Is my Birdsnest Dying????

kilted reefer

kilted reefer

Member
I bought this birdsnest (and 2 other corals) on Memorial Day and put it in the QT I have for corals only. I've had the 29G QT for some time and the water parameters were fine before I bought the corals.
Current parameters:
PH - 8.2
NH3 - 0
NO2 - .25
NO3 - 20 (a little over)
Salinity - 1.023
Everything I have read about birdsnests says they are a little more sensitive to acclimating to a new tank.
Are the white sections dead/dying parts of the birdsnest or is this merely acclimating?
Do I need to trim these pieces off?
 
groupergenius

groupergenius

Active Member
The white looks dead or just about to be. Those BN like alot of flow around them also. Not right at them...but enough to get into the middle and move those polyps a little.
Try to slowly get the salinity to 1.025-1.026 and what is your Alkalinity and Calcium levels. That's a very important factor.
Your NO2(nitrite) should be 0
NO3 is a little high for SPS happiness
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
The white parts are dead. This is the classic look of a Seriatopora with insufficient water flow.
 
xxxespoxxx

xxxespoxxx

Member
Wow, my bird's nest looks nothing like that at all, when I first bought mine it was white and in 2 months time it now has like a hot Pink colour....Sorry bro, somethings up
 
kilted reefer

kilted reefer

Member
I figured the nitrite was due to cycling after adding the new pieces and was getting ready to do a water change when I really noticed how white the birdsnest had gotten. The calcium is 400 and the alkalinity is 2.25. I did a 20% water change and added some calcium buffer.
I have 2 x Maxi-Jet 400 and 1 x Aquaclear 30. I had modded 1 of the Maxi-Jets when I originally set up the tank but it was blowing the substrate all over the place so I changed it back.
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
Your Calcium level is fine, the Alkalinity is on the very edge of too low. You don't need more Calcium you need more Carbonate.
The problem is flow in my opinion. Can you place it somewhere in the tank that gets more waterflow?
 
kilted reefer

kilted reefer

Member
Originally Posted by xXxEsPoxXx
http:///forum/post/2636131
Wow, my bird's nest looks nothing like that at all, when I first bought mine it was white and in 2 months time it now has like a hot Pink colour....Sorry bro, somethings up

I haven't had it 2 weeks. I am going to do what I can to save it.
 
kilted reefer

kilted reefer

Member
Originally Posted by Bang Guy
http:///forum/post/2636204
Your Calcium level is fine, the Alkalinity is on the very edge of too low. You don't need more Calcium you need more Carbonate.
The problem is flow in my opinion. Can you place it somewhere in the tank that gets more waterflow?
I did the water change and will retest the alkalinity in about an hour. I put in Kent Pro Buffer DKH which says it is supposed to raise the Carbonate. I have a Kalkwasser for my DT but not one for the QT.
 
lilchris

lilchris

Member
Start fragging it. You can clip off the dead pieces. Make sure you have sufficient flow. ACtually you need alot of flow for birdsnest. That is due to the fact of the way the branches grow crazy and so close together it is hard to get water flow through them. Also the secret to SPS's is stability. If you keep your params as stable you will notice a difference.
 
kilted reefer

kilted reefer

Member
Originally Posted by LILCHRIS
http:///forum/post/2646876
Start fragging it. You can clip off the dead pieces. Make sure you have sufficient flow.
I have it in my QT right now. It is scheduled to go into the DT tomorrow. The QT is 29 gallons and has 2 x Maxi-Jet 400 and 1 x Aquaclear 30.
Originally Posted by SpiderWoman
http:///forum/post/2646886
What is your lighting?
The QT has a 24 inch 20 watt Marine-Glo.
 
A

alexmir

Guest
The lighting in the QT will kill it if it is in there very long, that is no where near enough lighting.
 
kilted reefer

kilted reefer

Member
I had such trouble finding a bulb to fit the fixture, I didn't even notice the wattage.
The tank is 18 inches deep. Any suggestions on lighting?
The birdsnest is going into the DT today. It has 150w HQI MH a 2 65w CF.
 
myzislow

myzislow

Member
lol, u had the birds nest in the QT under 20w of regular fluorescent lighting for over 2 weeks?? I think you may have found your problem, along with the lack of flow and low dKh numbers.
 
scsinet

scsinet

Active Member
Originally Posted by Kilted Reefer
http:///forum/post/2650019
I had such trouble finding a bulb to fit the fixture, I didn't even notice the wattage.
The tank is 18 inches deep. Any suggestions on lighting?
The birdsnest is going into the DT today. It has 150w HQI MH a 2 65w CF.
If you are going to have a QT for corals (which is good, albeit of dubious necessity), then you really need to get it equipped with sufficient lighting.
I'd suggest looking for a used halide pendant. They are pretty cheap and easy to set up. Check with Craig. My extra pendant came from there, paid $50.
 
kilted reefer

kilted reefer

Member
Originally Posted by SCSInet
http:///forum/post/2650735
I'd suggest looking for a used halide pendant. They are pretty cheap and easy to set up. Check with Craig. My extra pendant came from there, paid $50.
Clearly, lightning is not one of my strong points. From what I've read, a 150w MH would be enough (tank is 30 in long and 18 in deep). How do the pendants mount above the tank? It seems that they need to hang from the ceiling. There are a few clamp-on fixtures.
What about T5 or CF? Am I looking at the same wattage requirements?
 
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