Difficulty keeping Brain corals

[DSDoyle]

Hello,

I have had several different brain corals and have had difficulty keeping them alive. Needless yo say, I do not know what the problem is. I brought one 3 days ago and the flesh has been recessed since I put it in the tank. I acclimated by doing the drip method for an hour. I have it in the middle of the tank on the substrate.

Here are my parameters:

Alkalinity: 189
Ammonia: 0
Calcium: 452
Iodide: 0.052
Magnesium: 1145
Nitrate: 18
Nitrite: .02
pH: Apex says 8 but the digital test says 7.5
Phosphate: 1.15
Potassium: 390
SG: 1.0252
Strontium: 16
Temp: 78.4 (set to be 77-79 by Apex)

Please advise.

Thank you,

Don

 

[CynicalReefer]

If your Phosphate is 1.15 it is extremely high. Your pH is also pretty low if the 7.5 is accurate.

 

[Mark9]

and mag is a bit low, shoot for 1350 or so

 

[dendrite]

I have to keep mine in semi shade , under an overhang otherwise they don't expand, recess and eventually die a slow death. also low flow. that's my trial and error

 

[Bpb]

Not sure it's the cause of the struggle but as mentioned your phosphate isn't so much sky high, as it is in freakin outer space. I'd SLOWLY bring that down and there's a good chance your corals will respond favorably. Bringing it down too fast will likely cause stress and rapid necrosis


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[Bpb]

Lighting is also tricky. People say lps corals do best under low light levels and shaded, but I've got a buddy who has lobos that grow insanely fast up high on the rocks under metal halide t5ho combo. My best looking and fastest growing lobo is the highest placed one, and two they struggle are at substrate level


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