Why are my button polyps dying?

[twhaddon]

Hello all. I have had some green button polyps since I have had my tank (April 2013). They have done great ever since, but now I noticed a few of them are losing their green and are turning a dark brown and gray. I thin they are dying, but I have no idea why. Below is what I have and I just tested the water when I saw them like this.

120 gallon tank
Foxfish
Clown
2 blue reef chromis
Coral beauty angel fish
Tiger watchman goby
Flame Hawkfish
2 cleaner shrimp
3 emerald crabs

Candy cane coral
Zoanthids
Elephant ear mushroom
Baby branch hammer

Tests:
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - less than 10
Ph - 8.2
Phosphate - 0
Salinity - 1.025
Temp - 77.9

Uv sterilizer
GFO
Carbon
Skimmer

Any ideas is greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[spike]

How about your lighting? Hard to kill button polyps. I am sure there are many that would love to know your secret. I did have a foxface that I am sure was eating my zoanthids, but never touched a button polyp.

 

[heathlindner25]

must be a higher power looking over your tank for you...

 

[twhaddon]

The lighting I have is from BRS - Hamilton Fiji Sun T5 HO Fluorescent Lighting System with LEDs.

Higher power? Secret? I take it the button polyps are not very highly desired? Still new to reefing so I wouldn't know. I just now was able to get the nitrate below 10.

 

[ringo®]

Do you have them near the top of your tank?

 

[twhaddon]

Actually on bottom. Possibly move up?

 

[spike]

I would move up some, maybe middle area. Sounds like they are not getting enough light. Does it look like they a reaching up for light/ stretched out? BTW Button polyps are fine, just watch out for them they can spread and take over your tank. Unless extremely high, nitrates will not bother Button Polyps.

Edit: I would move up some, maybe middle area. Sounds like they are not getting enough light. Does it look like they a reaching up for light/ stretched out? BTW Button polyps are fine, just watch out for them they can spread and take over your tank. Unless extremely high, nitrates will not bother Button Polyps.

 

[twhaddon]

I will try moving them up - thanks!!!