whats going on with this guy

CHI-Mark · Sep 20, 2017

All

I recently purchased new coral during one of the online auctions back in May. Over the last 2 weeks this guy ( picture attached )) started turning brown. Anyone know what brown means? I have had coral beach / turn white but never brown.

As for water parameters everything checks out. The type of coral is a Madman Austera.

Thanks in advance

Sandroni · Sep 20, 2017

Hows the lighting and flow?

BoomCorals · Sep 20, 2017

AndysReef said:
Hows the lighting and flow?

This. Any idea how much PAR it's getting? Where is it in the tank? How big is your tank? What do you have for flow?

CHI-Mark · Sep 20, 2017

No idea about there Par level. The tank is a 40 cube and for flow I have the return thats in the middle and off to one corner I have a jerboa wp-10 since it the smaller fan I could find

CHI-Mark · Sep 21, 2017

All

Attached is a picture of what the coral looks like now

DSC reef · Sep 21, 2017

Can you post your parameters. I bought the same coral a few months ago and it's been a fast grower, even fragged it already. I've never measured par, ever. I do have it high in the tank and in pretty decent flow.

saltyfilmfolks · Sep 21, 2017

CHI-Mark said:
No idea about there Par level. The tank is a 40 cube and for flow I have the return thats in the middle and off to one corner I have a jerboa wp-10 since it the smaller fan I could find

What light do you have and what are the stttings?

nashorn · Sep 21, 2017

Maybe something it doesn't like about your lights or placement.
Just this frag? How do others around it look?
T5?
Does it look good other then it's brown?
Also the color up pic is when u got it?

Btw: I usually look for Brown Frags in hopes they would turn into something nice.

CHI-Mark · Sep 21, 2017

The light I have are AI Hydra 52HD's

Below are the results of the testing

Nitrate = 0
Nitrite = 3-4
PH = 8.2
Cal = 440-450
Mag = 1360
Sal = 1.026
Ammonia = 0
Not able to test for Alk instill tomorrow. Red Sea Alk test has to be incorrect I read 1.5 but had my LFS check it and its at 9

As for the other corals everything looks great. Pictures attached

CHI-Mark · Sep 21, 2017

oh when I got the frag it was a nice bluish color

DSC reef · Sep 22, 2017

Nitrite should always be zero. Alk can play a big role on Browning if it's to high. I don't trust LFS testing. Get a salifert alk test kit and monitor to make sure your not having swings.

CHI-Mark · Sep 22, 2017

Today I got my hanna alk tester it showed 8.0

DSC reef · Sep 22, 2017

Love the Hannah. I'm wondering if it doesn't like the nitrite. Maybe it needs more light and flow.

CHI-Mark · Sep 22, 2017

we'll know about the flow tomorrow ordered a new fan pain in the a55 to find one for this tank thou since its a 40 cube but found a nice little jerbao ww-p4 I believe. I have never had a coral turn brown before does this mean its dyeing ? Is it possible that the color will come back? How does one tell if the coral is completely dead?