangerous as well as nitrates becoming elevated. Some reasons you get this happening is too much light and/or water flow, temperature spike, salinity spike, immature tank, Low dissolved oxygen and even changes in salt brand as well as change in water flow.

 

[rapurcell85]

Your phos is becoming elevated - not yet dangerous as well as nitrates becoming elevated. Some reasons you get this happening is too much light and/or water flow, temperature spike, salinity spike, immature tank, Low dissolved oxygen and even changes in salt brand as well as change in water flow.

I was under the impression these guys liked flow and light. Don't have a super high light tank, but it is in about the brightest spot, right under the light. I'll try trimming and moving.

 

[Bribo12]

Birdsnests are super finicky. I’d recommend a monti of any type or stylophora over it for a first sps. The elevated nutrients are probably your culprit here. Is it a newer tank?

 

[rapurcell85]

Birdsnests are super finicky. I’d recommend a monti of any type or stylophora over it for a first sps. The elevated nutrients are probably your culprit here. Is it a newer tank?

It's been up right around 8 months, and I've been doing fairly well with LPS in it. It is my first saltwater tank. Saw this on a sale where I was picking up a few other things, and seemed to remember reading birdsnest were good beginner SPS, so thought I'd give it a shot.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I was under the impression these guys liked flow and light. Don't have a super high light tank, but it is in about the brightest spot, right under the light. I'll try trimming and moving.

I have mine under medium light and water flow. The kind you have best under moderate.
This is mine

 

[rapurcell85]

I have mine under medium light and water flow. The kind you have best under moderate.
This is mine

What would you consider moderate vs medium? I just removed, trimmed the dead part, glued to some rubble, and put on my and bed to see if it will recover. Definitely lower light and flow than where it was. Currently by my micro lord garden, which is happy and fluffy.

 

[Northern Flicker]

It's been up right around 8 months, and I've been doing fairly well with LPS in it. It is my first saltwater tank. Saw this on a sale where I was picking up a few other things, and seemed to remember reading birdsnest were good beginner SPS, so thought I'd give it a shot.

Oddly enough, my Acros are ok but I’ve lost a bunch of bird nests.

I’ve had a bit more success keeping them lower in the tank but still with good flow around them.

 

[vetteguy53081]

What would you consider moderate vs medium? I just removed, trimmed the dead part, glued to some rubble, and put on my and bed to see if it will recover. Definitely lower light and flow than where it was. Currently by my micro lord garden, which is happy and fluffy.

Moderate woud be subtle where medium would be equivalent of leaves blowing in a gentle wind

 

[rapurcell85]

Moderate woud be subtle where medium would be equivalent of leaves blowing in a gentle wind

What about for light?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Oddly enough, my Acros are ok but I’ve lost a bunch of bird nests.

I’ve had a bit more success keeping them lower in the tank but still with good flow around them.

Acros want higher flow not often required by birds nest. While its true that bird nest does well in high flow, the type you have is Seriatopora hystrix which thrives in lower conditions

 

[vetteguy53081]

What about for light?

Light important and medium for this type (Seriatopora hystrix) is best

 

[rapurcell85]

Light important and medium for this type (Seriatopora hystrix) is best

Ok. I may move it over a bit to get a bit better light. I really appreciate the advice. Thank you!