Bleaching Brain

[cedarreef]

I have a red open brain which started bleaching recently. It hasn't been totally extending and doesn't want to eat. What should I do to try to save it?

 

[oceansidefish]

Post your water params, lighting tank info and so on and a pic would help

 

[cedarreef]

temp-76
nitrates-0
phosphates-0
SG-1.024
Ca-425
I have 2 150w 20k MHs. The tank has been set up for about 5 months. I think it's weird that the brain isn't doing too well while all my other corals including all the SPS are thriving.

 

[goinbroke]

temp seems low to me. it probally dosnt have anything to do with the bleaching, but yo never know. anything picking on it?

 

[cedarreef]

temp is fine, and nothing is picking on it. I can't post a pic because I can't find the USB cable for the camera.

 

[oceansidefish]

what size is your tank????

 

[oceansidefish]

Also what are your ALK and Mag levels...Do you dose, can anything POSSIBLY sting it??? Was it at all receded when you got it????

 

[cedarreef]

I have a 46 gal bowfront tank. I don't have a test for alk or mag. I don't dose anything... my salt takes care of everything. Nothing is close enough to sting it. A small piece of the skeleton may have been sticking out when I got it... It was only about the size of a dull pencil's tip.

 

[bryce.martin23]

Originally Posted by CedarReef
http:///forum/post/3035181
I have a 46 gal bowfront tank. I don't have a test for alk or mag. I don't dose anything... my salt takes care of everything. Nothing is close enough to sting it. A small piece of the skeleton may have been sticking out when I got it... It was only about the size of a dull pencil's tip.
not to tell you that your wrong about your salt, but yes salt mixes do contain benificial elements if you buy the expensive stuff, but you still need to check these params because alot of the time the salt mixes dont supply enough minerals and vitamans to sustain livestock. I mean if your going to invest in this ridiculously expensive hobby whats another 20 buck for a test kit to keep everything alive.

 

[oceansidefish]

Alk is definately something you want to be testing for.... It needs to be in balance with calcium, and often new tanks have ALk problems...Also if the brain was at all receded when you got it there is probably no hope for it...Generally this is a sign of bad health. additionally I have heard of green algae blooms in tanks causing problems with less than healthy brains. Keep it in low flow, get a test kit for alk and feed it once a week with meaty foods.

 

[cedarreef]

I'll invest in these test kits. I use Oceanic salt which is supposed to be great for reef tanks. Mr. X recommended it to me. The problem with feeding it is that whenever I put some food on it, it moves it away from its mouth and refuses to eat.

 

[oceansidefish]

how long have you had it? what are you feeding it? how often have you been trying to feed it? Brains don't necessarily NEED to eat, depending on the tank. Many never feed them and some feed them once or twice a month

 

[cedarreef]

I've had it for maybe 2-3 weeks. I've been feeding it brine and mysis. It used to eat 2x a week, but when I tried to feed it sat. it didn't eat. I know they don't necessarily need to eat, but I figured that they would grow faster and be healthier if they did.