Brain coral tissue receding

[Miami Reef]

Not one, but TWO of my brain corals are receding their tissues.

What parameters should I look out for? What is the most likely cause for this?

Alk: 9dkh
Cal 430
Phosphates 0.01-0.03
Nitrates: 8

I’ve been dosing NOPOX pretty religiously and I recently changed my LED’s to T5’s. I was having an issue with one of my T5’s flickering, so my light schedule was VERY hectic. I went from LED to T5 then back to LED and then changed to T5 within 2 days. Faulty T5 unit. All my other SPS frags are ok. I have a par meter and with T5’s I’m getting 120-150 par on the bottom.

What can cause this? Maybe I didn’t change my carbon enough? Maybe my phosphates are too low?

 

[rtparty]

Light changes play havoc on corals and the sad reality is you will probably lose pieces with the switch. When I went from LEDs to halides, it took me over 3 months to really acclimate everything over. It was really close to death for quite a few of my pieces. I ran the halides for 30 minutes a day to begin. Maybe an hour at most. I let my T5s run longer since they had been on with the LEDs.

Everything has pulled through now and is WAY happier

 

[Fish Think Pink]

Not one, but TWO of my brain corals are receding their tissues.

What parameters should I look out for? What is the most likely cause for this?

Alk: 9dkh
Cal 430
Phosphates 0.01-0.03
Nitrates: 8

I’ve been dosing NOPOX pretty religiously and I recently changed my LED’s to T5’s. I was having an issue with one of my T5’s flickering, so my light schedule was VERY hectic. I went from LED to T5 then back to LED and then changed to T5 within 2 days. Faulty T5 unit. All my other SPS frags are ok. I have a par meter and with T5’s I’m getting 120-150 par on the bottom.

What can cause this? Maybe I didn’t change my carbon enough? Maybe my phosphates are too low?

What food do you feed your brain coral?

While thawed reef frenzy is what I wish we used, since they like to eat well after lights out and after I'm asleep, my BF feeds ours pellets (that were supposed to be for sump shrimp and I never threw those pellets out)

 

[Tcook]

Brains, and other LPS, like "dirty" water. PO4 with a max of 0.03 is too low in my opinion. Mine start to look less expanded at 0.03 and lower. I like 0.04-0.07 range. Also the Hana ULR tester givers you a higher reading than actual imo.

 

[Miami Reef]

I’m confused, is it phosphates or light that’s causing this issue? Or both? Does low phosphates even cause receding tissue?

#reefsquad

 

[Miami Reef]

Hey. Could flow be the possible cause? My sandbed gets all over the place. I think sometimes it even covers the coral in areas.

 

[Jekyl]

Stability affects corals just as much as parameters, flow and lighting do. Changing things will cause just as much if not more of an issue than one of those being off. When changing anything do not change anything else for 2 or 3 weeks. That will allow you to see the results of the change.

 

[nereefpat]

Hey. Could flow be the possible cause? My sandbed gets all over the place. I think sometimes it even covers the coral in areas.

Flow does play a part. LPS don't generally need much flow, just enough to clear debris.

Sand covering corals can definitely irritate them.

Anything picking on it, like a fish or invert?

What about salinity? Have you checked that with a calibrated refractometer?

The PO4 doesn't worry me at all.

I agree messing with lights can cause issues.

 

[Tcook]

My bad for not reading your post carefully. I thought you replaced a T5 bulb. Didn't realize you made a complete switch. I think that is your number 1 issue. Your PO4 is still too low IMO.

Also, how new is the tank? Sand and rocks look pretty white. How long have you had the brains? Other LPS in the tank? How are they doing?

Again, sorry for not reading carefully and raising some confusion. IMO those brains will completely recover with stable parameters. Been there with that exact color morph.