My First SPS not so good

[tprize]

So I got my first SPS coral, and I am sad. It was a free frag of orange montipora. I have a 30G finnex with a 150mh and 2x18watt T-5. I have a pump rated at I think 475 with a power head putting out 290GPH. So here is what happened. I drip acclimated the coral, put it in and now 3 days later it's brown. Is it dead, or just acclimating to the new light, the fish store had it under a 1000 watt 20k MH. All my sps and softies are just fine, I use liquid calc and iodine so I'm not sure why this is happening.

 

[gsoaxionsk8]

Browing out is basically like a natural sunscreen for SPS. They will ususally do it under stress or a quick change in lighting like in your case. The coral may be stressed out, however it is not dead! I would keep it in your tank for a while and give it time, the color should eventually come back. YOu might think about getting some powerheads though, it sounds like you might want a little more flow if you want to start keeping sps.

 

[tprize]

This is the only one I will have more will have to wait for a bigger tank.

 

[OnlyCrimson]

I'm sure its fine, but could probably use more flow. My first acro colony browned for a couple days but a week after it started growing like a weed.

 

[RockyMtnReef]

It seems that SPS do better when there are more than one in a tank. If you are going to go SPS you should consider doing what it takes to house several.