Hi Guys,

I have got a new open brain coral last weekend,
I put it on the top of my rocks to give him more light, he was looking like this the first day I brought him home

http://69.51.18.120/scheduled/temp/aquarium/13.JPG

later I read that they must be placed on a sand I moved him to the bottom bot now u can see only ugly skeleton, he had been there for 2 days no changes at all, so yesterday I moved him back to his old place the rocks, it looked like he started to get some water but now only skeleton again.

All of my water parameters looks fine.
Do u guys have any advice? How long does it take or them to get better, maybe his is still stying to aclimatize?
Thank you


P.S. I have compact Lights 2x65W

hopefully im wrong on this account, but i always thought those were light hungry and should only be kept under strong lighting, and that t5 wouldnt be upto the job.

I had a lobophyllia along time ago that slowly faded away over the course of a few months. I suspect it was from an overabundance of phosphates and allelopaths. You don't have too many corals so that rules out allelopaths, and I see that you have just tested your water. It could still be adjusting. Maybe give it time?

Hi guys here is a most recent picture when the light was on



another one when light went off

Btw, that coral is a Cynarina genus coral, perhaps deshayesiana species. These corals do like a lot of light and do not have to be on the sand bed. With PCs though it will need to be high up in the rock stack. That most recent set of pictures looks OK although the nightime skeleton is a little much. What are its other tankmates (fish/corals/inverts)? Might be something pesting it. Also do you use any means of phosphate removal (roawphos/phosban, macro algae, protein skimming)? And finally, do you have an idea of your calcium/alkalinity/magnesium balance?

I have 2 clowns, 4-5 hermits, turbo snails, fire shrimp, corals I am not sure about the names but u can take a look
here at my tank u will be able to see all of them.

http://www.fishforums.net/content/Members-...rst-Small-Reef/

I do use phosban, changing it apx ones a month and protein skimmer. My alklinity is apx 4 and cacium and magnesium I dont know.
I just did a 10% water change, I thought WC gives all the Ca and Magnesium, No?

Alk is 4 what? meq, dKH, some other unit?

Waterchanges do replace elements, however once stony and calcerous organism load increases, aquarists often have to dose to help maintain good chemistry.

If your alk is 4meq then its prolly just a lighting issue, keep it high up and you should be fine

Yes 4.5 meq/L I just tested it again.
and for Ca I will get a test kit.

K, thats high but high is OK . Keep that light going and it should perk up

U mean I have to reschedule my timer to give it more light during the day?

NO no, I just mean keep it as high as possible in the rock stack