Help! Open brain coral bleaching?

C

Civicman86

New member
Morning all,

I purchased a open brain coral about a week ago. All looked fine but now it's showing signs of issues (see link). Is this bleaching? I have already turned the lights back by 30% and added a cover above the coral to reduce light in that area.

Tank is 75g weekly water changes of 5g.
Salinity - 1.026
Nitrate - ~5
Nitrite - 0
Phosphate - 0
Ammonia 0
I don't have a tester for alk or Calc
Temp is right around 76
I use IO reef crystals for salt (slowly switching to their just normal salt).
Tank has been up and running for about 10 months.

Please ignore my algae issue - just added a powered and increased water changes and reduced lighting schedule to help fight it back to normal.

I also have some zoas, candy can, ricordia (added at the same time as the brain) and hammers - all of those look great!

Open brain coral - bleaching? Reef central https://imgur.com/a/cm80L
 
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It looks like there's some bleaching, continue to monitor with the changes you've made and see if it gets better. If your going to continue to keep corals especially stony you need to get a Ca, alk, and mag tests.
 
Thanks. I just placed an order for all three. Should be here Wednesday and I'll post back with the results.

I assume if it was only lighting it can reheal in that spot? With the lights lower how soon does it typically take for it to show signs of recovery? I know this is all a game of patience, just want to make sure I'm not over or UNDER reacting.
 
If it's just a lighting issue it will heal, will just take time. How long it will take is a toss up but could be couple weeks to months depending on what your other parameters are but at the same time. You did the right thing though, just keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't degrade further and once it's healed you can work on increasing lighting to it. Just make sure to go slowly when you do as your better off under lighting a coral then over lighting.
 
If you haven't already you might want to try feeding it. NLS pellets, a small piece of shrimp etc. Whatever works.
 
AlSimmons said:
If you haven't already you might want to try feeding it. NLS pellets, a small piece of shrimp etc. Whatever works.
Click to expand...

I'll try, I tried before to feed it some krill but couldn't get it to take. Will try again. Have yet to see it open up its tentacles...
 
Put some thick reef roids (mix the roids up in very little water to make a paste like substance) and dribble it out of a syringe right onto it's mouth with no flow. See if it takes it.
 
The flesh appears to be reseeding on Skelton....more consistent with a sting, damage, or may some type of bacterial infection.....I keep my iodide (not iodine) at .03-.06 at all times...this helps for bacterial infections....if it continues to reseed, maybe a 15 minute dip in a reef safe coral dip...
 
Uncle99 said:
The flesh appears to be reseeding on Skelton....more consistent with a sting, damage, or may some type of bacterial infection.....I keep my iodide (not iodine) at .03-.06 at all times...this helps for bacterial infections....if it continues to reseed, maybe a 15 minute dip in a reef safe coral dip...
Click to expand...

It is definitely receding...I can see skeleton now. There are no other corals close to it. I have a yellow eye kole tang, but I keep nori and veggie pellets in there daily. I did a coral dip before introducing him to the tank...

How do you treat infections, dip again?
 
There is tissue recession. That is a bigger problem than bleaching. Tissue on the right edge looks completely died and that remains is bare skeleton. With brains necrosis mostly indicate water chemistry issues. Also keep in mind that if you really have 0 PO4, mos of your corals wont like it. You definitely need to check for Alk, Ca, and Mg.
 
ReeferNoob4ever said:
Put some thick reef roids (mix the roids up in very little water to make a paste like substance) and dribble it out of a syringe right onto it's mouth with no flow. See if it takes it.
Click to expand...

I will try this. I laid some now pellets right at the mouth. I had to leave so either he ate them or the cleaner shrimp did. I'll make a rood paste and try that today.
 
Tripod1404 said:
There is tissue recession. That is a bigger problem than bleaching. Tissue on the right edge looks completely died and that remains is bare skeleton. With brains necrosis mostly indicate water chemistry issues. Also keep in mind that if you really have 0 PO4, mos of your corals wont like it.
Click to expand...

I purchase a ultra low phosphorus Hana checker and it is 0. I'm not sure how to introduce p04 if they want it... I also purchased test for the other you mentioned, hoping they arrive tomorrow.

Are the potassium in a bottle products worth while? I can see what my local stores have.

I have some cheap ac, is it worth adding hoping it leaches some p04? Would prefer a more controlled process though...
 
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I doubt food will make any difference but go ahead.
Kole tangs generally are pretty safe, with no knowledge of calcium, Alk, and magnisum levels is hard to say, you will have to get this set soon anyways, I might not do anything at all for 24 hours and see what has happened. If the flesh has reseeded a lot again, that can be bacterial and unfortunately the brain is an LPS single polyp. Move in sequence, Maybe a second dip in iodide (if you have this but please read up on its use) or again a short bath in your coral dip....remember to rinse good!
Stuff like this happens to everyone......Good luck....keep us posted..
 
Civicman86 said:
I purchase a ultra low phosphorus Hana checker and it is 0. I'm not sure how to introduce p04 if they want it... I also purchased test for the other you mentioned, hoping they arrive tomorrow.

Are the potassium in a bottle products worth while? I can see what my local stores have.

I have some cheap ac, is it worth adding hoping it leaches some p04? Would prefer a more controlled process though...
Click to expand...

Potassium (K) and phosphorus (P) are different elements, you cannot use potassium for raising phosphate (PO4). You probably cant even use elemental phosphorus to raise phosphate. I dont know why you AC would have phosphate but in either case, I would not use anyting form AC unit as it might have copper contamination. Do you use GFO, i would remove it immediately. It should raise if you overfeed for several days (or if you dont rinse frozen food).

If you are reading 0 PO4 with hanna reader it is inadvisably low. Even SPS corals that like low nutrition systems like to have detectable levels of phosphate, let alone LPS corals.
 
Uncle99 said:
I doubt food will make any difference but go ahead.
Kole tangs generally are pretty safe, with no knowledge of calcium, Alk, and magnisum levels is hard to say, you will have to get this set soon anyways, I might not do anything at all for 24 hours and see what has happened. If the flesh has reseeded a lot again, that can be bacterial and unfortunately the brain is an LPS single polyp. Move in sequence, Maybe a second dip in iodide (if you have this but please read up on its use) or again a short bath in your coral dip....remember to rinse good!
Stuff like this happens to everyone......Good luck....keep us posted..
Click to expand...

I doubt it would accept food. IMO when stressed brain corals wont eat.
 
Tripod1404 said:
Potassium (K) and phosphorus (P) are different elements, you cannot use potassium for raising phosphate (PO4). You probably cant even use elemental phosphorus to raise phosphate. I dont know why you AC would have phosphate but in either case, I would not use anyting form AC unit as it might have copper contamination. Do you use GFO, i would remove it immediately. It should raise if you overfeed for several days (or if you dont rinse frozen food).

If you are reading 0 PO4 with hanna reader it is inadvisably low. Even SPS corals that like low nutrition systems like to have detectable levels of phosphate, let alone LPS corals.
Click to expand...

No gfo. Only skimming.
 
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