Bleaching from the bottom up

[SallyWho]

I've got three frags in quarantine and they've been doing all right until the past week. As you can see, they're bleaching at the bottom. Water parameters are listed below. I'll do a water change to bring the salinity up a smidge, and try to get the temp down a degree or two. But what else can I do to help them? Is the water too clean (zero nutrients)? The light & flow haven't changed since I put them in there, so I doubt those are suddenly causing problems. Do I need to frag them to stop the bleaching from advancing?

Temp 79.0
Salinity 1.023
Ammonia, nitrite, and nitrates all 0
Phosphates 0
Mg 1500
Ca 500

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

That’s not bleaching
That’s tissue necrosis. Most likely from starvation from zero nitrogen or lack of light or both.

 

[SallyWho]

That’s not bleaching
That’s tissue necrosis. Most likely from starvation from zero nitrogen or lack of light or both.

How can I add nutrients without causing an ammonia spike?

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

How can I add nutrients without causing an ammonia spike?

Shouldn’t be an issue if your qt is cycled

 

[SallyWho]

Shouldn’t be an issue if your qt is cycled

There's a few snails in there for algae control, so it should be okay for a very light bioload. A small squirt of phyto, maybe?

 

[Graffiti Spot]

I would frag the two that are worse above the necrosis and remount them. Temp is fine just keep it where it’s been. What are you using for biological filtration in the tank?

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

There's a few snails in there for algae control, so it should be okay for a very light bioload. A small squirt of phyto, maybe?

What’s the alk in there? What light do you have over it?

 

[SallyWho]

I would frag the two that are worse above the necrosis and remount them. Temp is fine just keep it where it’s been. What are you using for biological filtration in the tank?

There's a mesh bag of ceramic media in the corner. Otherwise, just the sponge filter, heater, and powerhead.

What’s the alk in there? What light do you have over it?

Alk is 7.4. A bit low, but a water change ought to help that. I don't dose anything.

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

There's a mesh bag of ceramic media in the corner. Otherwise, just the sponge filter, heater, and powerhead.

Alk is 7.4. A bit low, but a water change ought to help that. I don't dose anything.

The alk is fine. What are you using for light?

 

[SallyWho]

The alk is fine. What are you using for light?

I forget what it was called, but I bought it and the bulb from a seller on here. It's worked well for all the softies and LPS I've QT'd in there These are my first true SPS frags.

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

I forget what it was called, but I bought it and the bulb from a seller on here. It's worked well for all the softies and LPS I've QT'd in there These are my first true SPS frags.

Probably not enough light for acros for a long period of time. How long have they been in qt?

 

[SallyWho]

Probably not enough light for acros for a long period of time. How long have they been in qt?

One month.

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

One month.

I think they need more light. I would put them in your display.

 

[SallyWho]

I think they need more light. I would put them in your display.

Lol, funny story, that! I'm replacing my canopy over my display, and all I have for lighting right now are the radions propped up on tupperware. **facepalm** Those corals appear to be doing okay at the moment, though.

So I might clip and remount those two frags with the most necrosis and move them all to the display. There's probably more light and definitely more nutrients and flow in there.

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

Lol, funny story, that! I'm replacing my canopy over my display, and all I have for lighting right now are the radions propped up on tupperware. **facepalm** Those corals appear to be doing okay at the moment, though.

So I might clip and remount those two frags with the most necrosis and move them all to the display. There's probably more light and definitely more nutrients and flow in there.

Radions propped up on Tupperware over water?? I wish you, and your neighbors, the best of luck

 

[SallyWho]

Radions propped up on Tupperware over water?? I wish you, and your neighbors, the best of luck

Omg, no, sorry! I have glass tops on the tank!!!! ;Hilarious