What's my coral doing?

[Ksnell]

Hello everyone, I'm new to this forum, as I'm new to keeping LPS corals. In fact, my purchase of my new LPS coral was not intentional, it happened to be attached to a rock containing some hairy mushrooms I wanted. I'm not even really sure what it is, but its red, and is growing in thick columns on the rock. Sorry that's a bad description, but I could take a picture later when the lights are on again. My lighting has recently been upgraded to a halide, (over a 24 gallon aquapod), so I figured I should be ok with putting both corals in my tank.

So. I placed to coral higher up in the tank so it could be close to the light. I also do water changes using reef crystals, so I feel like I'm providing the LPS coral with a happy home. Today I came home and noticed that part of the coral looks like its peeling off (like it had a sun burn). I'm not sure what this means...can anyone help? Also...I just checked my water parameters, which three days ago were perfect (0 ammonia, 0 nitrate), and today I have some Nitrates in the water. I'm making water to do a change, but is my LPS coral dying?

Any help would be well appreciated.

Thanks,

Kyle

 

[nano mania]

You said it- sunburn. Corals can get it too. Try moving it lower in the tank. Not all corals need the same lighting intensity. Also large quick changes in intensity can cause a problem. You need to acclimate coral to light just like you acclimate to a new tank.

A picture would really help me identify the problem.

 

[benihana]

pics will confirm...but it sounds like it needs to acclimate to your light...what lighting was it under/how far from the lights was it at the store where you got it?

 

[boxerzz]

some nitrates will not be harmful to your lps depending on the nitrate spike.

 

[Ksnell]

Well, its about a week later, and the coral has stopped peeling and my parameters have gone back to 0, so I assume all is well. If I see the problem again, I will certainly try moving the coral lower.

Thanks for all the posts!