Kenya tree corals may be a soft coral species, but they’re super hardy. This doesn’t mean they’re invincible. Sometimes, even the hardiest corals may start dying rapidly.
When that happens, you have to know the right solutions to that problem.
Why are your Kenya tree corals dying?
Sometimes Kenya tree corals appear to be dead. However, that’s just a shedding process. But they indeed die if the environment is too harsh.
For example, bad lighting can easily starve the corals to death. It can easily be sorted out by installing good lights. Bad magnesium and calcium levels also affect Kenya tree corals negatively.
Anyways, that was just a short preview of the entire discussion. Keep reading if you want to know more about Kenya tree corals.
Why Do Kenya Tree Corals Die?
Even after being beginner-friendly and hardy, Kenya tree corals can die. They’re fairly easy to look after and maintain. A great similar example would be toadstool corals.
Despite being one of the easiest to maintain, toadstool coral may not open sometimes.
Kenya tree corals aren’t that much different, either. Both of these corals are user-friendly but can die easily if neglected.
Shedding is a common reason why you may see some dead corals. Many corals shed their bodies to get into a newer one.
This way, they can get rid of sand and accumulated waste.
However, some other serious reasons need quick treatment. These are-
Reason 1: Lack Of Lighting Can Cause Rapid Death
Most corals require a solid light source to stay alive. They’re heavily dependent on Photosynthesis.
That’s why without a light source, they’re unable to produce food. As a result, they start to starve and die.
Kenya tree corals aren’t any exception. The biggest enemy of Kenya tree corals is the lighting. They’re pretty sensitive toward it.
You’ll need some really good lighting to ensure better survival. Improper lighting is also why chaeto turns white.
Solution: Use Lights & Maintain An Optimal Lighting System
Since Kenya tree corals require a lot of light, you can’t go cheap. You’ll have to get some really good lights if you want the best survival.
The recommended lighting level for Kenya tree corals is PAR 80-250. This is easily achievable by using T5 lights, LED Bulbs, etc.
But lights aren’t the only thing that needs to be right. The coloration is as important as lights.
As for the coloration, you’ll need around 14K to 20K color spectrum. That’s usually considered the best coloration for Kenya tree corals.
Also, you might want to upgrade your bio cube LED. The upgrade will be great for maintaining aquariums.
Reason 2: Low Amount Of Magnesium Ruins The Integrity
Water’s alkalinity levels can be a possible reason. Although they can survive bad water, it’s not always guaranteed.
Like other minerals, magnesium plays a key role in coral life. It’s the third most found atom in the sea.
Thus, a lack of this mineral can cause your coral to die.
Solution: Check & Adjust The Magnesium Levels
Unfortunately, magnesium levels are hard to maintain because it gets easily altered when you add other minerals, such as calcium.
Because of that reason, magnesium levels must be checked regularly. The proper magnesium levels for Kenya tree corals are 1200 to 1300 ppm.
Adding magnesium doesn’t alter the alkalinity of your water.
Reason 3: Calcium Imbalance Can Prove Fatal
As mentioned, water’s alkalinity is very important for a Kenya tree coral. Another one of these alkaline minerals is calcium.
Sea corals depend heavily on calcium. Without a proper calcium balance, your coral is bound to die.
This is the same for Kenya tree coral. Calcium is directly responsible for your coral’s growth. Without it, your corals will shrink and may stop growing.
Solution: Keep The Calcium Balance Checked
The calcium level for Kenya tree corals is 350 to 450 ppm. This level can be maintained by using a test kit.
You also need to lower the alkalinity to balance everything out. If these seem too complex, don’t hesitate to ask for help.
Just contact your nearest aquarists, and they’ll love to help you.
FAQs
Question: How big do Kenya tree corals get?
Answer: Kenya tree corals can get pretty big in a very short time. Most of them become 6 inches to 16 inches big.
They’re also invasive, which means they can spread really fast. Within a short time, your entire aquarium will be full of them.
Question: Do Kenya tree corals need to be fed?
Answer: Kenya tree corals require no feeding. But they do require constant lighting and a good source of algae.
These corals eat algae found in the water using the photosynthesis method.
Question: Why is my Kenya tree not opening?
Answer: it can be due to multiple different reasons. The lights could be the culprit. Nearby fish may harass your coral.
Sometimes alkalinity in water can also be a solid reason for not opening.
Conclusion
That was everything on Kenya tree corals dying. We did our best to bring everything together to help you out. Hopefully, these were enough to satisfy your curiosity.
One last tip before we go: don’t forget to change the water from time to time. You can also contact your nearest aquarium services to get ideas from experts.
These will help you keep your corals safe and lively.
