Why are my corals turning brown ?

[Idech]

Things haven’t been doing so well with corals the past 3-4 months (tank is 10 months old). I battled dinos and have been dosing silicate for 5-6 weeks. They seem to be gone now. Magnesium testing has been completely off since the beginning because of a faulty test. Right now it’s still high, I’m waiting for it to drop naturally because doing a WC would favor dinos.

Duncan has brown stuff growing on it and is retracted (doesn’t look like aiptasia) and alveopora is turning brown. I’ve been searching online and some people say light is too high, others say it’s too low and others say it’s because of nutrients. I don’t know what to think.

What is causing this and what should I do ? It might be two separate issues.

Nitrate : 12,8
Phosphate : impossible to know because of silicate dosing
cal : 450
alk : 8.4
mag : 1580 (was 1680 less than a week ago)
salinity : 1,0258
temp : 78 F (25,5 C)

Here is a video and some pictures. Thanks for your help !

 

[FurrierTransform]

Is the soft tissue turning brown, or the hard base/substrate?

 

[BilboLaggins]

Also take a picture with blue lights off so we can see it more clearly.

 

[Idech]

Is the soft tissue turning brown, or the hard base/substrate?

The base doesn’t seem to be browning on the alveopora. On the duncan, it’s brown stuff growing near the polyps. Did you check the video, it’s only 14 seconds. Short to watch.

Also take a picture with blue lights off so we can see it more clearly.

I will do that tomorrow. Lights are off now.

 

[BilboLaggins]

Also this table might help some one said the phosphate was wrong tho.

 

[Idech]

@BilboLaggins @FurrierTransform here are some pictures in white light taken a few minutes ago. The lights weren’t on yet.

 

[Bucs20fan]

That Aleveopora has some serious skeleton issues going on. The bony structure has no tissue on it in some places, and looks like some of the polyps have bailed out. Im not sure its anything but on its way out.

 

[BilboLaggins]

Have u used any kind of algae killing conditioners ?

 

[Scottrshoe]

I can't give you advice on what is causing your trouble, however, I was advised that as a new reefer, to only make changes to one thing at a time. If you make multiple changes, it is hard to know what the actual issue was, and to avoid it in the future...Best of luck!

 

[Idech]

Have u used any kind of algae killing conditioners ?

No, never. I am dosing silicate, Microbacter 7 and phyto at the moment.

 

[Idech]

I can't give you advice on what is causing your trouble, however, I was advised that as a new reefer, to only make changes to one thing at a time. If you make multiple changes, it is hard to know what the actual issue was, and to avoid it in the future...Best of luck!

Thanks, that is the best advice for sure.

 

[BilboLaggins]

No, never. I am dosing silicate, Microbacter 7 and phyto at the moment.

I didn't think so yeah I'm not sure on why it's happening. How is ur water movement?

 

[Lavey29]

Have you done a recent ICP test? Are you seeing any BJD ? Your numbers do not appear bad on the surface but obviously an underlying issue in the tank. There are bacteria infections also that affect LPS which I have successfully treated with ciprofloaxin.

 

[Idech]

That Aleveopora has some serious skeleton issues going on. The bony structure has no tissue on it in some places, and looks like some of the polyps have bailed out. Im not sure its anything but on its way out.

I think so too. It’s been struggling ever since I got it. I thought it was doing better for a while but my magnesium being so high is probably finishing the job of killing it.

 

[Idech]

I didn't think so yeah I'm not sure on why it's happening. How is ur water movement?

I have a Nero 3 and Nero 5, each on one side, and a Koralia aimed at the surface. Also an internal filter agitating the water more and a skimmer that‘s on 12 hours per day, in the display.

 

[BilboLaggins]

I have a Nero 3 and Nero 5, each on one side, and a Koralia aimed at the surface. Also an internal filter agitating the water more and a skimmer that‘s on 12 hours per day, in the display.

I rewatched ur video at the top ur flow seems fine 2 I'm curious if what lavey29 said is ur problem.

 

[Idech]

Have you done a recent ICP test? Are you seeing any BJD ? Your numbers do not appear bad on the surface but obviously an underlying issue in the tank. There are bacteria infections also that affect LPS which I have successfully treated with ciprofloaxin.

I’ve never done an ICP test at all. I’ve been considering it though but I thought I would wait to see what impacts lowering my magnesium levels would have on the corals.

If there is a bacterial infection, I doubt I’ll be able to find antibiotics as they are illegal in Canada (for fish).

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

Sorry, but what I see is algae or brown jelly disease on dead coral skeleton. I would suggest dipping the duncan to try and save the other heads.

 

[Lavey29]

I’ve never done an ICP test at all. I’ve been considering it though but I thought I would wait to see what impacts lowering my magnesium levels would have on the corals.

If there is a bacterial infection, I doubt I’ll be able to find antibiotics as they are illegal in Canada (for fish).

If you see any brown jelly coming out of dying coral heads you need to carefully remove that coral from the tank. It will rapidly infect all LPS euphyllia corals. I had success treating BJD with chemiclean and you should be running a big bag of carbon in your sump. BJD occurs when corals are very stresses and their immune system is compromised so perhaps your high magnesium caused the stress.

 

[Idech]

Sorry, but what I see is algae or brown jelly disease on dead coral skeleton. I would suggest dipping the duncan to try and save the other heads.

What do I dip it in ?

If you see any brown jelly coming out of dying coral heads you need to carefully remove that coral from the tank. It will rapidly infect all LPS euphyllia corals. I had success treating BJD with chemiclean and you should be running a big bag of carbon in your sump. BJD occurs when corals are very stresses and their immune system is compromised so perhaps your high magnesium caused the stress.

I don’t know what brown jelly looks like. Can you tell me if that’s what is on my duncan ? If so, I’ll just throw it out.