Elkhorn SPS Browning

[Chipper1978]

So I bought a great looking Green Elkhorn two weeks ago and it has completely browned out. Still has polyp extension, so I’m hoping it bounces back. I have some Monti frags that look good and my SPS all look good.

Tank is a 4 foot Waterbox 130.4. Lighting is 3 Kessil A360X’s with placement In the middle top and flow is moderate to heavy but not direct. Running a protein skimmer and refugium with good chaeto growth. 10 fish, 20 snails, and 1 cleaner shrimp.

I do regular weekly 10% water changes. Kalkwasser in ATO. Here are my current parameters which have been pretty stable...

Salinity - 1.025
Ammonia - 0
NO2 - 0
NO3 - 2
PO4 - 0.03
pH - 8.2
Alk - 10.5
Mag - 1360
Cal - 398

Photos of day I got the coral and now are attached. Thoughts?

 

[melanotaenia]

You should reduce your ALK to 7-8; low nutrients, high ALK is likely stressing it out.

 

[Mark Bradley]

I bought one of these yesterday and before selling it to me the LFS quizzed me to confirm my alkalinity was between 7and 8 to ensure success.

 

[Chipper1978]

You should reduce your ALK to 7-8; low nutrients, high ALK is likely stressing it out.

Any suggestions on how to reduce my alkalinity? I use Red Sea Coral Pro Salt which mixes at 11.5.

As far as low nutrients, I thought that if I at least had some measurable phosphates and nitrates that would be fine.

 

[Mark Bradley]

It was highlighted a few weeks ago that my alkalinity was too high for SPS so I’ve gradually reduced it with water changes with salt that is just below 8. I buy it from the shop itself and I understand they use Aquaforest salt. They have huge SPS Display tanks so there seemed to be strong logic behind their advice. Doing it this way hasn’t impacted the ph either.

 

[melanotaenia]

Invest in Tropic Marin Pro Reef that mixes to 7-8 DKH and slowly lower using new salt with water changes. If you lower too fast you will shock existing corals in your system.

 

[Chipper1978]

You should reduce your ALK to 7-8; low nutrients, high ALK is likely stressing it out.

I just spoke to the owner where I bought it and his coral tank Alk is 12. Hmmm....

 

[Chipper1978]

I bought one of these yesterday and before selling it to me the LFS quizzed me to confirm my alkalinity was between 7and 8 to ensure success.

Place I bought it keeps 12 Alk and it looked great. Interesting.

 

[Travis Stewart]

Looks like insufficient lighting maybe? What kind of lights are you running?

 

[SMSREEF]

Do you have a pic of stag now in white lights like first pic?

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

Alk is too high for low po4. Doesn’t matter if it came from 12 dKh. They must have a ton of throughput. Get your alk closer to 8 or it’s a goner. Good luck

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

You need to check your par if you plan on adding more sps. Kessil 360 are poor “par”formers.

 

[joseserrano]

chas is spot on, high par is also paired for low nutrient.

 

[Mark Bradley]

Invest in Tropic Marin Pro Reef that mixes to 7-8 DKH and slowly lower using new salt with water changes. If you lower too fast you will shock existing corals in your system.

Agreed - I did two small water changes a week over a three week period - worked for me

 

[Chipper1978]

Looks like insufficient lighting maybe? What kind of lights are you running?

3 Kessil A360X. LFS thinks it is getting too much light.

 

[Chipper1978]

You need to check your par if you plan on adding more sps. Kessil 360 are poor “par”formers.

I do not have a PAR meter to check it, but based on BRS testing of my lights they should be putting out around 300 PAR that high in the tank with them mounted low to the water. I had to move a birds nest coral that was right next to it because it started bleaching. LFS said he thinks it is actually getting too much light and recommended moving it lower. Montis in my tank are lower and doing well.

 

[Chipper1978]

I do not have a PAR meter to check it, but based on BRS testing of my lights they should be putting out around 300 PAR that high in the tank with them mounted low to the water. I had to move a birds nest coral that was right next to it because it started bleaching. LFS said he thinks it is actually getting too much light and recommended moving it lower. Montis in my tank are lower and doing well.

 

[Chipper1978]

Do you have a pic of stag now in white lights like first pic?

 

[Chipper1978]

I just ordered Tropic Marin Pro Reef Salt and will try to gradually get my alkalinity down over the next few weeks. Hopefully it is not too late. Makes sense that my alkalinity is too high for my very low phosphate levels. Thanks all!

 

[SMSREEF]

I would turn the lights down a bit or put it lower in the tank until you get new salt mix. Seems like lights may be too high and alk too high for the low nutrients.