Red Planet Turning Brown???

[duganderson]

I have had a Red Planet in my tank for about 2 months. It has been growning and was initially nicely colored but it is starting to turn brown in the last week or so.

Does it likely need more light, flow change, etc.?

My paraemeters are good and stable. My other SPS are growing and looking good.

 

[Reefer1225]

What is your phosphate at? What lights are u running? Some more info might help.

 

[jda]

Brown means an excess of dinoflagelies in the coral which typically means excess nitrate and phosphate. Do you know your levels?

 

[duganderson]

Brown means an excess of dinoflagelies in the coral which typically means excess nitrate and phosphate. Do you know your levels?

Yes, my nitrates are typically low (0.0--0.2). About a week ago, I had an unknown nitrate spike that went to 1.0 but I got it down quickly to 0.0.

My phoshpates are .02--0.05.

Is the brown likely from the nitrate spike? How long will it take to get back red or pink if my parameters are good?

What color does Red Planet look like if too much light or too little light? It used to be basically red branches and polyps.

Thanks!

 

[jda]

Red planet under low lighting is greener. Under intense lighting, it is pure red, even at the base. In between lighting yields in between green/red color.

If you are back on track, then just wait it out. I can take a while, so be patient.

 

[duganderson]

Just curious, does red planet tend to need (in order to be both green and red) more, similar or less lighting than the following in my tank....

Neon green birdsnest
Pink Birdsnest
Bird of Paradise
ORA purple monti digi
Green monti digi
Green with Purple rim monti cap
Setosa

I think I found the right light level for these so I'm curious where to put my red planet.

Also, does the red planet due better with more white or more actinic light?

Thanks, Doug

 

[jda]

There are so many variables to even know how to answer this question. The red planet needs, and can handle, way more light than any of those - all of those can handle super intense light, but can also do well with less light. Quality of light will also matter, which will depend on which lights you have.

 

[cugly]

What are you using to test your po4?

 

[Reefer1225]

Red planet under low lighting is greener. Under intense lighting, it is pure red, even at the base. In between lighting yields in between green/red color.

If you are back on track, then just wait it out. I can take a while, so be patient.

Agree with this. Usually browned corals are due to excess nutrients, so I would check phosphates again. Do you have algae issues? Sometimes they consume the phosphates from the water column so fast that it will give a false low phosphate reading. If you are sure on phosphates, then I would think lighting... try higher placement. If not lighting, then maybe just give it time to adjust still. Sometimes it just takes a while like jda said.

 

[Chrisrush]

Brown means an excess of dinoflagelies in the coral which typically means excess nitrate and phosphate. Do you know your levels?

Nobody caught this? Dinoflagelies in coral?

How about Zooxanthellae instead?

 

[jda]

Do you have any experience with red planet to offer?

Zooxanthellae are dinoflagellates.

 

[animalkingdom]

Yes, my nitrates are typically low (0.0--0.2). About a week ago, I had an unknown nitrate spike that went to 1.0 but I got it down quickly to 0.0.

My phoshpates are .02--0.05.

Is the brown likely from the nitrate spike? How long will it take to get back red or pink if my parameters are good?

What color does Red Planet look like if too much light or too little light? It used to be basically red branches and polyps.

Thanks!

nitrates going to 1 isnt really much of a spike, more of a blip and if anything a good thing IMO. I would look elsewhere for browning such as phosphates or insufficient lighting

 

[animalkingdom]

oh and I've personally seen deep red Red Planet at high and low light...so I'm at a loss for what it looks like at different light levels, the RP I have seen that have green have always been in different systems then the pure red ones so I would imagine water chemistry/nutrients is a factor

 

[duganderson]

What are you using to test your po4?

Hanna Phosphorous checker which I convert results to phosphate.

Agree with this. Usually browned corals are due to excess nutrients, so I would check phosphates again. Do you have algae issues? Sometimes they consume the phosphates from the water column so fast that it will give a false low phosphate reading. If you are sure on phosphates, then I would think lighting... try higher placement. If not lighting, then maybe just give it time to adjust still. Sometimes it just takes a while like jda said.

I don't have a significant algae issue but I currently have lots of macros (relative to the tank size) in my display (red grape, dragon's breath, etc.)

 

[Cytranic]

I have a red planet under 400w MH about 12 inches from the bulb and its almost black its so red.

 

[Tron_954]

I have a red planet under 400w MH about 12 inches from the bulb and its almost black its so red.

LOL @ this :beer:

 

[toothman]

I would think it is phosphates. My nitrates are 2-5 and have never had any issues with red planet, it is a rather easy coral and grows quickly. Strong light, very strong water flow help. Try purchasing a hanna phos meter. Probably my favorite coral.


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[duganderson]

I would think it is phosphates. Try purchasing a hanna phos meter.

That is the meter I have but I'll try monitoring phosphate more frequently.

 

[kalan850]

I would think it is phosphates. My nitrates are 2-5 and have never had any issues with red planet, it is a rather easy coral and grows quickly. Strong light, very strong water flow help. Try purchasing a hanna phos meter. Probably my favorite coral.


<iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/esZXQWHrLxk?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

increadible colonies! i'm having an issue with my milli and a couple of monti's that have gone pale or brown. my first thought was that it was nitrate, but turns out i'm at zero. Ca was a bit low around 380 so i brought that up to 400( i'm shooting for 450). i feel that it is in range so it shouldn't be that right? next idea was the lighting dimmable 120w chinese led fixture, i thought maybe it was too intence for the corals but i'm still seeing crazy good PE and some growth. i have sence turned the whites down to about 20% and blues at 40%(its been about a week). now my thought is that the color spectrum is off???

 

[Rollins4Miles]

My experience with sps browning out is a lighting issue. As far as the Red Planet goes - I've had it green in lower light, dark maroon under moderate light, and now it's hot pink with green under intense light. It was green in the lower light and maroon under moderate light using a 250W 14000k Phoenix bulb. I currently have it under a 250W 22000k generic bulb and the colors are extremely unexpected but amazing at the same time.

I agree with JDA. I would just wait it out and see what happens. It can take a long time for sps to regain color. I've been waiting four months for my ice fire to color up properly and nothing has changed. As long as it's growing I can deal with it for the most part.