Candy coral droping its heads

[TheNomadRhodes]

hello every one.
I'm about to go in to a panic here my neongreen candy coral is dropping its heads and I don't know what to do its been doing great in my tank the only thing I've done is change the lights for 15k to 20K.
My cal is about 4 to 500,
Alk is 2.9
trates are 80 and slowly coming down
Hp 8.4
every thing else is pretty much zero

they are just lifting off their skeletons leaving bright white skeleton. any ideads

 

[TheNomadRhodes]

any one?

 

[graveyardworm]

Are you feeding it? Also I'd be concerned that the high nitrates could have something to do with it. Large water changes are in order.

 

[leggy]

Did you reduce the time your lights are on when you changed your bulbs to let the coral get use to the higher spectrum slowly ?? just a thought as when I change to new bulbs I alway shorthen the time span so not to shock my coral.

 

[TheNomadRhodes]

Yes I did I whent from just a hour to a few hours very slow with the new lights but maybe I didnt go about it long enough.
could that make them drop like that and is there any way to save them any way to frag the heads to some thing?

 

[graveyardworm]

Did it bleach at all? if not I wouldnt suspect the lights so much.

 

[TheNomadRhodes]

No it didnt bleach at all if any thing the colors became brighter.

 

[ReeferAl]

I had that happen to mine when I had a mishap where the phosphate got too high. It's just now starting to recover.
Allen

 

[TheNomadRhodes]

what would be a good phosphate remover?

 

[ReeferAl]

Any of the GFO media (ROWAphos, Phosban, etc) work fine. I use a generic GFO that I bought by the 5 gal bucket "for well water arsenic treatment" (they can't sell it for aquarium use)- it looks the same as ROWA.
Allen

 

[DetectiveTofu]

I would really consider lowering your nitrates as much as you can first. Also I would try and watch your Ca levels...400 is okay, but 500ppm of calcium is way too much IMO. I think at around 500ppm you may get massive precipitation, followed by a huge drop in pH and Alk. I would also try and get your Alk up to 10-12.

 

[TheNomadRhodes]

Cool thank you for the Info, lost 3 more heads =(