Encrusting montipora bleaching

[Talkofdacity]

I recently bought an encrusting montipora placed it in my tank about mid way up.after a few days I noticed during the day it was starting to lose color but over night looked like it had recovered a little I tested all my parameters and nothing seemed out of check. All my other corals seem to be doing fine. It's in a JBJ nano cube 24 idk if the leds are putting out to much light but I lowered it to the sand bed to try and see if it helps. Any opinions would be appreciated. Here is a pic of it currently.

 

[Ron Reefman]

I'd like to help, but first I have to say that photo is worthless. Turn off the blue lights or use a flash to get better true colors.

Sorry for the rant, but photos are so useful in IDing problems, but they need to show the problem.

It's possible the leds were too intense at that depth in the tank for that coral which may not have been acclimated enough for that light level. Moving it down was a good step. Saying your parameters were in check is also not very helpful. What were they? Alk is the first one that can be an issue for sps corals. But Ca, Mg, nitrates, phosphates and temps are also important. The more data you can provide, the better your chances of getting worthwhile help.

So you post up more info and lets call out the Reef Squad. #ReefSquad

 

[BestMomEver]

It would be helpful if you could post your parameters. Also, when you put a new photo up, also do a full tank shot so we can see where the coral is in your tank. Also, what lights are you using?

Btw... welcome to the reef! We’re glad to have you here!

 

[Talkofdacity]

25 Gal
04/01 Monday 03:12 PM
Temperature: 81 °F
Nitrate: 5 ppm
Phosphate: .25 ppm
Salinity: 1.25
Alkalinity: 11 dKH
Calcium: 450 ppm

 

[Talkofdacity]

25 Gal
04/01 Monday 03:12 PM
Temperature: 81 °F
Nitrate: 5 ppm
Phosphate: .25 ppm
Salinity: 1.25
Alkalinity: 11 dKH
Calcium: 450 ppm

I'm running the stock LEDs on the cube I was told it was more then enough for sps I have a platting Monti at the top that is doing fine

 

[homer1475]

If I had to gather a guess, The 11DKH could be the issue. I know if my alk creeps up toward the higher side of 9, my plating monti starts loosing color in the center. Bring my alk back down to more normal levels, and it colors right back up.

 

[resortez]

If I had to gather a guess, The 11DKH could be the issue. I know if my alk creeps up toward the higher side of 9, my plating monti starts loosing color in the center. Bring my alk back down to more normal levels, and it colors right back up.

I second this. Also, a temperature of 81 seems a bit high, I would drop it 2 or 3 degrees. See if that helps.

 

[Talkofdacity]

If I had to gather a guess, The 11DKH could be the issue. I know if my alk creeps up toward the higher side of 9, my plating monti starts loosing color in the center. Bring my alk back down to more normal levels, and it colors right back up.

I'll try that thanks

 

[Talkofdacity]

I second this. Also, a temperature of 81 seems a bit high, I would drop it 2 or 3 degrees. See if that helps.

Will drop it a degree tonight n do the other tomorrow thank you

 

[MrObscura]

I highly doubt 81 degrees is the issue. Most corals we keep have evolved over millions of years to thrive in a range of temps from low 70s to upper 80s. I really don't understand why people think 78 vs 81 is going to make a difference.

11dkh could be an issue if it wasn't used to that high a level and suddenly subjected to it.

 

[Ron Reefman]

I completely agree with MrObscura about the temperature. Getting into the 80's is where some issues start, but that's really more like the middle 80's. So lots of people just shy away from anything in the 80's. I don't have many sps corals in my current tank, but my tanks have always been in the 79 to 82 degree range.