Problems with birdsnest

[reefwizz]

Hey, I have a medium sized colony of short polyped birdsnest. I first put it at a medium level in my tank, and when it started to bleach on the tips, I moved as soon as i could. It is now in a moderatly high spot and seems "on the edge" of almost dying. I have a two-bulbed metal halide (300 watts) and have about four other sps and all look great. The water perameters are: ph: 8.3, ammonia: 0, nitrite: 0, nitrate: undetectable, calcium: 450, kh: 8.8, alkalinity: 3.12, salinity: 1.023, and temperature: 78-80. I have five fish: 1 ocellaris clown, 1 sailfin tang, 1 dispar anthias, 1 yellow watchman goby, and 1 six-line wrasse. Its a nice colony and I'd hate to see it go. Any advice or experience would be appreciated

[rholguin]

The birdnest that I own are placed low to mid level and mine are under t-5. Ive read that bird nest do not require a lot of light, and if started bleaching I would have move it down instead of up.

[sin05_omar]

Perhaps the "bleached" tips which you first observed is growth tips.... A picture will help determine as to whether it is really growth tips or bleached?

[reefwizz]

What do you feed yours, how much, and when. Also, do you know if they need a lot of flow?

[reefwizz]

Not sure how to upload a photo, but I can see that almost the whole branch is white. Half of the colony looks good, but some of the branches are white and seem to be trying to recover. I feed it often, hoping that would help it.

[sin05_omar]

I feed mine with fish poop ..Lol i.e when i feed my fish they crap and when they do the crap nourishes the sps...

birds nest especially colonies need lots of water movement... but never direct laminar flow... strategic placement where the return flow and tunzes intersect will be ideal...


If i is a whole branch turn whit it most probably means that the SPS has tissue necrosis... perhaps please inform us of your SPS keeping husbandry..?