Birdsnest dying ??

[preston469]

Hello everyone, Hope all is well. Like the title says my birds nest is not doing so well I already had to frag a medium size colony of my green birdsnest now I noticed my purple birdsnest is now starting to do the same. All other sps coral is doing well. Its turning a brown white not so healthy looking on some of the tips as well as the center. I have recently started mixing my own salt water and have switched to red sea coral pro salt about a month ago. I do a 10 gal water change every Saturday in a 45 gal and check my perimeters every Saturday as well. other than my birdnest everything else is looking extremely healthy and have notice a huge improvement in my mixed reef.

Last Saturday:
Salinity 1.025
Calcium 400
Magnesium 1275- 1350
Alk. 9.0

I haven't checked phosphates in a while but usually always very low

I will post pics in a bit as well as my current perimeters

Thanks and have a good one!

 

[Reefing Madness]

 

[Mike&Terry]

From your description, it sounds like an alkalinity swing issue. Are you dosing/supplementing? While seriatopora species can tolerate a wide range of parameters, they do require consistency, especially where alkalinity is concerned. I would suggest more frequent alkalinity monitoring to determine actual consumption. You may want to start out testing alkalinity daily for a week or so and I would recommend testing all params BEFORE and AFTER the water change so you know how much of an impact your weekly water change has on your system.

 

[GKorals]

From your description, it sounds like an alkalinity swing issue. Are you dosing/supplementing? While seriatopora species can tolerate a wide range of parameters, they do require consistency, especially where alkalinity is concerned. I would suggest more frequent alkalinity monitoring to determine actual consumption. You may want to start out testing alkalinity daily for a week or so and I would recommend testing all params BEFORE and AFTER the water change so you know how much of an impact your weekly water change has on your system.

+1..mine tend to do the same when I miss a little on dosing

 

[ronnie]

Birdsnest is touted as an easy SPS. In my experience, it is the canary coral of my tanks. When things start going downhill, it shows the first issues. I'd check all parameters and ensure a good reading on nitrates and phosphates.

 

[preston469]

I think y'all are definitely right on the alk swings before my water change yesterday I was at a 9.0 then after w/c it jumped up quite a bit so I'm guess the continues ups, and downs with the alk is taking its toll, Im starting to dose alk now and hopefully see an improvement in the next month or so. Thanks for all the help!

 

[Mike J.]

Everyone has said the same thing, but I'll say it again. Birdsnests are the first to go when there's a sudden alkalinity swing. And, they can go quickly. First, they'll lose their vibrant color, then they'll turn brownish, then they will get stringy looking instead of fat looking, then the next this you know RTN in a day.