Browned out acropora colonies

[Tomoko Schum]

I moved some acropora colonies and rearranged the rockwork in the right hand side of my 180 on Saturday in the process of scrubbing off a ton of xenia. Three or four of my acro colonies that I moved have browned out now while others are looking fine. Since those browned-out ones are not the most sensitive acros that I have, I am beginning to wonder what caused them to behave this way. Have any of you experienced similar thing before?

 

[Dave3112]

I had some of mine do that one time when I left them out of the water longer than I had anticipated before. Like about 5-7 minutes. Also when I had AEFW in my old 220 that would happen to the infected colonies. Not saying that is what your issue is. Just relaying my experiences.

 

[Tomoko Schum]

Thanks, Dave. The browned out ones are tri-color acro (valida most probably) and the bright green acro (I think that someone in Tennessee called it cryptonite.) I simply swap their positions since they did not seem to like where they were - too bright for the green one and not bright enough for the tri-color. I did not even take them out of water. How dare they turn poopy brown on me

I had to break my blueberry stag acro into smaller sections since I had to scrub the big rock it was on. Its base was covered up by blue xenia and receding a bit. I left them out of the water a little too long probably and the sections browned out. My Aqua Delight acro also turned a bit brownish simply by getting moved this way or that way to find the stable position for the huge rock it's on. Sigh...

 

[Dave3112]

Yeah, those darn finiky acros........lol

 

[JSB]

If it is any consolation, Tomoko (which I am sure it is probably not), my tri-color valida has been a one-color valida (brown) since about a week after I put it in the tank. I think I see some green peeking out now though. Also, my green stag horn, is mostly a warm-brown stag horn now, and I never even touched it. However, my pearlberry continues to look nice.

How long would it generally take for something to color back up, in a stable tank like yours?

 

[Tomoko Schum]

How long would it generally take for something to color back up, in a stable tank like yours?

Thank you for the compliment, Scott. I wish my system is as stable as you think it is, but alas, it's far from the truth...

As you know, I've been battling with my CO2 regulator-metering valve combo. My 180 has seen so many ups and downs in the alkalinity levels lately and all the inmates hate me for sure. I've inflicted a number of other evils on them, too.

As for the recovery time, I suspect it depends on many things. However, I usually expect about a month or two before brown acro frag starts to regain some colors. Some of them surprise me occasionally by showing some colors on growing tips shortly after my changing something like light or flow.

But, to be honest, I usually forget about those brown things. My corals need to remember to show good colors, or they won't survive under my care. On a rare occasion, I suddenly discovered a coral that I don't even recognize, tucked away like a sleeping beauty hidden away from the evil queen...

 

[JSB]

Thank you for the compliment, Scott. I wish my system is as stable as you think it is, but alas, it's far from the truth...

As you know, I've been battling with my CO2 regulator-metering valve combo. My 180 has seen so many ups and downs in the alkalinity levels lately and all the inmates hate me for sure. I've inflicted a number of other evils on them, too.

As for the recovery time, I suspect it depends on many things. However, I usually expect about a month or two before brown acro frag starts to regain some colors. Some of them surprise me occasionally by showing some colors on growing tips shortly after my changing something like light or flow.

But, to be honest, I usually forget about those brown things. My corals need to remember to show good colors, or they won't survive under my care. On a rare occasion, I suddenly discovered a coral that I don't even recognize, tucked away like a sleeping beauty hidden away from the evil queen...

Well then, Evil Queen, if your tank isn't stable, I really have no hope of mine ever being, and I am destined for a life with a box of brown sticks.

 

[nhago]

Well then, Evil Queen, if your tank isn't stable, I really have no hope of mine ever being, and I am destined for a life with a box of brown sticks.

.... and a lot of water!!!

 

[Tomoko Schum]

Well, my evil subject, there is still some hope for your sticks (I should change my handle name to Queen Rat.)
They will color up over time. Didn't you get these frags from the tank lit with metal halides?

 

[JSB]

Yeah, the tri-color came from H@rry, the other from Jason (through Mike). The issue with the Green Slimer, I think, was over exposure to Bio Pellets. I replaced the circulation pump on the pellets for a stronger one and 3 days later it was brown. The tri-color, just didn't like the tank change from one tank to the other, although plenty of others from H@rry are doing just fine.

I have since cut the bio-pellets in half (last week) and am hoping for a full recovery on the green slimer, and the tri-color seems to be recovering on its on, just slower than I would prefer.

 

[JSB]

Oh, and sorry I hijacked your thread. This was about you, not me.

 

[JSB]

And lastly, is "Queen Rat" a James Clavell reference? It has been a long time since I read King Rat.

 

[Tomoko Schum]

No, not King Rat, although I like James Clavell's film adoptation of To Sir, with Love (writing screenplay and directing.)

I don't mind you hijacking. I am the highjacking queen according to some NARC members here. It's fine to discuss any brown acro related issues here.

I used to think Bali Green Slimer is the easiest acro to grow, but it is turning out to be a bit more sensitive lately. My slimer was looking beautiful, but all of a sudden it's looking a bit ratty after I lowered the MH fixture over it. Aqua Delight on the other hand was responding positively to the increased light intensity until I rattled its rocks a few times.

 

[hectat2]

How your acro doing now

 

[Tomoko Schum]

My acros are doing well under LED fixtures.

 

[TrishW]

Oh my! I saw this thread had activity and thought it was a new one. As I was reading I thought "Darn, I have been gone so long that Tomoko went back to MHs!"

Then I realized it was from 2012

 

[Tomoko Schum]

LOL. Yes, it's really an old thread. I still have three Evergrow 2040 fixtures. I tried to add one more and talked to Rick at Reef Radiance, but he told me that the new one has slightly different colors. Knowing how picky I am, he did not want to sell it to me. Now I am considering adding a strip of T5 in front or filling gaps with Stunner strips or something like that.