Acans won't open up ...HELP!

Bofa

New member
My Acans haven't opened up in 2 months and I am not sure why.

I only have 2 clown fish in my tank and some hermit crabs.

Someone said I might have black bugs so I treated with interceptor..but they still don't open. I saw a couple flat worms in my tank before I treated with interceptor but now I don't see anymore.

90 gallon tank
1300 Mag
500 cal
7 Alk
0 nitrates
0 phosphates

I changed my lights last in April.

Do you know what it might be? Is it my Alk?

Thanks
 
Acans are very hearty and can survive a variety of conditions including light, water quality and current. Thats why they are so loved by many aquarist. However they do sometimes not like a big change in conditions. You mentioned you changed your lights in April. Was it shortley after that you noticed a change? What did you change from to ? Or was it simply a bulb replacement? Is it a single colony that is not opening or multiple frags or colonies? Are they near other corals? What other corals do you keep and how are they doing? Do you have a lot of softies in the tank with them? ect...
 
Acans are very sensitive to lighting changes. If you changed out all of your old bulbs at once that would definitely fit the case. (Assuming these were doing well in the system for a period of time before the lighting change) In hindsight always replace them 1 at a time over a period of time. I do 1 T5 per week after 12 months of use. The older the bulb the more severe impact new bulbs will have.

I would dial back the lighting for a while and gradually bring it back up. Also, did you change the color spectrum of the bulbs? That can also have an impact.

Alk could be a little on the low side Ca could be a little on the high side but definitely within acceptable tolerance imo. If you have been keeping those params consistent I don't see them as an issue. I suspect the lighting change by the information provided. There are dozens of odd ball issues that could be affecting them but not enough information to go off of.
 
I have ATI T5 8 bulbs lights and changed them ALL out after 9 months. I did change the spectrum to someones tank I saw on reef central. My old config was 2 6500k bulbs and a lot more lighter white then I have now. I have more blue now. Would this light replacement be the cause after 4 months. You would think the corals would get use to the light by now.

Thanks for all your help.

Here are a couple pics of my acans after the lights have been on all day.

How do I get these to open up again? It has been so long.
 

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For sure the light change. Turn off at least half of those for the time being and monitor. Big lighting changes are bad. It will take several weeks if/when they recover from their sun burn...

The big red one looks beyond repair if you just want to UPS that to Chicago I'll gladly dispose of it for you. :)
 
I would suggest double dose Zeovit Xtra to help them recover. Also it increases polyp extension.

Your alkalinity if it's in dKH seems low compared with your calcium levels. Follow these instructions and adjust accordingly but do it slowly.

I'm not familiar with Interceptor, but if it's potent against flatworms, there might be a lot of toxins in your tank, even if you saw only four, that's not a real indication. Follow the salifert flatworm exit instructions for toxins removal.
 
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How do you know acans are dead? I bought half an acan the other day( Don't ask me why) and its flesh is still on it and it looks fine but I don't see it eating could there be a reason?
 
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