Browning acropora.

newlyreefd · May 23, 2014

What are the causes of an Acro browning? I know that can be a loaded question. I'll have pics and water parameters later on tonight. Just wanted to know the possibilities. Thanks.

Tahoe61 · May 23, 2014

Browning is typically elevated nutrients like phosphates and nitrates.

newlyreefd · May 23, 2014

I'm going to test tonight. My last test showed nitrates 5ppm and phosphates at .02. Red sea and Hanna checker test kits.

kingb4c0 · May 23, 2014

Basically IME
- High Nitrates
- High Phosphates
- High Alkalinity
- Low or inadequate Light.
- Not enough flow
or a mix of them.

Tahoe61 · May 23, 2014

kingb4c0 said:
Basically IME
- High Nitrates
- High Phosphates
- High Alkalinity
- Low or inadequate Light.
- Not enough flow
or a mix of them.

Yes I agree, also too low of nutrients for too long, starved corals, but I consider that more of a pale appearance rather than browning.

@newlyreefd, if those are your numbers than nutrients are not the issue. Newly shipped corals sometimes arrive browned out too. Lets see some images.

Pete polyp · May 23, 2014

I thought the actual cause was the zooax becomes very thick.

newlyreefd · May 23, 2014

Tahoe61 said:
Yes I agree, also too low of nutrients for too long, starved corals, but I consider that more of a pale appearance rather than browning.

@newlyreefd, if those are your numbers than nutrients are not the issue. Newly shipped corals sometimes arrive browned out too. Lets see some images.

Will send pics and new water parameters tonight. Last time I tested was 5/20. Thanks for the input guys. And yes they are newly shipped, but I noticed, instead of gaining the color back it's actually getting browner. This is why I ask the question. Thanks again.

Pete polyp · May 23, 2014

newlyreefd said:
Will send pics and new water parameters tonight. Last time I tested was 5/20. Thanks for the input guys. And yes they are newly shipped, but I noticed, instead of gaining the color back it's actually getting browner. This is why I ask the question. Thanks again.

Its probably browned out and pale from shipping. Its getting darker because the zooax is getting thicker. Sometimes acro can stay brown for a pretty good while.

If you were browning.acro that was previously colored then that would indicate some kind of unhappiness in your tank. It sounds to me the ones you have received recently are getting healthy and on their way to gaining the color back.

Defect · May 23, 2014

Sorry to thread hijack but lets say you recived a brown coral how long would you say an average recovery time would be?

Tahoe61 · May 23, 2014

Defect said:
Sorry to thread hijack but lets say you recived a brown coral how long would you say an average recovery time would be?

So variable, sometimes I have seen improvement in weeks, sometimes in months. It also really depends on the original color of the coral, yellow and blues in my experience tend to brown quicker and stay brown longer.

johnanddawn · May 23, 2014

New corals will often take time to color up - and yes weeks even months
You have to consider shipping stress, acclimation to your tank params and lighting, but most important the source.
Were they truly aqua cultured ie grown out in a captive environment for a long time vs. fresh off a just out of the ocean colony that was chopped up and sold.
Fresh wild caught frags can take a very long time to color up and some may never
Many so called aqua cultured frags are actually not. Many venders cut up and sell nice looking wild caught acros long before they acclimate to captivity.

Browning as stated above is not necessarily bad, brown is healthier than pale or bleached any day, at least they have a good chance of surviving and acclimating to your tank and may one day color up nice.

Defect · May 23, 2014

Thanks for the info. I will have to start my own thread when I get a chance as I have some additional questions about this subject.

newlyreefd · May 24, 2014

Ok, now for pics and params...

Only the Acro is browning. Now for Params:
Ammonia-0
Nitrate-7
Nitrite-0
Cal-450
Alk-8.4
PH-8.2
Mag-1000
Phosphates-0
Salinity-1.025

Tahoe61 · May 24, 2014

I am inclined to think shipping stress.

Silkyslim · May 24, 2014

Tahoe61 said:
I am inclined to think shipping stress.

They look newly fragged as well give them time to settle in.

newlyreefd · May 24, 2014

I was just making sure it wasn't something I was doing. My first time trying to keep SPS. And the Acro started to brown more. So if it was something I was doing, I wanted to fix the problem. Thanks again guys.

Pete polyp · May 24, 2014

newlyreefd said:
I was just making sure it wasn't something I was doing. My first time trying to keep SPS. And the Acro started to brown more. So if it was something I was doing, I wanted to fix the problem. Thanks again guys.

I would suggest increasing your magnesium to 1400, and trying to bring the nitrate down a few ppm.

The.sps look healthy, just give them time and they will color up.