Acans starting to get brown.

[b_s_c1]

I bought a 15 head colony about 2 months ago and over the past week a couple of heads are starting to turn brown. The water chemistry is write on and has not been changed or altered. I went to the LFS to get a bottle of revive and they where all out. So I went to Pet Smart and found a bottle of Melafix by API and did a dip. I have never heard of this product and was wondering if it is any good. I bought it because it was all I could find and did not want to wait for the revive to come in.

Will this fix the problem or do I still need to do a revive dip?

Also what could be causing this?

Thanks

[sedor]

I wouldn't dip the coral unless you are noticing some sort of pest that is causing the problems. Turning brown does not sound like a pest problem to me. You could have a bit of a NO3 or PO4 problem. Or the acan could simply be adjusting to your tank. I would give it some time and just let it be unless you start noticing some die-off.

[b_s_c1]

Nitrate and Phoshate are undetectalbe on my API test. I thought my test might have been off so when I was at the LFS yesterday I had them run a test and they matched mine.

[PCfishman]

what are your dkh, CA, and Mag. levels?

[b_s_c1]

8 dkh
480 CA
980 Mag.

Not really sure on the mag. I just got a Salifert test kit in and it reads 980. I did a test on fresh mixed oceanic salt water and got a 1500 when it should read 1650. I have to get another test kit to verify my Mag.

On a plus side the Acan is looking much better. I did lose one head but almost all the browning is gone. All I did was a dip in Melafix by API and moved the coral to a place that gets less flow.

[PCfishman]

dkh looks good. CA definitely too high should be no higher than 420, however if you raise your mag levels your CA should fall inline.

Glad to hear the acan is doing better.

[IFbettas]

How much light are you giving the acans? I have to keep my acans underneath other corals and overhangs in the shade or else they turn brown. The colony might be receiving too much light.

[b_s_c1]

I am running a TX5 the acan is sitting on the bottom. The depth is 16" from top of tank to top of sand and the light is 4" above tank. It could be to much light. I have a couple of SPS on the bottom and the look good and grow fast.

Bulb configuration

Blue Plus
Aquablue Special
GE 6500
Aquablue Special
Blue Plus

[dvmsn]

Do you mean brown jelly like substance brown or brown in general appearance?

[b_s_c1]

brown in appearance

[BLKTANG]

dkh looks good. CA definitely too high should be no higher than 420, however if you raise your mag levels your CA should fall inline.

Glad to hear the acan is doing better.

CA is fine at 480 maybe a tad high.But of no concern.

Your Mg at 980 is low.JMO Shoot for 1100-1200.

Any chance of a picture?

[b_s_c1]

It is looking much better now. Most of the brown is gone. I just did a water change and moved the coral in a shaded spot, so it is not the best time for a pic. When it plumps back up I will post a pic.

I did get my mag up. I am now at 1170

Thanks