Help with Birdsnest

[Roy 9121]

If you do have an incline to subscribe to that theory what i would do next to verify it is to move the frag on a low part of the tank but center with the light. Or maybe back to its original place. Give it a week or two and observe for changes. If it is light starvation it will come back.

Btw, how long of a tank you have and how many hydras?

My tank is 36" and i only have one light.

 

[morpheas]

Most pendant lights are designed for 24"x24" which makes them weak as you move away from they're center. For your size tank I would suspect you would need 2 lights to have better dispersed coverage. I suffer from the same problem with a 30" tank, my sides are not as well lit.

 

[Roy 9121]

Most pendant lights are designed for 24"x24" which makes them weak as you move away from they're center. For your size tank I would suspect you would need 2 lights to have better dispersed coverage. I suffer from the same problem with a 30" tank, my sides are not as well lit.

Yeah, i think your right. I've been toying with the idea of adding a 30 t5

 

[ReeferBee]

Lack of light is going to brown and slowly kill coral. That picture shows very white skeleton meaning new and fast death. You definitely need another fixture over the tank but this death shows tissue recession and or necrosis.

Birdsnest are nearly bullet proof and can grow in very little light. Generally in a low light situation the polyps extend greatly and turn an ugly brown.

This is related to to swinging DKH. Do a little research and test your water. So many folks keep this coral based on this alone, as an indicator coral to show fluctuations in carbonate hardness

 

[Roy 9121]

Lack of light is going to brown and slowly kill coral. That picture shows very white skeleton meaning new and fast death. You definitely need another fixture over the tank but this death shows tissue recession and or necrosis

And that is caused by ALK spike?

 

[ReeferBee]

Just a swing in general. Could be up or down. It has happened to my birdsnest a couple times.

 

[Roy 9121]

Just a swing in general. Could be up or down. It has happened to my birdsnest a couple times.

Just tested DKH, was 8.7.

 

[ReeferBee]

Where do you normally keep it? Or do you remember where it was last time you tested?

 

[morpheas]

The browning is a too generalized statement. Yes that's the behavior in most cases but not always. This is what I'm referring to. If the OP is experiencing this or an alk swing I don't know, it would be reckless to make definitive statements. That's why I asked about changes/lights etc

In my eyes, this looks awfully similar to my experience with low dispersed light.

Then again, who knows you might be right...

 

[Roy 9121]

Where do you normally keep it? Or do you remember where it was last time you tested?

Usually around 7.0, but I'm not sure i trust the old test kit. I tested today with a new red sea kit i just bought. What would cause a spite like that?

 

[Roy 9121]

The browning is a too generalized statement. Yes that's the behavior in most cases but not always. This is what I'm referring to. If the OP is experiencing this or an alk swing I don't know, it would be reckless to make definitive statements. That's why I asked about changes/lights etc

In my eyes, this looks awfully similar to my experience with low dispersed light.

Then again, who knows you might be right...

I'm kind of leaning in your direction, because that is the one thing that changed in the last week. That piece was doing great until i moved it.

 

[ReeferBee]

@morpheas A quick search here on R2R will show numerous threads, with very similar pictures all stating the same thing over and over. Birdnest are super sensitive to swings. Not to light or lack thereof. I have pieces in my overflow, 30" tall tank, that have been alive for months in almost no light. Again a lighting issue would be a slow death and algae or discoloration would be on the dead skeleton. I'm not throwing out reckless statements just knowledge. People keep the green variety especially in very low light environments without problems. I'm beginning to think you may have had an alkalinty relayed issue as well.

 

[ReeferBee]

@Roy 9121 that's almost a 2 dkh swing and more than enough to upset a birdsnest. Do you dose? Recent water change? There are a few things that can cause a swing

 

[Mrx7899]

Just wondering will it adapt to new alkalinity or do you have to lower it

 

[ReeferBee]

Just wondering will it adapt to new alkalinity or do you have to lower it

It will adapt so long as the dkh remains stable and stays in the acceptable range.

 

[Roy 9121]

@Roy 9121 that's almost a 2 dkh swing and more than enough to upset a birdsnest. Do you dose? Recent water change? There are a few things that can cause a swing

I dose essential elements, calcium and mag. that's all. I do 20% water changes every couple weeks. Could being exposed to the air cause something like this?