The truth about a brain?

While salinities vary in the ocean from place to place the average is 35 ppt.(1.026)
1.022 is indeed low. 1.023 would be the minimum range for a Reef tank.Keeping it at the low range(1.023) leaves little room for errors in testing and implementation.
Any stony coral will benefit from a higher salinity and Brain corals are especially sensitive to low levels of the big3.It is much easier to keep proper levels in solution at a higher salinity. Here's a good read for you April and Vareef.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-03/rhf/
I would slowly raise the salinity to 1.025 using a calibrated device.
I would also test Alk.,Calcium, and Magnesium.

 

I guess my post was misinterpreted.

Yes 1.022 is low compared to what most of us keep our tanks at, and I'm not sure why anyone would intentionally keep it at that level,however I don't believe it's "so low" as you stated, so that it's detrimental to corals in the long term given the proper maintenance of elements used in calcification.

I'm not advising the OP to maintain that salinity level, I already mentioned higher salinity levels facilitate maintanance of the big 3, I can't even think of a reason to maintain it at that. I just believe that 1.022 is within the cusp of acceptable salinity levels for a reef tank yes it's not advisable, however if it's certainly able to maintain a healthy reef, I don't think it should be spread that it's "bad." Directly stated or implied.

April, While raising salinity, remember not to do more than .001 per day, so as not to stress the corals further. Again, calc alk and mag measurements will help, because as stated before, these will often be lower than advisable levels at lower salinity if not properly maintained.

 

1.022 is not within the acceptable range. I am not sure where you are getting that from. 1.022 is .03 from the preffered salinity for healthy,growing stony corals.You said yourself you don't know why someone would keep it at that level.Would it help you if I changed my first response to why is your salinity low? Lol Did you read the link I posted?I posted several reasons why keeping it low is detrimental (bad idea).I dont think I misinterpreted anything.

 

I agree. I think having salinity that low would be detrimental to corals, especially long term. April, slowly get the salinity up and keep the big 3 stable. I'm wondering if ammonia being present in the tank might be affecting the coral negatively as well.

 

Hey guys. My decision is to slowly raise my salinity. I'm going to attempt to raise it 0.001 daily and see if that helps.
Although I have been involved in this hobby, for about 3 years, I'm still a bit like a noobe, I inherited my first tank and sorta ran blind with it for about a year and a half, then over the last year and a half really began to learn about it and understand. This forum has provided sooooo much knowledge since I became involved! I have absolutely fallen in love with tanks, corals and the hobby in general and I appreciate all your recommendations and support. I'll let you know how the brain works out!

 

I do have a question about this though, all of my other corals are Thriving! I have listed below:

Pink hammer coral
Green hammer coral
Duncan
Yumas
Bubble coral
2 finger leathers
6 different kinds of Zoas totaling about 1200-1500 polyps
Another scolly brain
Two different torches
Blue mushrooms
A tone of gsp
A green tip anemone
And a Haitian anemone

My live stock is:
A few turbo snails
An emerald crab
A convict tang
Dragonet
Clown fish
And recently a decorator crab that had to be evicted!

 

Btw Vinny, creepy zombie profile pic! Love Halloween! Way to be in the spirit!

 

That's a nice stock list! Since having my reef tank running for years now I've noticed that certain corals will show stress way before another coral does. Try not to assume that the tank is good because other corals are fine. The brain could be alerting you of a bigger problem arising. I've learned this from first hand experience.

 

Good point.

 

Soft corals are alot less sensitive when it comes to salinity,PH,alk,calcium and mag. levels. Soft corals thrive in filthy tanks ime.
As I stated earlier Brain corals are particularly sensitive. Think of them as the Canaries of the coal mine.
There is a difference between surviving and thriving and it can be very hard to determine which is actually occuring. I have no doubt corals can survive at lower salinities but if we have learned anything its that corals can handle one stressor maybe even two but three or more can tip the balance.For instance if temperatures rise they could handle it to some degree. Add a change in salinity and/or increased acid levels and you get a dead Reef.These corals are more resilient then they are given credit.
There are lots of variables at play and your salinity could be only part of the problem.If you are keeping stony corals it will serve you well to get test kits to monitor the big3.Since there are few things that we can easily test for and diagnose it is best to start there.