Yellow birdsnest bleaching out???

[eww]

We put a yellow birdnest in a week ago. It was dark yellow at the time maybe even almost brown. I glued it right at the top of the top rock where there is LOTS of light and LOTS of flow. It is now almost completely white. Under the actinics there a little glowing green area at the end of each branch. Has it died? If it has, did we do something wrong? If it hasn't died can I do anything to bring it's color back? The water parameters have all been consistently good and the temp is a little warm (I think) at 81-82. I can't get it any cooler. I'm not even running a heater at all right now. I am installing several fans really soon to ventilate the hood and one in the stand to take care of the sump area. I am hoping this will help with temperature control. Everything else in the tank seems to be thriving, including other SPS.

We are completely new to this hobby and any help/advice is appreciated.

 

[Cwazy Clown]

First off, you didnt mention what lighting you have.

If you have halides, it shouldnt be at the very top. I've noticed with all my nests, they do really well at the bottom of my tank.. with very low light. The colors seem to come out more.

Its probably bleached. Try moving it lower in the tank.

 

[lvsuckerfish]

he has t5's I would move more to the middle of the tank and not to bright of an area those are low light loving corals low light and strong enough flow to keep detrius and algea off the branches.

 

[eww]

First off, you didnt mention what lighting you have.

If you have halides, it shouldnt be at the very top. I've noticed with all my nests, they do really well at the bottom of my tank.. with very low light. The colors seem to come out more.

Its probably bleached. Try moving it lower in the tank.

You are right. Sorry about that. We are running 36" T-5's on and Icecap 660 with individual TekII reflectors. They are bright. I think we could grow SPS on the sand bed at 30" deep . They are about 4-5" above the water surface and the birdsnest is about 8" below the surface. You think this is why?

 

[eww]

he has t5's I would move more to the middle of the tank and not to bright of an area those are low light loving corals low light and strong enough flow to keep detrius and algea off the branches.

Thanks Justin. We will move it tomorrow then and get it some relief and hopefully it will rebound.

 

[lvsuckerfish]

I always put mine in mostly shaded area as I never like birdsnest lol so it is off to the side most of the time. when I do have it in my tank. right now I have birds of paradise ORA in there it is below my powerhead and under a almost full frag rack. that was after I fragged it. before I had it on the back side of a rock under another frag rack. all they way low may be good also. they can also be grown under pc and regular 12 bulbs it is a easy coral that doesn't agree with me most of the time

 

[jrgilles]

green on the ends makes me think its still alive, but not sure

 

[jrgilles]

might want to lower the temp a bit. Seems dangerously high.

You could fill some plastic soda bottles with tap water and freeze them, then rotate them in and out of your sump. Should cool the tank off a bit until you get some good fans going.

 

[Herefishyfishy]

Mine are top dead center directly under halides. They will do fine almost anywhere you put them, but need to acclimate them to what thet are used to. They can lose color with any changes and prefer STABILITY over any other single issue.
(Really enjoyed chatting with you guys at the BBQ)

 

[TJL]

Ya +1 for what Mike said, although IME of the two species of Birdsnest Corals Seriatopora caliendrum (rounded or blunt tips) doesn't seem to enjoy as much light as S. hystrix (pointed or tapered tips). The S. caliendrum 'Green Birdsnest' in the top center of my tank has actually grown down & away plus bleached/browned out a bit along with the other two colonies from my VHO lighting while the S. hystrix 'Pink Birdsnest' 3" away has thrived and stayed vibrant in color. They have all shown exceptional growth but is why I recently replaced one of my 'Actinic White' with another 'Super Actinic' to get some of thier fluorescent green color back. Most corals will bleach or brown out a bit with any change in lighting intensity or color (Kelvin temp) but recoupe color or change color as it settles in/adjusts to your levels.

Todd

 

[kevinpo]

Hello,
Most likely the response is due to a change in lighting from where is was previously housed. This is a good example how important it is to take note of the placement of the coral and the type of lighting it was under before bringing it home. When in doubt always start the new coral as far away from your lights as possible. It is much easier to make a browned-out coral color up than a bleached one.

Regards,
Kevin
PS: If you have some color from actinic lighting most certainly it is alive. Do not give up on it. Place it lower and give it some time.