Started Vinegar Dosing, Birdsnest tips turning white

[Super Fly]

I just started 15ml vinegar dosing 4 days ago and this morning I noticed the Birdsnest tips (1"-2") had turned white (& no they are not new growth). All other corals look fine and the Birdsnest has been in tank for a while (i.e. not new). Any thoughts?

 

[Brew12]

I just started 15ml vinegar dosing 4 days ago and this morning I noticed the Birdsnest tips (1"-2") had turned white (& no they are not new growth). All other corals look fine and the Birdsnest has been in tank for a while (i.e. not new). Any thoughts?

Too much light for the available nutrients maybe?

What are you Alk, NO3, and PAR it is getting?

 

[Super Fly]

Too much light for the available nutrients maybe?

What are you Alk, NO3, and PAR it is getting?

Alk -8, NO3 - 0 (I use API test kit so don't have more precise #), dont use par meter. However I don't light heavy, have a 6bulb ATI T5 that alternate 2 on, then 4 on for 8 hrs ttl. Hmmm, there's a pocillopora & monticap nearby the birdsnest that r not turnign white though.

 

[Brew12]

Alk -8, NO3 - 0 (I use API test kit so don't have more precise #), dont use par meter. However I don't light heavy, have a 6bulb ATI T5 that alternate 2 on, then 4 on for 8 hrs ttl. Hmmm, there's a pocillopora & monticap nearby the birdsnest that r not turnign white though.

With NO3 that low, I do suspect it is burnt tips but it is likely right on an edge since your alk isn't high. IMO it is likely to adapt and color back up.

 

[Super Fly]

With NO3 that low, I do suspect it is burnt tips but it is likely right on an edge since your alk isn't high. IMO it is likely to adapt and color back up.

thanks, will keep an eye on Birdsnest for now.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yes, you may have driven nitrate too low (I agree it is hard to know with API). You can feed more, use less or no vinegar, or dose nitrate.

 

[Super Fly]

Yes, you may have driven nitrate too low (I agree it is hard to know with API). You can feed more, use less or no vinegar, or dose nitrate.

Thanks Randy! Already stopped dosing.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Ok, let us know what happens. [emoji3]

 

[Super Fly]

i just received new Hanna Alk reagents and test shows Alk at 10. Increased feeding for more nutrient and seeing more algae on glass now. Birdsnest tips r still white under the light but appear slight pink when lights r off. Size of whiteness doesn't appear to be increasing just not coloring back. All other corals r fine.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

That sounds promising.

 

[Super Fly]

I've now reduced skimming and turned off the GFO reactor and nutrient appears to have increased, i.e. seeing algae on glass now, however the birdsnest tips still have not colored back... any thoughts on how long should it take for the tips to color back? Been about 2 weeks now.

 

[Fishfinder]

My birdsnest is always one of my first corals to show when nutrients are too low

 

[Super Fly]

My birdsnest is always one of my first corals to show when nutrients are too low

how long did it take for your birdsnest to return to "happiness" after complaining about low nutrient?

 

[Fishfinder]

it typically takes a couple of weeks to get the tips back to normal, but I see the colony put on better color much sooner

 

[Super Fly]

it typically takes a couple of weeks to get the tips back to normal, but I see the colony put on better color much sooner

ok, thx! All my other corals look fine, the pocillopora opened back up fully last week.