LoneStar45
New member
I bought this 2 weeks ago. He was mainly a rose color with a little green on the bottom. Now he has a brown stem and more green on the bottom. Is he dying?
Why is this acropora changing colors?
- Thread starter LoneStar45
- Start date
XeniaMania
Active member
You got Phospate...you got nitrate...
MiddletonMark
Premium Member
It's acclimating.
LoneStar45
New member
Phos:0, Nitrate:0, Salinity 1.026, PH 8.4, temp 80 F. Calcium 400, dKH 9.3
LoneStar45
New member
Thats not a shadow, its definately green.
MiddletonMark
Premium Member
It does look like the lower right portion could be dead?
But color change when facing new lighting/flow/chemistry isn't that unusual. If your water is `spot on' I find sometimes there is no color loss - though some shifting IME is fairly likely.
But I don't make any judgements on a coral's final appearance in my tank for a few months at best ... as that's the most unpredictable time IMO.
But color change when facing new lighting/flow/chemistry isn't that unusual. If your water is `spot on' I find sometimes there is no color loss - though some shifting IME is fairly likely.
But I don't make any judgements on a coral's final appearance in my tank for a few months at best ... as that's the most unpredictable time IMO.
LoneStar45
New member
Great feedback. He is my first sps of what will hopefully be many. I will keep an eye on him. Thanks for everything. What do I look for in warning signs if it starts dying?
Thanks
Thanks
examiner
New member
Well, dying will show up as lost tissue. Sometimes when branches die they go white first (as the tissue dies off), then they will turn green (often from excess phosphate/algae as XeniaMania points out).
If you are new to sps, sometimes it's hard to recognize when the tissue is gone. If the tissue is still there, you should be able to see the polyps, even if they are retracted. If you see no evidence of tissue and/or polyps (compare to the part of the coral that appears healthy, top left), those branches are dead. Often, this tissue loss will migrate through the whole colony as STN (slow tissue necrosis, looks likes what you may have), or RTN (rapid tissue necrosis - the whole colony dies in a matter of hours, couple days at most).
If the branches at the lower right are void of tissue/polyps, keep a close eye on the colony. If you see the death spreading, the best option is to frag off some of the healthy branches to try to save the colony.
If the branches at the lower right are turning green but still exhibit polyp extension and the tissue is apparent, the colony is adjusting to your tank/environment/lighting. But still watch this area closely as it could be indicative of inadequate lighting on this part of the colony.
If you a new to sps, I'd really encourage you to find a source for tank raised frags, hopefully from someone local. I know that requires greater patience for them to grow out, but your success ratio will probably be much higher than purchasing small colonies like this at the LFS. Cheaper, hardier, and less chance that you'll become discouraged.
Good luck! Your setup reads nice, and you seem to have all the necessary high-end hardware. Pay close attention to maintaing stable alk/ca, practice good husbandry, and you should be on your way.
If you are new to sps, sometimes it's hard to recognize when the tissue is gone. If the tissue is still there, you should be able to see the polyps, even if they are retracted. If you see no evidence of tissue and/or polyps (compare to the part of the coral that appears healthy, top left), those branches are dead. Often, this tissue loss will migrate through the whole colony as STN (slow tissue necrosis, looks likes what you may have), or RTN (rapid tissue necrosis - the whole colony dies in a matter of hours, couple days at most).
If the branches at the lower right are void of tissue/polyps, keep a close eye on the colony. If you see the death spreading, the best option is to frag off some of the healthy branches to try to save the colony.
If the branches at the lower right are turning green but still exhibit polyp extension and the tissue is apparent, the colony is adjusting to your tank/environment/lighting. But still watch this area closely as it could be indicative of inadequate lighting on this part of the colony.
If you a new to sps, I'd really encourage you to find a source for tank raised frags, hopefully from someone local. I know that requires greater patience for them to grow out, but your success ratio will probably be much higher than purchasing small colonies like this at the LFS. Cheaper, hardier, and less chance that you'll become discouraged.
Good luck! Your setup reads nice, and you seem to have all the necessary high-end hardware. Pay close attention to maintaing stable alk/ca, practice good husbandry, and you should be on your way.
MiddletonMark
Premium Member
Great post, examiner.
Also - having a local source for frags means you can ask them their suggestions on placement - often getting the coral to it's `final position' immediately ... as well as advice when something looks odd to you.
Also - having a local source for frags means you can ask them their suggestions on placement - often getting the coral to it's `final position' immediately ... as well as advice when something looks odd to you.
LoneStar45
New member
Thanks Examiner. You seem to know your stuff. I am going to try turning the green side to lean up to the light and see if that helps. I caould really see any polyps on the green part and there is one brown stem near the top that im concerned about. I plan on going with frags in the future. This acro was an impluse buy (my sickness) to see how sps will do in my tank and the rose color I couldnt resist. I am looking for a good product that adheres frags to my rocks that sets underwater and actually holds. Since I cant pull my rock I need it to cure to my reef wall.
I've tried two epoxy reef putties (tunze and an off brand)and neither works. What do you use?
I've tried two epoxy reef putties (tunze and an off brand)and neither works. What do you use?
LoneStar45
New member
Super glue gel wont adhere underwater will it? I know it floats as well and then you risk that a fish will try to eat it. Pulling the rock out glueing it to the frag isnt an option without tearing my reef down everytime I add a frag. If I put it on the frag at the surface and submerge it , will it work?
Obi-dad
Active member
Superglue works fine underwater. Even better is the epoxy and superglue method - put superglue on the frag, a ball of epoxy on the superglue, and more superglue on the side of the ball that will be touching the rock. Press the whole affair onto the rock underwater. Works better than either method alone.
examiner
New member
Thanks! The more mistakes I made on the way, the more opportunities I had to "know my stuff". That's the great thing about a forum like this....you don't actually have to make the mistake yourself to learn from it.
My personal prefence when dealing with fresh cut frags is to superglue them to small chunks of live rock (I broke up a small piece of LR and keep a few chunks in my sump). I do this outside the tank, let it set up for a minute or so, and then secure the rock into a crack or crevice in my display rock. The superglue/epoxy method works fine for underwater work, but I prefer to avoid the ugly blobs of expoy in the tank (even though I know they will eventually blend in). If necessary I'll use some epoxy to secure the small piece of live rock to my rock formation in the tank.
My personal prefence when dealing with fresh cut frags is to superglue them to small chunks of live rock (I broke up a small piece of LR and keep a few chunks in my sump). I do this outside the tank, let it set up for a minute or so, and then secure the rock into a crack or crevice in my display rock. The superglue/epoxy method works fine for underwater work, but I prefer to avoid the ugly blobs of expoy in the tank (even though I know they will eventually blend in). If necessary I'll use some epoxy to secure the small piece of live rock to my rock formation in the tank.
LoneStar45
New member
closer view
closer view
Hopefully this picture will be better. Also notice the brown at the top of the colony.
closer view
Hopefully this picture will be better. Also notice the brown at the top of the colony.
