Favia slowly dying from the left side

[NickNiz]

I've had this favia for 2 months so far and recently noticed it dying off from the left side. There was a bit of skeleton showing when I got it, and I didn't think much of it. Now it's spreading pretty quickly. Sorry in advance for the low quality pics. I'm not near the tank right now. These pictures are about 6 weeks apart.

Salinity: 1.028
Cal. 480
Alk. 8.8
Nitrate 15
Phosphate 0.04

 

[Crabs McJones]

I've had this favia for 2 months so far and recently noticed it dying off from the left side. There was a bit of skeleton showing when I got it, and I didn't think much of it. Now it's spreading pretty quickly. Sorry in advance for the low quality pics. I'm not near the tank right now. These pictures are about 6 weeks apart.

Salinity: 1.028
Cal. 480
Alk. 8.8
Nitrate 15
Phosphate 0.04

What lighting are you using? And is anything else in the tank looking affected? 1.028 is lightly on the higher side, reefs you want to sit around 1.026, but I wouldn't think thats the problem.

 

[NickNiz]

I recently acquired an AI prime HD just last weekend. I used to have the standard LED 12 gallon nano cube hood.. The salinity is high since the tank is open top now; I have to build a habit of topping off daily! :(

The brain is the only coral acting like this. Everything else looks great. It did get into a fight a few days ago with the scoly. It might just be me but it seems like it's been dying off more quickly since...

 

[Crabs McJones]

I recently acquired an AI prime HD just last weekend. I used to have the standard LED 12 gallon nano cube hood.. The salinity is high since the tank is open top now; I have to build a habit of topping off daily! :(

The brain is the only coral acting like this. Everything else looks great. It did get into a fight a few days ago with the scoly. It might just be me but it seems like it's been dying off more quickly since...

When you switched lighting did you do any kind of acclimation to the new light? Its possible its getting blasted by the new light without time to acclimate to the new higher levels and better par output of the Prime HD.

 

[NickNiz]

I'm currently in an acclimation period. Everything is set to 20-40% intensity with a similar color to what the nano cube was... I think it could have been the old light, since it wasn't adjustable at all... If I wanted to reduce intensity I would put blue tape over a few bulbs. Every other coral in the tank has looked much better since upgrading to the AI fixture. The brain still seems to be doing this though, even after the upgrade..

 

[Crabs McJones]

Where in the tank is it? Like it's not getting to much or to little light?

 

[NickNiz]

It's in the front on the sand bed, I'd guess 20" or so under the light fixture... Flow isn't too high either, and I turn my Koralia off during the day so polyps can expand more. Here's a FTS so you can see placement...

Here's a FTS so you can see placement. This was taken before the light upgrade.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Maybe try moving him to see if he responds

 

[NickNiz]

I will. I was thinking it might be the frogspawn to its left, but that frogspawn's been in bad shape for 4 months... Ever since someone watching the aquarium left the pumps off for 6 weeks. Thanks for the help!