Coral turning brown

[nathanb25]

Hello, so I am trying to figure out why this Monty is turning brown. From what I can tell high phosphate or nitrates can do it. Which my nitrates did stay pretty high for a while. But all of my other coral is doing great, growing fast, and keeping great color. So wondering what I can do to fix it, and if it’s possible to get the FLORESCENT orange back when I do fix it

 

[Reeflix]

i might be phos/nitrate, i dont know if it can do that but, i belive that when coral turn brown it is lack of light. what is the par in this side of the tank?

 

[nathanb25]

I don’t have a meter for my par yet, did order it though. However, I think you’re right. I have 3 hydra 32s which if actually to much for current tank. Took one off until my new tank gets here. But I didn’t have anything past 80% at my peak. The guy at my aquarium store said that’s how he keeps his. But I just watched a video on those lights and saw that a lot of people run the blues at 115%+ and UV at 100%-120%. So thanks, I bet that’s the problem. Just cranked the power up and run time. Hopefully that solves the problem.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Generally when coral turns brown, its losing its inner brown algae known as zooxanthellae which gives coral its color and energy. Too little light will cause this and Too much light can cause the corals to lose their zooxanthellae and again turn coral brown.
Other causes can be:
- Alkalinity spike
- Temperature spike
- Salinity spike
- Low dissolved oxygen
- Poor water quality related with phosphate levels up to 5 ppm
- Change in water flow
- Additions of sand
- Changes in brand of salt
- Bad test kits giving faulty results
- Levels of minor elements such as Iodine, Potassium, Strontium
- Light intensity
- Changes in water flow

 

[nathanb25]

Generally when coral turns brown, its losing its inner brown algae known as zooxanthellae which gives coral its color and energy. Too little light will cause this and Too much light can cause the corals to lose their zooxanthellae and again turn coral brown.
Other causes can be:
- Alkalinity spike
- Temperature spike
- Salinity spike
- Low dissolved oxygen
- Poor water quality related with phosphate levels up to 5 ppm
- Change in water flow
- Additions of sand
- Changes in brand of salt
- Bad test kits giving faulty results
- Levels of minor elements such as Iodine, Potassium, Strontium
- Light intensity
- Changes in water flow

Geez! So pretty much anything could be causing it. Ugh Well, I increased the lighting and I’ll start doing more water changes. See what happens until I get my new aquarium

 

[vetteguy53081]

Geez! So pretty much anything could be causing it. Ugh Well, I increased the lighting and I’ll start doing more water changes. See what happens until I get my new aquarium

try changing 1-2 gal of water daily the next 10-14 days. It replenishes traces and reduces nitrates and phosphates and has an awesome effect on the coral.

 

[nathanb25]

try changing 1-2 gal of water daily the next 10-14 days. It replenishes traces and reduces nitrates and phosphates and has an awesome effect on the coral.

Will do, thanks!