Cyphastrea Bleaching?

[RhiD08]

Hi there!

Yesterday a friend of mine dropped by with a couple of coral frags for me. One frag was a kenya tree and the other frag was some sort of cyphastrea. I placed the cyphastrea in the tank but I don't believe its in the right spot. It appears to bleaching! I have a feeling it may be receiving too much light but I don't know where else to put it in the tank. I was thinking of maybe moving it to the sand bed with a small rock for it where my pulsing xenia currently is or placing it under the large rock where the tunnel is with the hopes that'll cover the inside of the tunnel/bottom of the large rock. Tank parameters are all good, temperature is 78.6 degrees Fahrenheit, pH is 7.8, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrates are all 0. Does anyone have any ideas? Also, does anyone know what type of cyphastrea it could be?

Thank you for all the help and advice!

 

[MohrReefs]

I believe browning on cyphastrea is from high light. They do like lower light, the shaded spot of your cave might not be a bad area if it gets some light there.

 

[RhiD08]

I've moved it down to the cave but it seems to be bleaching still and expelling the zooxanthellae.

 

[MohrReefs]

How old is your tank, post params.

 

[RhiD08]

How old is your tank, post params.

Tank is about 2 and a half months old. It finished cycling a month before anything was added. I’ve currently got two ocellaris clownfish, a gsp frag, and a pulsing xenia frag that are all doing amazing! But the cyphastrea and Kenya frag my friend gave me aren’t doing too well! Cyphastrea is bleaching and Kenya tree is droopy, I think it may need more flow! But temperature is 78.8 degrees Fahrenheit, pH is 7.8, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrates are all 0.

 

[RhiD08]

How old is your tank, post params.

 

[MohrReefs]

If your nitrate is 0 your water is too clean. You need to dirty it up a bit. Keep in mind stability is key. I'm not confident you'll be successful keeping a stony coral alive with a tank that young. Its definitely unhealthy, your gsp and xenia are bulletproof but your Kenya and cyohastrea will appreciate higher nitrates.

 

[RhiD08]

If your nitrate is 0 your water is too clean. You need to dirty it up a bit. Keep in mind stability is key. I'm not confident you'll be successful keeping a stony coral alive with a tank that young. Its definitely unhealthy, your gsp and xenia are bulletproof but your Kenya and cyohastrea will appreciate higher nitrates.

I moved the Kenya tree to the back of the tank, just under the power head and return nozzles and it’s stood up now but still closed! I’m hoping to Kenya will make it through but I think the cyphastrea will struggle unfortunately! It doesn’t look like it’s lost anymore colour since I moved it under the rock so it might be okay! I’ll give it a few days and hope for the best! Thank you for your help!

 

[elysics]

I don't think that that is bleaching, looks more like tissue necrosis.

 

[Dark_Knightt]

1 agree, dirty tank up more.
2. remember to keep salinity under check, mine got way too high when i was still learning how to keep corals and i lost my cyphastrea. i loved it, had the best colors of anything in the tank (meteor shower cyphastrea)

 

[MohrReefs]

I don't think that that is bleaching, looks more like tissue necrosis.

Did it happen slow or fast? If its RTN he needs to iodine dip it i think.

 

[vetteguy53081]

THIS IS LIKELY WATER CHEMISTRY

They do best with moderate light and water flow.

Temp 77-79
ph 8.1-8.3
salinity 1.025
nitrate < .04
Phos < .04
ammonia < .03
alk 8-9
CA 440
Mag 1300

I too wonder age of tank
RODI or tap water from faucet ?
Type of test kits you are using ?

You can dip in peroxide to slow down loss of tissue and may be insufficient light causing lack of zooxanthellae for food source. What lights are you using and at what intensity ?

Droopy kenyii indicates high phos and/or lack of water flow. They are best at mid-tank level

 

[MohrReefs]

THIS IS LIKELY WATER CHEMISTRY

They do best with moderate light and water flow.

Temp 77-79
ph 8.1-8.3
salinity 1.025
nitrate < .04
Phos < .04
ammonia < .03
alk 8-9
CA 440
Mag 1300

I too wonder age of tank
RODI or tap water from faucet ?
Type of test kits you are using ?

You can dip in peroxide to slow down loss of tissue and may be insufficient light causing lack of zooxanthellae for food source. What lights are you using and at what intensity ?

2 month old tank

 

[RhiD08]

1 agree, dirty tank up more.
2. remember to keep salinity under check, mine got way too high when i was still learning how to keep corals and i lost my cyphastrea. i loved it, had the best colors of anything in the tank (meteor shower cyphastrea)

How can I dirty the tank up more? I’m assuming by adding a bit of extra food while feeding? I forgot to mention but my salinity is at 1.025 and I check it often! I’m assuming the tank is just to clean which is the problem!

 

[Dark_Knightt]

How can I dirty the tank up more? I’m assuming by adding a bit of extra food while feeding? I forgot to mention but my salinity is at 1.025 and I check it often! I’m assuming the tank is just to clean which is the problem!

Yup, just feed some more. If you have a water change coming up, maybe postpone it a few days to let some excess nutrients build up. Ive found skimping on a water change cmade my tank look much cleaner in the end, because it allows you to gain bacteria and nutrients, helping out corals and fighting off bad algaes.

 

[vetteguy53081]

2 month old tank

Not an ideal coral for a 2 month system subject to various spikes and chemical changes

 

[RhiD08]

Yup, just feed some more. If you have a water change coming up, maybe postpone it a few days to let some excess nutrients build up. Ive found skimping on a water change cmade my tank look much cleaner in the end, because it allows you to gain bacteria and nutrients, helping out corals and fighting off bad algaes.

That’s perfect! Thank you so much!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Yup, just feed some more. If you have a water change coming up, maybe postpone it a few days to let some excess nutrients build up. Ive found skimping on a water change cmade my tank look much cleaner in the end, because it allows you to gain bacteria and nutrients, helping out corals and fighting off bad algaes.

the reason I change water Maybe once a year

 

[elysics]

It's been a while since i've seen a dying cyphastrea, but is that a normal look for dying tissue? Almost looks like flatworms or something, what do the others think?

 

[RhiD08]

THIS IS LIKELY WATER CHEMISTRY

They do best with moderate light and water flow.

Temp 77-79
ph 8.1-8.3
salinity 1.025
nitrate < .04
Phos < .04
ammonia < .03
alk 8-9
CA 440
Mag 1300

I too wonder age of tank
RODI or tap water from faucet ?
Type of test kits you are using ?

You can dip in peroxide to slow down loss of tissue and may be insufficient light causing lack of zooxanthellae for food source. What lights are you using and at what intensity ?

Droopy kenyii indicates high phos and/or lack of water flow. They are best at mid-tank level

Tank is 2 months old, been using RODI water, and an API test kit! I think the Kenya droop is from lack of flow, I’ve been trying to find a place that has a bit more flow for it! As for the cyphastrea, I’m using the Fluval 13.5 stock lights.