Acan Lord not looking good?

[bmac300]

I've had this coral for about six months and lately it looks like it is losing some of its colour and for lack of a better description seems to look puffy and more transparent. I've included a picture of when i first got it and one from today. Should i be concerned? My nitrates are a bit hight between 25 and 50 ppm and alkalinity is around 8.

 

[AcroNem]

I would get the nitrate down, but my first question is are you feeding it? What lighting is it under?

 

[bmac300]

Yes i feed it about once a week, i spot feed it mysis shrimp. The lighting is a pair of T5s. One powerchrome aquablue and i think the other is actinic blue. The tank is a 120 gallon 5 foot tank.
Everything else in the tank seems to be doing pretty good, i have a duncan frag, two frogspawns that are doing good. Purple monti that is growing good and a few other corals that are doing ok.

 

[AcroNem]

I don't think you have near enough light, a pair of T5's is not a lot on a 120. I think feeding is doing a lot to support what you have but isn't quite enough to sustain them. It is starving, stretching for light. Can I see some of your other corals?

 

[bmac300]

Sure, here are few others. I do plan on adding some LEDs just haven't had the time to finish the canopy to house them. Maybe i should put the acan up higher until i get the additional lighting.

 

[AcroNem]

I would definitely try moving it higher and see if that has any effect

 

[bmac300]

Moving it up higher worked. It has been about a month and it has recovered. Thanks everyone. Not the greatest pic but it does look much better.

 

[Cbones1979]

I’m having the same issue and I measured par. Mine are in the sand getting 160 par and aren’t puffy anymore