Are these Dead, or just coloring up?Pictures Inside.

[Reef264]

I have had some Monti's & 1 Acro that are not up to par on what there color should be.I have some pictures.

A Frag I bought a month or so ago, that was brown with yellow polyps when I got it.
Today:

This next Monti I have had for 5 months.It was brown, then colored up to neon green in about 8 weeks.But now seems as if it may be dying.Because there is purple corraline Growing on it.But it is still encrusting.
Today:

This here Monti I bought for a steal, and I don't know what kind of growth is happening there.I have noticed some
But not much.It has been 6 weeks.No color up at all.Which, I mean I have seen monti's that didn't color up for 8 months.
Today:

Here is a Green Birdsnest that got hit pretty bad with RTN (Rapid Tissue Necrosis), due to a clam dying.But I think it is trying to make a comeback, because some of the tissue survived, and I am starting to see litter polyps on parts of it.It was thriving before the RTN, so it was a heartbreaker.
Today:

 

[TucanSam007]

It's tough to tell from the pics, I've had stuff completely washed out/browned out that's bounced back. Id say unless you see film algae growing on it hold on to it and keep your fingers crossed

 

[Reef264]

Ok Tucan, Thanks, will do.

 

[chefzif]

They look like they have seen there day!

 

[crawlerman]

I'd say # one is alive. I can't tell on number 2, but it doesn't look too good if it is alive. #3 looks alive. Birds nest looks rough, but there is live tissue as you said. Are you sure that bubble is not stinging it. Their sweepers can reach out pretty far and sting.

 

[Reef264]

The bubble is farther away than it looks, about 2" away.I think I need to re-evaluate my SPS Feeding.What do all of you feed your SPS?And how often?

 

[reefinder]

dont feed, get your water chemistry in check first and then down the road waste your money on coral food.

 

[Reef264]

I am A bit picky about my water chemistry.Ammonia, Nitrites, Nitrates, Phosphate all 0.

 

[discus513]

The bubble is farther away than it looks, about 2" away.I think I need to re-evaluate my SPS Feeding.What do all of you feed your SPS?And how often?

I dont think 2'' is far enough away, I have seen them sweep 4''+ before, I agree you may want to move one or the other.

 

[REEF SMAC]

Hard to tell from the pics. Although they seem to be still alive, something looks to be stressing them out though. #2 especially. They should be looking a lot better.

 

[defchild84]

#1 is still alive. #2 is gone. #3 could use care, along with number one , and I would break off the dead pieces on the birds nest.

 

[acroholicreefer]

1) alive

2) dead

3) alive (looks the most alive to me compared to the others)

4) alive

If you are running gfo, turn it off. Montis and birdsnest are really hardy. The only time I see them not doing well is when the zooplankton is stripped from the water column.

 

[Reef Bass]

Seeing multiple species of coral not at their best to me suggests a water chemistry issue with at least one of the big three compounds - alk, ca and mag. It's good that you also monitor other items ('trites, 'trates, 'phates, ammonia), but I'd look into your alk, ca and mag.

 

[chefzif]

If you are saying your water chemistry is in check your test kits may be giving you false readings! by the look of the corals I would really look at your alk! IMO

 

[madkeenreefer]

Seeing multiple species of coral not at their best to me suggests a water chemistry issue with at least one of the big three compounds - alk, ca and mag. It's good that you also monitor other items ('trites, 'trates, 'phates, ammonia), but I'd look into your alk, ca and mag.

+1 , also I would aim abit higher for the nitrates then zero.

 

[Reef264]

Good point chefzif, I may be due for new test kits!Because something has to be wrong, or else we wouldn't be having this discussion here.I am going to look into test kits.Also, I am going to start buying the best looking corals, not the cheapest...

 

[29reef]

I suggest that you buy premium kits and keep the basics alive before you buy premium corals.

 

[Reef264]

29reef, great advice.I plan on doing just that.

 

[rmalone]

What are you testing nitrates and phosphates with. Anything but a meter is useless for phosphates. On the nitrate side I have seen api and ocean give false negatives, only to find out via Salifert and Lamotte that nitrates were at 25ppm. At the least you need a low range nitrate kit, if the first color difference is at 5 or 10ppm that aint good enough. The good kits start at .25ppm and have 3-4 color changes between that and 10ppm. IMO very few tanks are actually at 0phos or 0nitrate.

 

[Reef264]

I have Salifert test kits.