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Any More I can do for a bleached Birdsnest?
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BobC63 View Drop Down
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Joined: January 17 2007
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    Posted: March 12 2012 at 10:38pm
I bought a pretty Tubbs Birdsnest off the board back maybe mid - late January.
 
Unfortunately, I placed it too close to my halide and bleached it within the first week Ouch
 
Anyway, I then placed it way low in the back corner of the tank out of the direct rays of the halide, kinda of figuring it was probably a goner.
 
To my surprise, it is still alive... here is a photo from late February, 2 or 3 weeks so after I bleached it:
 
 
 
So, how do I know it is still alive?
 
 - It still has good PE (if you look close enough - can't see that in the photo)
 
 - No algae on the skeleton (like if it was dead)... still looks pretty much this color today (3 weeks after this photo was taken; 6 weeks or so after I bleached it). Whenever I do ever lose an SPS the dead skeleton gets green or purple coralline on it within a week, max. No algae growing here...
 
 - I think it has actually grown a little bit / growth tips
 
I guess I am ahead of the game since it hasn't died - but is there anything else I can do to get it to color back up?
 
 
- My Current Tank: 65g Starfire (sitting empty for 2+ years) -

* Marine & Reef tanks since 1977 *
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bur01014 View Drop Down
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Points: 1435 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bur01014 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 12 2012 at 11:21pm
Polyps = It's alive

I've had good success bringing back bleached SPS corals by spot feeding twice a day with a liquid food supplement - usually oysterfeast and fuel mixed.  I also cut lighting down in half and notice significant improvement within 2-3 weeks.   

However- I do know you have just battled some algae issues, so you may not want to go this route of feeding and try to exercise more patience. 

If you're confident your tank has stablized, I might would pull the gfo or run less to let the coral rebound. (believe you were running gfo?) Birdsnest are usually pretty tolerant of light, so you think it could have bleached due to lack of nutrients?  Did it you see any improvement after your blackout? There is always difficulty in finding this balance-->  More light=counter with more food.  Less light-feed less.

So in the end- it may just need time- definitely less light, spot feeding will help speed its recovering, but don't overdue it.  I also would make sure there is no direct flow on it. 


Edited by bur01014 - March 12 2012 at 11:24pm
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bur01014 View Drop Down
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Points: 1435 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bur01014 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 12 2012 at 11:31pm
oh- and one more option!

Some corals that I've beached and thought they were a lost cause, I threw down into my sump (not in direct light of my fuge light) in a low flow, dim environment.  I forgot about these frags and came across them a few weeks later to have found them significantly darker.  You can take a small frag of your tubbs and try this!

Another thing to keep in mind is that the coral will likely brown out first, then regain color.  Many people think a bleached coral will rebound to beautiful color, however, you almost have to brown it out first for it to fully recover, then slowly improve the lighting and flow around it for it to achieve its best color again.

Good luck!
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BobC63 View Drop Down
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Joined: January 17 2007
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Points: 8968 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BobC63 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 13 2012 at 9:08am
Thanks for the tips Smile
 
The coral is in one of the lower flow areas of the tank right now. I do have a branch that broke off awhile back; I think I will toss that branch in the sump (in a lower flow / less lit up area) and see how it goes.
 
I'm fine with browning out first; at least that will show progress
 
And I do have plenty of liquid foods I could spot feed with, including the Oyserfeast... but I think I will hold off on that part for a little while longer, as I am still dealing with some cyano / dinos on my sandbed Angry and so have been trying to ease up on the feedings...
 
 
 
 
- My Current Tank: 65g Starfire (sitting empty for 2+ years) -

* Marine & Reef tanks since 1977 *
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Akira View Drop Down
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Points: 1640 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Akira Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 20 2012 at 10:42pm
Bob do you have a close up of the birds nest? I did the same thing , I move him low in the tank for several weeks as he began to recover my yellow tang seemed to like picking at it, I have seen no algae and have moved him to a lil slower flow up higher and seems to rebounding after a week or so . The tang has lost interest in it for now . Also other than oyster what can u spot feed sps ?
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