Will corals that turned brown in one weeks time change back?

Discussion in 'Corals' started by norahs_dad, Nov 21, 2010.

  1. norahs_dad

    norahs_dad Guest

    About two months ago I had 9 of my sps turn brown very slowly over the coarse of a week I would say at first I didn't notice it but it happen all with in a week I had added some dead rock and sand and in doing so knocked off a two inch by two inch by 3/4 inch piece of chalice Coral and baring it in the sand killing it. That and the added rock and sand I think was to much for my corals to take and they turned brown. which really sucks because they were looking good before this and it bugs the heck out of me that my carelessness turned them brown. I have a little ocd when it come to my tank and still can't believe I did not miss the coral till it was to late. anywise onto my question for you sps guys.
    If I stop messing up like I did the other day in razing my alkalinity to fast up 2. in a day. Will my frags regain there color over time or will they be brown from now on?
    some of them the bottoms that are growing out over the frag plugs have nice color on the new growth but thats it the rest is brown. some of the sps seem not to be efected at all and have all there color.
    Thanks Glen
     
  2. monkeybone87

    monkeybone87 Administrator

    Re: Will corals that turned brown in one weeks time change b

    im not an expert by any means, but I'm pretty sure that it is just a defense mechanism for the ocrals. Their zooanthelle move to the surface to make sure they are getting enough food. Most of the time corals that "brown out" will color back up as the stressors in their environment go away.

    Like I said I'm not an expert, but that's what I've read about brown corals.
     
  3. grimmett

    grimmett Tang

    Re: Will corals that turned brown in one weeks time change b

    Yes they will color back up over time. You have stressed them in some way and the corals will return to their normal colors if you don't stress them anymore. It may take a while for them to color back up.
     
  4. norahs_dad

    norahs_dad Guest

    Re: Will corals that turned brown in one weeks time change b

    Thanks Guys I will do my best to bring back there colors.
    Glen
     
  5. Re: Will corals that turned brown in one weeks time change b

    sometime SPS browning is a lighting issue, many corals tend to turn brown if they aren't
    getting enough light, as brown is a very good color for maximizing light
    absorption.
    Not sure how many hours you run now... but you might could increase your photoperiod a bit, like 15 mins a day & watch them & make sure your bulbs are not over 9 months old too.

    high nutrient levels (phosphate and nitrate) can also
    contribute to coral browning.  Plus what everyone else above said...
    Hope this helps...
     
  6. fishermann

    fishermann Guest

    Re: Will corals that turned brown in one weeks time change b

    It can be stress as stated above, water quality conditions. Idoubt adding your rock and sand had an effect. As Glen stated lighting is usally a suspect. Are the ones browning down low?, if so you might raise them up slowly higher on the reef. What lighting do you have? With sps MH's or enough T5's are needed. Length of time isn't usally a part of the problem as sps can survive with very short periods of light each day just fine.
     

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