Did this event cause SPS bleaching ??

cjrudy · Jul 30, 2013

A few weeks ago I changed out all six T5 bulbs and used the screen method, starting with four and taking one off a week. I have used this method in the past with no issues.Currently still have two screens in place.

On Sunday and Monday I noticed some minor bleaching on some of my SPS primarily near the base but also near the tips on a few. And I am wondering if what happened Saturday and Saturday night is the cause.

I was gone all day Saturday and the tank temperature got up to 84 which is five degrees more than normal.(Unfortunately the screens also hold in the heat more) My controller shut off my lights and heaters but the tank remained that high most of the day. Saturday evening when I got home the tank was still 84 and only dropped to about 82 overnight.

The other major issue was sometime overnight my main pump seized up, my MP10 fell off after a snail got stuck and broke the impeller and my MP40 seized up and shutdown. So I literally had no water flow with a tank temp of 82 for upwards of 7-8 hours.

My question is, did this specific event cause the sudden bleaching ?

Lastly, there were no swings or changes in parameters

Alk 9.0
Ca 480
Mg 1300
No4 .02
Po4 .004
Salinity 1.026

Aqua fire/medic · Jul 30, 2013

Jeez, you had that all happen at once? I would say yes, but I am far from an sps expert.

christo203 · Jul 30, 2013

I would say the failure of the equipment with the heat increase where the main cause of the problems you ran into. Between not having circulation and high temperatures that is your cause.

I think the lights may have had a small role in the problem, but not the main cause.

Trex · Jul 30, 2013

What is (( if any )) your normal temp swing?
If you don't normally let the temp swing, a 5* jump (( along with the flow issue )) could have very easily started the bleaching issue.

Years ago I had my tank jump up to 89* (( left the temp probe out, during a fall evening with the windows open )), but since my tank normally swings 8* (( depending on the time of day/year )), there were no ill effects.