I need help!!

[NauticalMiles1010]

It looks to be that my coral is bleaching In some spots. What do you think the problem is

thanks.

 

[T-J]

Bleaching is usually a sign of too much light. Can you give more info on your tank? Lights, parameters, age, etc.

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Swings in alk. Ph. Temp. Salinity. Light as said. Or even nutrients can cause stony based corals to bleach or brown.
Check. Check. Check. Report back. Make sure to use 2 tempature refrences and a good refractometer calibration fluid is used.
D

 

[Pistondog]

What fish do you have in the tank?
I ask because the white spots are high off the surface, which look like my blue spot puffer whacked it.
Also some of the white spots in the pic are in shadow, so maybe not light.

 

[NauticalMiles1010]

Bleaching is usually a sign of too much light. Can you give more info on your tank? Lights, parameters, age, etc.

Let’s start. The tank is a 15 gallon cube with a AI prime HD. The tank Parameters are
Cal 450 PPM
KH 9.5 DKH but it went down to 9
Phosphate 0.6 PPM
Ammonia 0 PPM
Nitrate 0.4 PPM
Ph 8.2
The tank is 7 months old.
the filtration is only a HOB with a Fuge.
the AI are only running at 31 WATS. And the tank is 18 inches deep, the coral is about 15 inches from the top of the tank.

 

[NauticalMiles1010]

Swings in alk. Ph. Temp. Salinity. Light as said. Or even nutrients can cause stony based corals to bleach or brown.
Check. Check. Check. Report back. Make sure to use 2 tempature refrences and a good refractometer calibration fluid is used.
D

I did recently had a all swing of .5 DKH would that be a problem?

 

[NauticalMiles1010]

What fish do you have in the tank?
I ask because the white spots are high off the surface, which look like my blue spot puffer whacked it.
Also some of the white spots in the pic are in shadow, so maybe not light.

I have a Springer Damsel. A Bicolor Blenny, and a Peppermint Shrimp

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

No. Im told or under the understanding a swing of 1 is acceptable in a 24ish hr period. Good to bump it back up though where it was.
D

 

[NauticalMiles1010]

No. Im told or under the understanding a swing of 1 is acceptable in a 24ish hr period. Good to bump it back up though where it was.
D

Will do thanks for the help!

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Do u know ur salinity?
D

 

[Double monti 61]

Maybe it needs more light and some food!

 

[NauticalMiles1010]

Do u know ur salinity?
D

Yes it’s 1.025 specific Gravity

 

[Pistondog]

I have a Springer Damsel. A Bicolor Blenny, and a Peppermint Shrimp

Peppermint shrimp will bother some corals. Got some for aptasia, they bothered the hammer.

 

[NauticalMiles1010]

Maybe it needs more light and some food!

Maybe the light. It’s difficult to get it just right because it’s a mixed reef with SPS, LPS, and Soft Corals. I think it should be fine with food, because I feed Reef Roids once a week but maybe I’m doing something wrong.

 

[NauticalMiles1010]

Peppermint shrimp will bother some corals. Got some for aptasia, they bothered the hammer.

Usually the only time I see it bother the corals is when feeding.

 

[Pistondog]

Usually the only time I see it bother the corals is when feeding.

The white damage pattern doesn't look uniform enough to be light induced.
And some of it is in shadow.

 

[T-J]

Let’s start. The tank is a 15 gallon cube with a AI prime HD. The tank Parameters are
Cal 450 PPM
KH 9.5 DKH but it went down to 9
Phosphate 0.6 PPM
Ammonia 0 PPM
Nitrate 0.4 PPM
Ph 8.2
The tank is 7 months old.
the filtration is only a HOB with a Fuge.
the AI are only running at 31 WATS. And the tank is 18 inches deep, the coral is about 15 inches from the top of the tank.

Phosphate is really high and nitrates are really low.

 

[Sam816]

when in doubt add amino acids and see if the coral gives a feeding response. if yes, then feed them. the white spots could be because of high flow or fish/shrimp touching climbing on the coral.
feeding them will give them energy and nutrients to recover. this is my take. i am a novice though

 

[NauticalMiles1010]

Phosphate is really high and nitrates are really low.

Do you know how I can fix that? I run GFO in my filter. But I don’t have a protein skimmer. Should I add some more fish to raise the nitrate?

 

[NauticalMiles1010]

when in doubt add amino acids and see if the coral gives a feeding response. if yes, then feed them. the white spots could be because of high flow or fish/shrimp touching climbing on the coral.
feeding them will give them energy and nutrients to recover. this is my take. i am a novice though

Thanks I dose Amino every day at night. But this coral is difficult to see the feeding response do you know what to look for? I appreciate it.