HELP!! What is wrong with my candy cane?

Oleshp · Nov 3, 2014

Can someone please tell me what is going on with my candy cane (at least I think its a candy cane)? This is the second coral of mine that has done this and I'm hoping that someone can help me fix this before it dies like the other one.

Tab28 · Nov 3, 2014

It is a candy cane and it looks stressed. Usual culprits are water and lighting. First water, what are your perimeters? Ph, alk, calcium, nitrates and phosphates. What type of lighting do you have. How far below the lights is the coral? How old is your tank including the cycling time?

Oleshp · Nov 3, 2014

Lights are; 1-36" fluval full spectrum LED, 1-48" T5 actinic, 2-T5HO (1-10,000k, 1-Actinic)
The coral is about 9" from the light (Mid-tank)

The nitrates are a little high (40ppm)

nitrites- 0ppm
alkalinity- 300
PH between 8.4 and 8.8
calcium is right around 450ppm
ammonia is 0
temp is 81
SG is 1.023
i dont have anything to test for phosphates

the tank is just under a year old

Tab28 · Nov 4, 2014

Coral may be too close to light. Nitrates are high but not the issue. Salinity is a bit low should be about 1.025. Alk is way high. 16.8 (300 x 0.56) it should be 8-12. Ph is also high. It should be 8.0-8.3 your best bet it a water change every few days till you get your numbers is line. Also try and lower the coral. Candy canes can adapt to lighting but slowly.