button polyps

lenny8671 · 04/25/2009, 02:36 PM

Hi, my button polyps have lost all their colour, they used to floress but now they are just brown. They still open and close. They were near the top of my tank but i thought they might not like the lights so close so i moved them to the bottom of the tank but no change. I have 5's

Can anybody shed some light on my problem please

Anemone · 04/25/2009, 11:59 PM

What size tank, what amount of lighting, what lighting bulbs, what other corals (and what colors are they exhibiting), what's your pH and alk, and finally, what additives do you use?

With some more info, someone might be able to point you in the correct direction.

Kevin

lenny8671 · 04/26/2009, 03:32 AM

Tank is 55 gallon bow front, T5 lighting, all corals are softies and are fine withe normal colours Ph 6, not testing for alk as only softies in tank, and not using addatives. I did have a frag of zoas that went brown and died, could this be related?

bj32482 · 04/26/2009, 06:40 AM

your ph is 6? is that a typo? it should be around 8...I am shocked that anything is alive..

Flipper62 · 04/26/2009, 07:14 AM

WOW....Ya...PH of 6 is not good. I'm not sure what corals that you have, but they can't be very happy or good looking. You really need to get that PH up.

Even a PH in the high 7's ....7.8 / 7.9 is a minimum

I like to keep my PH around the 8.1 / 8.3 area

Flipper62 · 04/26/2009, 07:24 AM

lenny,

Can you post all of your parameters, salinity..alk..calcium...ph...ect

What salt are you using & when was your last water change.

Anemone · 04/26/2009, 10:58 AM

"Browning" of corals can often be related to too much organics in the tank and/or low lighting. In both cases, the coral produces more zooxanthellae (with the excess organics because the organics are zoox food, and in the low lighting case because the coral is trying to increase zoox-related food production), and zooxanthellae are brown in color.

Kevin

lenny8671 · 04/26/2009, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Anemone
"Browning" of corals can often be related to too much organics in the tank and/or low lighting. In both cases, the coral produces more zooxanthellae (with the excess organics because the organics are zoox food, and in the low lighting case because the coral is trying to increase zoox-related food production), and zooxanthellae are brown in color.

Kevin

Before, iknow they are under blue lights but you get the idea.
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After
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full tank pic
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sg is 1.0026
temp 80
thats all i test for, im only keeping softies till i get more experience in the hobby.

im using instant ocean salt, and do 10 gal water change every 2 weeks, with RO/DI used for top offs.

any help will be appreciated even if im doing something drastacly wrong, i wont know till someone tells me, thanks

lenny8671 · 04/26/2009, 11:20 AM

[IMG]

[/IMG]

lenny8671 · 04/26/2009, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Anemone
"Browning" of corals can often be related to too much organics in the tank and/or low lighting. In both cases, the coral produces more zooxanthellae (with the excess organics because the organics are zoox food, and in the low lighting case because the coral is trying to increase zoox-related food production), and zooxanthellae are brown in color.

Kevin

What are organics in the tank?

thanks again

Anemone · 04/26/2009, 11:41 AM

The remains of food, poop and other organic processes in the tank. You can't measure them - other than with nuisance algae growth and browning of corals. The more important thing is what you do to get rid of organics - water changes, DSB, algal harvesting, skimming, etc.

Kevin

Drewsus1010 · 04/26/2009, 11:52 AM

I have button polyps exactly like this...same color and all. When a friend gave them to me they were this color though. I assumed that it was completely normal. They look healthy.

lenny8671 · 04/27/2009, 03:44 PM

Is it correct that its algea in the coral that makes it flouress?
If so how can i promote this algea?

thanks

dmack · 04/27/2009, 05:35 PM

I have button polyps that did the same thing. I found a pretty black white cone shaped snail that was eating them. I removed the snail and the polyps recovered in time.

blaze2 · 04/27/2009, 05:42 PM

mine did the exact same thing i had a colony under just power compacts and they went brown then last week i upgraded to t5's and in a week they have gone a really fluecent green colour.

davewbush · 04/27/2009, 05:52 PM

Do you know what watt lights you have and how big is the tank? In the pics, every thing low looks like its turning brown.

mustang51js · 04/27/2009, 06:28 PM

from my understanding the low ph will turn things brown, you should be checking for other params even if its every 2 weeks, i think instant ocean is low in calcium and mag, you should get a ph buffer and use that, once you get it set its pretty easy to mantain, but all these things work together. Your not going to get much coraline algea with low calcium and ph, i also noticed you have some bubble algea,you should be testing at least sal,ph,cal,phosphates,nitrate, and alk. Alk not so much if your using a ph buffer should keep that in line, if im wrong here someone let me know

lenny8671 · 04/28/2009, 02:21 AM

Im using T5s the wattage 24w 14000k? Tank is 55g.

How do you add these things after testing? do you just mix them in when you do water changes?

MartinEric · 04/28/2009, 04:07 AM

You make additions by mixing them in some ro water and slowly adding it to the tank. What and how much you add is based on your testing the water to see what is needed.

What is the total wattage of your T5's and how far above the tank are they? Sometimes coral will change color based on lighting (higher briteness, lower briteness, color temp. of the lamps, new lamps, old lamps etc.).

L98-Z · 04/28/2009, 06:42 AM

Why was the pH of 6 thing just ignored? Is your pH really that low?

lenny8671 · 04/28/2009, 10:03 AM

light are about 3 inches above the water. Re tested PH came out at 7.8 but that was early before the lights were on. will check wattage on lights. nitrite was high so did 6 gal water change, think something might have died not seen madarin for a day or 2. Amonia was 0

xian · 05/02/2009, 01:47 PM

I've had the same species of Paly brown on me. If you get them in some cleaner water they will color up. I've had the colony for about 7 years so its seen a lot.

You really should start testing your water if you intend to attempt more delicate livestock in the future.

IridescentLily · 05/02/2009, 02:20 PM

Pretty polyps. Maybe you can also find some help in the polyp (zoanthid) forum section here http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...s=&forumid=184

04/25/2009, 02:36 PM	#1
lenny8671 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: hartlepool U.K Posts: 342	button polyps Hi, my button polyps have lost all their colour, they used to floress but now they are just brown. They still open and close. They were near the top of my tank but i thought they might not like the lights so close so i moved them to the bottom of the tank but no change. I have 5's Can anybody shed some light on my problem please

04/25/2009, 11:59 PM	#2
Anemone Cloning Around Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Valencia, California Posts: 25,267	What size tank, what amount of lighting, what lighting bulbs, what other corals (and what colors are they exhibiting), what's your pH and alk, and finally, what additives do you use? With some more info, someone might be able to point you in the correct direction. Kevin __________________ Back in the pool, swimming with the sharks... Current Tank Info: Red Sea 425XL w/Kessil AP700, Vertex 180i Skimmer, 2 x Vortech MP40s

04/26/2009, 07:14 AM	#5
Flipper62 Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Naperville, Il. Business Owner, President & CEO Posts: 3,045	WOW....Ya...PH of 6 is not good. I'm not sure what corals that you have, but they can't be very happy or good looking. You really need to get that PH up. Even a PH in the high 7's ....7.8 / 7.9 is a minimum I like to keep my PH around the 8.1 / 8.3 area __________________ If todays automobile had followed the same development as the computer, A Rolls Royce would cost $100.00. It would get a million miles per gallon, but it would explode once a year killing everyone inside." Current Tanks... 90 gal Reef... My awesome Office BioCube....( 180 was on hold ..no time ) ... The 180 gal has been sold...Yay..yay..yay. Hobby Experience: 19 years Reef...22 years FW

04/26/2009, 07:24 AM	#6
Flipper62 Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Naperville, Il. Business Owner, President & CEO Posts: 3,045	lenny, Can you post all of your parameters, salinity..alk..calcium...ph...ect What salt are you using & when was your last water change. __________________ If todays automobile had followed the same development as the computer, A Rolls Royce would cost $100.00. It would get a million miles per gallon, but it would explode once a year killing everyone inside." Current Tanks... 90 gal Reef... My awesome Office BioCube....( 180 was on hold ..no time ) ... The 180 gal has been sold...Yay..yay..yay. Hobby Experience: 19 years Reef...22 years FW

04/26/2009, 10:58 AM	#7
Anemone Cloning Around Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Valencia, California Posts: 25,267	"Browning" of corals can often be related to too much organics in the tank and/or low lighting. In both cases, the coral produces more zooxanthellae (with the excess organics because the organics are zoox food, and in the low lighting case because the coral is trying to increase zoox-related food production), and zooxanthellae are brown in color. Kevin __________________ Back in the pool, swimming with the sharks... Current Tank Info: Red Sea 425XL w/Kessil AP700, Vertex 180i Skimmer, 2 x Vortech MP40s

04/26/2009, 03:32 AM	#3
lenny8671 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: hartlepool U.K Posts: 342	Tank is 55 gallon bow front, T5 lighting, all corals are softies and are fine withe normal colours Ph 6, not testing for alk as only softies in tank, and not using addatives. I did have a frag of zoas that went brown and died, could this be related?

04/26/2009, 06:40 AM	#4
bj32482 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: benton, ky Posts: 974	your ph is 6? is that a typo? it should be around 8...I am shocked that anything is alive..

04/26/2009, 11:20 AM	#9
lenny8671 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: hartlepool U.K Posts: 342	[IMG][/IMG]

04/26/2009, 11:41 AM	#11
Anemone Cloning Around Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Valencia, California Posts: 25,267	The remains of food, poop and other organic processes in the tank. You can't measure them - other than with nuisance algae growth and browning of corals. The more important thing is what you do to get rid of organics - water changes, DSB, algal harvesting, skimming, etc. Kevin __________________ Back in the pool, swimming with the sharks... Current Tank Info: Red Sea 425XL w/Kessil AP700, Vertex 180i Skimmer, 2 x Vortech MP40s

04/26/2009, 11:52 AM	#12
Drewsus1010 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Maryland Posts: 89	I have button polyps exactly like this...same color and all. When a friend gave them to me they were this color though. I assumed that it was completely normal. They look healthy.

04/27/2009, 03:44 PM	#13
lenny8671 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: hartlepool U.K Posts: 342	Is it correct that its algea in the coral that makes it flouress? If so how can i promote this algea? thanks

04/27/2009, 05:35 PM	#14
dmack Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Baltimore Posts: 464	I have button polyps that did the same thing. I found a pretty black white cone shaped snail that was eating them. I removed the snail and the polyps recovered in time.

04/27/2009, 05:42 PM	#15
blaze2 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 57	mine did the exact same thing i had a colony under just power compacts and they went brown then last week i upgraded to t5's and in a week they have gone a really fluecent green colour.

04/27/2009, 05:52 PM	#16
davewbush ... Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: California Posts: 739	Do you know what watt lights you have and how big is the tank? In the pics, every thing low looks like its turning brown.

04/27/2009, 06:28 PM	#17
mustang51js Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: haskell, n.j. Posts: 593	from my understanding the low ph will turn things brown, you should be checking for other params even if its every 2 weeks, i think instant ocean is low in calcium and mag, you should get a ph buffer and use that, once you get it set its pretty easy to mantain, but all these things work together. Your not going to get much coraline algea with low calcium and ph, i also noticed you have some bubble algea,you should be testing at least sal,ph,cal,phosphates,nitrate, and alk. Alk not so much if your using a ph buffer should keep that in line, if im wrong here someone let me know __________________ george 50g corner reef yellow tang Current Tank Info: temp 90g reef,2 4bulb t5 lights-

04/28/2009, 02:21 AM	#18
lenny8671 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: hartlepool U.K Posts: 342	Im using T5s the wattage 24w 14000k? Tank is 55g. How do you add these things after testing? do you just mix them in when you do water changes? Last edited by lenny8671; 04/28/2009 at 02:27 AM.

04/28/2009, 04:07 AM	#19
MartinEric Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Middle O' Missouri Posts: 189	You make additions by mixing them in some ro water and slowly adding it to the tank. What and how much you add is based on your testing the water to see what is needed. What is the total wattage of your T5's and how far above the tank are they? Sometimes coral will change color based on lighting (higher briteness, lower briteness, color temp. of the lamps, new lamps, old lamps etc.). __________________ __________ Eric "Just A Couple Of Pints And A Sing Song" Current Tank Info: 15gal long, 2x65w Pc, Remora HOT skimmer, softies no fish. 30gal breeder, 6x39w t-5, Remora HOT skimmer, Mixed reef. 20gal long, 2x65w Pc, frag tank.

04/28/2009, 06:42 AM	#20
L98-Z Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Warner Robins, Georgia Posts: 1,230	Why was the pH of 6 thing just ignored? Is your pH really that low?

04/28/2009, 10:03 AM	#21
lenny8671 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: hartlepool U.K Posts: 342	light are about 3 inches above the water. Re tested PH came out at 7.8 but that was early before the lights were on. will check wattage on lights. nitrite was high so did 6 gal water change, think something might have died not seen madarin for a day or 2. Amonia was 0

05/02/2009, 01:47 PM	#22
xian Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Troy, NY Posts: 2,180	I've had the same species of Paly brown on me. If you get them in some cleaner water they will color up. I've had the colony for about 7 years so its seen a lot. You really should start testing your water if you intend to attempt more delicate livestock in the future. __________________ -Matt Christian Define Irony: Algae growing on a snail. Current Tank Info: 125 gal planted lagoon

05/02/2009, 02:20 PM	#23
IridescentLily Editor-Reefkeeping mag Join Date: May 2008 Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico Posts: 3,858 Blog Entries: 5	Pretty polyps. Maybe you can also find some help in the polyp (zoanthid) forum section here http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...s=&forumid=184 __________________ ~April Editor-Reefkeeping Magazine