Green Birdsnest Dying...

Stray32 · Nov 19, 2009

My awesome ORA Green Birdsnest colony is dying from the base up, and I don't know why. I haven't checked my water (I know I know), but I just did a 20% water change last week, and everything else in the tank seems happy.

What is a likely cause? Is there anything I can do to stop the death? Should I trim off all of the live branches and hope for the best? :cry: :cry:

Paul_N · Nov 19, 2009

They are the first coral in my tank to show signs of stress when something is off. I have a green and pink and use them as a gauge.

Stray32 · Nov 19, 2009

Paul_PSU said:
They are the first coral in my tank to show signs of stress when something is off. I have a green and pink and use them as a gauge.

Define stress? Do they start to die? Have they recovered?

CoralBandit · Nov 19, 2009

Well i would check your water... prob your Alk/Ca ratio is off. Its usally #1 culprit of stony's going bad IMO

Paul_N · Nov 19, 2009

start browning or tissue recession. In the past it was alk and a temp issue on separate occasions .

benny z · Nov 19, 2009

my first reaction would have been to grab for the alk test kit rather than the keyboard...

lol

Stray32 · Nov 19, 2009

tested my Alk a few days ago, it was at 11

revhtree · Nov 19, 2009

Honestly I started losing mine as well when I had adjusted my flow in my tank. I readjusted it to where it was getting nice flow to the base and it recovered.

Stray32 · Nov 19, 2009

revhtree said:
Honestly I started losing mine as well when I had adjusted my flow in my tank. I readjusted it to where it was getting nice flow to the base and it recovered.

I'm gonna have to try that. I grew this thing from a wee frag to a gorgeous softball sized colony...I'd hate to lose to.

revhtree · Nov 19, 2009

Did you change any flow?

Stray32 · Nov 19, 2009

I didn't change anything, lighting or flow.

gilmour01 · Nov 19, 2009

+1 on double checking the ALK. i've had this happen with one of my acros (i dont have birdnest) when i got a little lazy with my testing. once i corrected the alk, it recovered. Best of luck regardless of the cause.

Stray32 · Nov 19, 2009

I will check everything again tonight and see if anything is off.

Stray32 · Nov 19, 2009

I trimmed off a few big frags from the colony, hopefully these will survive and I can start again. It was nearly completely lost when I got home today, so the colony was beyond help unfortunately.