Sun Coral - Orange Question

[fraglerock]

75 gallon coral Reef Tank.
Water parameter 8/12/12 Time 1:00pm
pH-8.03
Temp-81.4
Salinity-1.025
Nitrate-10
Alkalinity-3.64
Calcium-400<440
Magnesium-1560

I purchased this Sun Coral - Orange 4/3/12
It was in great condition.
As you can see in pic.

 

[fraglerock]

Sun Coral - Orange

Sun Coral - Orange

Now it looks like this.
I target feed it with Zoo-plankton, ReefSnow.
Water Change 15gal. every two weeks.
Every thing else seems to be doing well.

Any help on what I can do to help my coral flourish.

 

[Wave Ace]

Looks so a sponge is over growing it

take the coral out of the water and scape away the sponge carefully

also when feeding it needs a more meaty food

 

[fraglerock]

I took the sun coral out to give it a closer look, its not a sponge that has grown on it, its being bleached.
My Magnesium and Alkalinity seem to be on the high end and Iodine seems to be low.
I gave it a dip in ReVive coral cleaner that works very well.

pH = 8.0 < 8.2
Mag.= 1560
Alk. = 3.64
Cal. = 420
Iodine = 0.04

 

[skrillnet]

Feed it something with a little more substance. Krill, mysis, rods,etc they really like chunks about half the size of their polyps. And if you can mix a little selcon in with that you'll be golden. Good luck!

......insert clever sign off here.....

 

[fraglerock]

Feed it something with a little more substance. Krill, mysis, rods,etc they really like chunks about half the size of their polyps. And if you can mix a little selcon in with that you'll be golden. Good luck!

......insert clever sign off here.....

Thank you sounds good!

 

[MarineSniper]

Definitely the food. Suns are very tolerant of water conditions but need, basically the same type food you'd feed your fish. I go through a pound of mysid, a bar of Cyclopeeze, a package of Rod's and a bottle of Selcon...plus a mix of others, every month. I have a LOT, though! Pick up a pack of mysid, some Cyclops and a bottle of Selcon or Vita Chem, target feed each head and they'll bounce back in a matter of days