My Acro is turning brown):

[nano_ryan]

Hey guys, i have a frag of green acropora that was pretty, until it turned brown. Is this a normal thing to happen with acropora?

 

[Lizbeli]

How ling have you had it? I ask because sometimes they can brown a little if they are recent editions. However, I don’t see any polyps out on this one either.

High phosphates can cause browning, inadequate lighting, stress. But this one could have something else going on since there is no polyp extension.

 

[x2uranium]

It’s dying.. I do t even see polyps. Either your levels are way off or
Your tank is rather new.

 

[jeffww]

It’s dying.. I do t even see polyps. Either your levels are way off or
Your tank is rather new.

I think that is jumping the gun a bit. It could be due to the coral being a new addition or in a spot it doesn't like.

 

[nano_ryan]

How ling have you had it? I ask because sometimes they can brown a little if they are recent editions. However, I don’t see any polyps out on this one either.

High phosphates can cause browning, inadequate lighting, stress. But this one could have something else going on since there is no polyp extension.

Heres my levels
ammonia0
nitrite0
nitrate20ppm(bad ik, but my tap is full of nitrates and i cant do anything about it.)

calcium450ppm
mag 1350ppm
ph 8.4
phosphate.25 ppm.
alk 14dkh(havent checked in a while might be lower)

 

[x2uranium]

I’m not jumping the gun. If it was green before.. it doesn’t look like an acro that will survive I have killed thousands of them in my life. First off if your alk is 14dkh it will annihilate an acro. Most do well 6.5-9 dkh

 

[x2uranium]

Also ryan. If your keeping acros. Nano tanks are difficult to keep stable. And tap water is a no no.

 

[Lizbeli]

Tap is probably whats doing it in over everything. You really need rodi to be successful with most sps. Alk is high, phos is higher than id like.

I agree nanos can have swings that make stability hard, but not impossible. Plus you can probably keep up with just water changes im terms of alk/cal/mg/trace elements. But you should consider changing to rodi and change your salt brand to something that mixes at a lower alk. With maintenance and water changes you can control your nutrients. With all that combined and a month at least of stability, try again. Aim for no more than .5dkh dropped a day.

 

[tehmadreefer]

Tap water is gonna cause a lot of problems. How
Long has the tank been up?

 

[nano_ryan]

Tap is probably whats doing it in over everything. You really need rodi to be successful with most sps. Alk is high, phos is higher than id like.

I agree nanos can have swings that make stability hard, but not impossible. Plus you can probably keep up with just water changes im terms of alk/cal/mg/trace elements. But you should consider changing to rodi and change your salt brand to something that mixes at a lower alk. With maintenance and water changes you can control your nutrients. With all that combined and a month at least of stability, try again. Aim for no more than .5dkh dropped a day.

How much does a rodi water typically cost?
does it keep the same ph, calcium, and magnesium when the tap gets filtered?

 

[nano_ryan]

Tap water is gonna cause a lot of problems. How
Long has the tank been up?

for about 5 months.

 

[tehmadreefer]

for about 5 months.

Ok. Well that’s another problem right there. Tank is too young especially for someone new. Use rodi, get your tank stable and after about a year than try sps. Otherwise your just throwing away money.

 

[ludnix]

It's usually about $0.50-0.80/gallon for RODI, you can invest in some jugs and get them filled at the local fish store at most grocery stores. This gets pretty tiring to do though so many people get their own in home RODI filter for around $150. If you're running a nano you might try one of the smaller RODI units that cost about $70.

You can also just keep some of the less demanding corals and keep on with the tap water if you check your local water report for chloramines or other toxic elements like chromium. There is always the a chance the water utility could decide they need to dose something like chromium to contain a bacterial outbreak though, and they will not necessarily tell you until their next annual water report.

I would suggest testing your current alkalinity level. They can change significantly within a couple days. Good luck with the tank!

 

[Lizbeli]

How much does a rodi water typically cost?
does it keep the same ph, calcium, and magnesium when the tap gets filtered?

In my area its a .50cents per gal. But if you save up and buy your own unit, it sooo much better. Make water whenever you want. Think of rodi as pure water in a sense.. its the salt mix that determines cal/mg/alk and all the other elements. (And incase you do go out and get a unit, don’t use it for drinking water if you weren’t already aware, not good for us humans)

 

[x2uranium]

If your serious about having a really nice tank. You need rodi. You can find inexpensive eBay reverse osmosis setups and add a good Dow membrane for the cheap and also some do resin and a filter canister after the reverse osmosis. Like the person said above me. If you don’t you are lighting your money on fire with acros you put in your tank.

 

[nano_ryan]

Im going to move the acro to my 150g and try to bring his color back. After some thought I may just buy the aquaticlife RODI system to run all my tanks.

Just one more question,
would I have to add some calcium, ph, and magnesium additive to it?

 

[tehmadreefer]

How is it moving it to “your” 150g gonna color it up when you use tap water and have no clue on keeping acros or what rodi is?? Hmmm

 

[Silverfish]

I’m not jumping the gun. If it was green before.. it doesn’t look like an acro that will survive I have killed thousands of them in my life. First off if your alk is 14dkh it will annihilate an acro. Most do well 6.5-9 dkh

Funny...not so funny....”I have killed thousands” That’s one way of learning.

I feel like we hv all been there!

 

[TriggerFinger]

If you’re using tap water and your nitrate and phosphate are that low then you don’t have too terrible tap. You could get away with a smaller/cheaper rodi unit, don’t have to spend hundreds on one with 5 plus filters.
The salt mix you use will contain all required trace elements and minerals so you don’t have to add anything to the water besides the salt mix.
I’m 50/50 with acros and unfortunately that doesn’t look like it will come out of it but it may surprise you.
good luck @nano_ryan!

 

[BrandonS]

what salt brand do you use to mix with? and what salinity (specific gravity) do you mix to?

What brand test kit are you using for your water testing? A good Local fish store(LFS) will test for you but testing consistently is the key.