Open Brain faded ~help!~
 

We have a beautiful little purple, red and green open brain coral. Recently it has started to fade to a more flesh toned color where the purple and red were. The green is still vibrant though. It looks like it's going to start dividing too. It feeds well. I've even done direct feeding about 30 minutes after turning out the tank lights and it takes it easily (mysis and blood worms), just to be sure it's getting food.

Water parameters are all great. No nitrates showing. I even took my water in to the LFS to confirm it. We are changing the water about 20% every 4 weeks.

I tried Googling it too and didn't find much that I'm not already doing.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I would really appreciate your help. I really want to save this coral if I can.

Thank you!

with coral problems and colors best bet is to post your parameters as you took them and all the info about your tank you can like flow and light lighting ,reactors etc.

without theres not a whole lot to go off even if everyone says the tests are fine theres other things to consider like what you do to make these parameters all fine.cheers:)

actually post what light you are running and how close the brain is to them

Brain is sitting on the sand, somewhat sheltered from the light. Flow is one of the quieter areas in the tank.

No reactors. Water changes 20% every 4 weeks.

Lights:
2 white - T5, Super Actinic, 54/85w
2 blue - T5, 54w

Water:
pH - 8.1
Nitrates - 0
Nitrites - 0
Ammonia - 0.1
SG - 1.022

Hmm seems more than fine there, do you have before and after pics of the brain??

so judging from what you have posted your brain needs some more light, so id say move it out to more direct lighting or higher in the tank. the feedings your giving it are keeping it alive barely but it still needs light.

shouldnt be any amonia and your salinity should be bumped up a little bit both easy fixes.

i would get a test kit for alk,phosphates,calicum if you plan on keeping corals they reveal alot as well.:)cheers

Before:
http://i897.photobucket.com/albums/a...G_5741_web.jpg

After:
http://i897.photobucket.com/albums/a...8/IMG_6027.jpg

The color balance is a bit off in the second one. It is not quite as bright a green but it is still green, not yellow like it looks here.

hate to say it but that badboy is dying i can see some bleaching and skeleton?? how old is your tank??? are you running any reactors or sump/refuge??

No reactors, no sump, no refuge.

Tank is well established. It was set up at our neighbors for 4 months then they moved it 4 doors down to our house. Been set up and doing really well for 13 months at our house.

Any hope for this little guy you think?