My first coral

[freshwaterandmarine]

I've in the hobby for about one year and just got my first coral, a monti frag. It has only been one day and it is turning brown. What should I do? I did research before buying it and I do not know why it turned brown.

 

[virtual reality]

What are your water testing results? What kind of lights do you have?
If you could post a picture that would help also.

 

[josephxsxn]

Tank parameters and photos will help alot. What type of lights are you running?

Brown to me usually means not enough light. But not always

 

[freshwaterandmarine]

What are your water testing results? What kind of lights do you have?
If you could post a picture that would help also.

my water parameters are fine. I use the blue light that came with the tank.
the first picture was when I first put it in the tank
I took the second picture just a few minutes ago

 

[freshwaterandmarine]

there's some aiptasia near it. will aiptasia sting coral?

 

[freshwaterandmarine]

Tank parameters and photos will help alot. What type of lights are you running?

Brown to me usually means not enough light. But not always

I didn't turn off the lights since I bought it yesterday.

 

[IslandLifeReef]

Yes, aiptasia may sting coral.

That looks like RTN.

Saying your water parameters are fine tells us nothing. You need to post your parameters if you want useful information.

 

[freshwaterandmarine]

Yes, aiptasia may sting coral.

That looks like RTN.

Saying your water parameters are fine tells us nothing. You need to post your parameters if you want useful information.

Temperature - 80 degrees
Salinity-1.025
Ammonia-0
Nitrates-0.5

 

[Bribo12]

What’s your alk, calcium, magnesium, phosphates? While montipora is not a hard coral per se it is still an sps coral and probably not the greatest first coral vs something like softies or an easy lps that is more forgiving. That said it’s odd the coral changed so quickly on you.

 

[virtual reality]

How long has this tank been running?

 

[freshwaterandmarine]

What’s your alk, calcium, magnesium, phosphates? While montipora is not a hard coral per se it is still an spa coral and probably not the greatest first coral vs something like softies or an easy lbs that is more forgiving. That said it’s odd the coral changed so quickly on you.

pH-7.8
My test kit does not provide the rest.

 

[freshwaterandmarine]

How long has this tank been running?

It has been running for one year.

 

[IslandLifeReef]

Adding to the other questions, did you dip the coral for pests before putting it in your tank?

Also, what light are you using? The blue light that came with the tank doesn't tell us much. The light wouldn't cause that problem so fast, but may impede your ability to keep coral.

 

[freshwaterandmarine]

Adding to the other questions, did you dip the coral for pests before putting it in your tank?

Also, what light are you using? The blue light that came with the tank doesn't tell us much. The light wouldn't cause that problem so fast, but may impede your ability to keep coral.

I didn't dip the coral. Just acclimated it for 1 hour.

 

[IslandLifeReef]

pH-7.8
My test kit does not provide the rest.

If you want to be able to keep coral, you need to be able to test the other parameters. Get a test kit that can answer the other parameters and then let us know the results. We will be able to help if we have the right information.

 

[virtual reality]

We do need more info on your lights

 

[SPR1968]

If your looking to keep corals you need to keep the water within certain acceptable parameters in particular alkalinity, so you really need to get the test kits for each otherwise the levels could be high, low or anywhere, and corals don’t like that, they like stability and they will tell you very quickly

Without knowing these levels it’s very difficult to see were the problem is

 

[freshwaterandmarine]

If your looking to keep corals you need to keep the water within certain acceptable parameters in particular alkalinity, so you really need to get the test kits for each otherwise the levels could be high, low or anywhere, and corals don’t like that, they like stability and they will tell you very quickly

Without knowing these levels it’s very difficult to see were the problem is

Update. I realised that my light was not suitable to keep corals. I just ordered a new light and it is coming soon. Will also get the test kits. Any suggestion for beginner coral?

 

[freshwaterandmarine]

We do need more info on your lights

will update on what light I got after I receive it.

 

[josephxsxn]

I would recommend the HANNA DKH checker and the Red Sea calcium for starters.