First acro in tank, polyps not extending, color dull

[Tampaman]

So this is my first Acro in a tank that was reborn about 6 months ago. It's a classic little green slimmer since it should be a good canary. It looked great first day/night in tank, little polyp/tentacles at the tips. First night, Turbo snail knocked it to the sandbed for a few hours.
It doesnt look like complete bleaching but the colors have browned a bit from the vibrant green. And no little extensions show at all now.
Is this just part of acclimation? I have kept it no higher than half way up the tank.
150g std tank,
3 250w MH 4 96w PC actentic (lots of light)
Came from T5's and a black box on a frag tank
Calcium is a little low, around 380
Alkalinity is 9
PH 8.5
There's not much in the tank, my nitrate, nitrite, phosphate, ammonia are all undetectable...at least with my crude API test.
Flow is great from 4k gyre
Could the coloration dip and nothing extending from its tips be normal acclimation, or is something making it unhappy?

 

[Tampaman]

This was day 1 a few hours after being in tank...

 

[LBReefer]

Following along. I've experienced the same with some frags.

 

[Tampaman]

This was a transplant tank and the rock was live to start and 6 years old, just low light low flow at that time. So after 6 months in new home with heavy duty lights and flow, I dont think biodiversity could is a problem.
Lack of nutrients sure could be as it seems to be acting as an ULNS at this time....Cheato is growing great, for better or worse?

 

[Tampaman]

What is the real name or common term for the protrusions coming from an Acro's tips...green slimmer in paticular if diffrent for each acro, Thanks

 

[Waters]

How long has it been in your tank? It is pretty common for acros to go through an acclimation period, dependent upon how different the tank that it came from was (lighting, nutrients, etc.). Depending on how long it has been in your tank, the 0 nutrients can cause that as well. Need to get some phosphates and nitrates in there.....or lower your ALK a bit. As far as the protrusions....are you talking about the coral polyps?

 

[PeaBrain]

Your nutrients might be low, and calcium a little low.

Keep an eye on it and give it time. Mine took several months to adjust and start booming.

Probably not the answer you were looking for, but some corals adjust slowly. Even slimers.

 

[SoCalReefer19]

You said your nutrients are undetectable? I think you answered your own question bud. Gotta have some. Shoot for 10-20 nitrates and 0.3 phosphates. Feed your tank more to start or dose aminos. It’s hard to say without seeing or knowing your tank

 

[ScottB]

Yeah, the API tests aren't the best for nitrates and are useless for PO4. Hanna Phosphate ULR and NYOS for nitrates are best IMO.

Anyway, I think I can see a little bit of algae on the rocks. Am I correct about that? If so -- and you are not actively trying to starve it out -- you should have enough nutrient in the system. You could always dial back on the light schedule for the refugium to make sure there is enough nutrient. And clearly, you have enough light.

If you were really nutrient deficient, I would expect the frag to bleach or go pale, not go dull brown/green.

 

[BobbyOtto]

So this is my first Acro in a tank that was reborn about 6 months ago. It's a classic little green slimmer since it should be a good canary. It looked great first day/night in tank, little polyp/tentacles at the tips. First night, Turbo snail knocked it to the sandbed for a few hours.
It doesnt look like complete bleaching but the colors have browned a bit from the vibrant green. And no little extensions show at all now.
Is this just part of acclimation? I have kept it no higher than half way up the tank.
150g std tank,
3 250w MH 4 96w PC actentic (lots of light)
Came from T5's and a black box on a frag tank
Calcium is a little low, around 380
Alkalinity is 9
PH 8.5
There's not much in the tank, my nitrate, nitrite, phosphate, ammonia are all undetectable...at least with my crude API test.
Flow is great from 4k gyre
Could the coloration dip and nothing extending from its tips be normal acclimation, or is something making it unhappy?

So there appears to be hair algae growing off your rock. I would go get a red sea or salifert test and see what your parameters are API is not good. It looks like you have a nutrient problem at least probably some other stuff going on as well. How old are those bulbs? All of them those can create issues as well.

 

[Tampaman]

Thanks! I definitely have algae that wants to grow, 10 turbo snails try there best and Cheato, plus GHA wants to take hold in fuge. I always used MH 10 years ago, and always a longer photo period than I should have. There is definitely a fine short brown algae covering rock, still some uglies if you will.
So low nutrients isnt the issue, by observation alone, we can say "ultra low" shouldnt be an issue and API at least tells me there not incredibly high right?
I think it was a major change in lighting, going from anything to 250w halides could take acclimation? I dont want to burn it, and need a PAR meter clearly, but thats not in the cards this week.
I just want to glue it and leave it alone, but have to figure out when I can mount it as high as possible without scorching.

 

[vetteguy53081]

How did you acclimate it?
Best to introduce all acro in very low light and with the MH, you could have placed it in shock if lights were full bright. Good water flow and salinity 1.025 and Ph range 8.1-8.3 best. With having an API kit, have a TRUSTED LFS test a water sample for you for comparison to your tests to see what they come up with.

 

[Tampaman]

Here's the little guy all by himself.
My Halide ballasts and lamps are all new. I didnt know I was going to go through with all new ballast and bought cheap DE HQI 250w lamps from a old cheap brand, 14k and there colors match, but still too yellow...could this be a factor.
Im running 4 Hamilton 96w PC actentics as well...man good PC's kill old school odyssey.

 

[Tampaman]

Im at 1.025, It was 4-5 inches higher first 2 days

 

[Tampaman]

If it is light shock, should I start him at sand level? Thats 28" deep, even a MH cant get too high of par numbers at that level can they?

 

[Randyp79]

Your tank is too new. I don't even see coraline on your rocks. Get some coraline growing first and then you can start adding acros. Coraline at least let's you know calcification is possible in your tank. Get those rocks and tank mature...

 

[Tampaman]

Thats it more than anything...there was no source of coraline, any tips? Just time with good parameters i assume
But something must cause the change, what's lacking, calcium was at 440 three weeks ago, somethings sucking it out of the WC

 

[Jcascioli]

Your tank is too new. I don't even see coraline on your rocks. Get some coraline growing first and then you can start adding acros. Coraline at least let's you know calcification is possible in your tank. Get those rocks and tank mature...

agree 100%!! I had the same problem in my reef.. tried adding my first acro after the tank was running for 6 months.. the acro looked great on day one and then went blah for the next 3 months. Now that my system is a bit more established (still very young lol) that same acro has now began great polyp ext. and encrusting like crazy! (Ps: coralline is everywhere now)

 

[kevin_e]

New tank syndrom is more of a "user" issue. Many experienced folks have no problems running sps tanks after cycle. Brown out is common. Seems you do have a bit of a nutrient issue, even though you're reading 0. Alae tells me your tests are "lying". Elevated nutrients can cause a coral to brown. Light shock typically results in pale light coloration.

 

[Tampaman]

Thanks for the help, Ill do a few 30g water changes over the next few weeks, maybe a better fuge light, I'm using a beamworks special thats really for a qt tank.
Every few days move it closer to it's final spot near the top.
And hope it holds on long enough...to take hold!
The plug has some coraline, maybe that will help. I too want to know why it hasent started yet.