monti cap fading

[t blackwell]

help! I got a metallic green monti cap ( my first monti) about 3-4 weeks ago..kept it on the bottom for a week or so then moved it up a rock..its about 22 to 24 inches from light source which is 320 watt razor that runs about 80 percent at its peak..the monti cap has def faded over the last ten days...my calcium is good ..alk has been 7.8 to 8..all other paramters are good..only poor parameter is nitrates which are 35..phos is good..everything is good..my ph is 7.8 to 8.0 ..help..I toned the light down a little..but I cant figure out what I have done wrong..dont want to kill it ..help appreciated

 

[Js.Aqua.Project]

I personally have found that when montis are fading but retaining their flesh, the problem tends to be not enough light. I would try increasing your intensity. If you can borrow a PAR meter, try to get them in the neighborhood of 225-250.

If the flesh seems to be going too, that's a different issue most likely related to nutrition.

 

[t blackwell]

I personally have found that when montis are fading but retaining their flesh, the problem tends to be not enough light. I would try increasing your intensity. If you can borrow a PAR meter, try to get them in the neighborhood of 225-250.

If the flesh seems to be going too, that's a different issue most likely related to nutrition.

Im not experienced enough to say much about the flesh..to me it looks intact no sign of disintegaration..but..the color has definitely faded from a metallic green to well..very faded whitish green..so you think its not likely I burned it..I was worried about that..it had about a week on a frag rack then moved up about 10 inches...I thought monti needed at least medium light and was likely used to it in the frag tank at the store...so you think it may be not enough..certainly me turning it down wouldnt help would it...lol...I have glass tops that need to be cleaned..even though it looks well lit to me and I didnt have it at 100 percent..its to the left of the major portion of the leds...I guess i will try turning the light from say 75 ish back up to 95 or 100..320 watts with glass top and a good 20 inches from that coral should not burn it should it..again it was not centered and perhaps you are right..maybe it wasnt getting enough..I have it about 6 inches below my gyre so its not direct but it gets a good current passing above it..and catches some from the other end..I would appreciate more help..I dont want to kill this thing!! ( how long does it take..do they recover)

 

[LilElroyJetson]

Can you post a photo? Has it been moved or was it just set in the same spot it’s sitting in from the day you got it? How long has the tank been up? Any other parameter shifts (i.e. temp, etc.) that may have occurred? Are there other SPS in the tank and if so, how do they look?

 

[t blackwell]

Can you post a photo? Has it been moved or was it just set in the same spot it’s sitting in from the day you got it? How long has the tank been up? Any other parameter shifts (i.e. temp, etc.) that may have occurred? Are there other SPS in the tank and if so, how do they look?

ok ..its in a 220 gallon tank..been up right at a year..the light is a 320 watt razor 15k with two channels white/blue. paramters..all have been checked by me to include an aquamedic test a couple of weeks ago..cal 468 alk has been 7.8 to 8.0 mg fine phos good..the only parameter I have that is not in line is my nitrates which are a bit high at about 35 to 40.. temp seems fine averages around 79 with a high of maybe 81 and a low of maybe 78..ph has been tested a few times..7.8 and 7.9. when i got the cap I first put it on a frag rack near the bottom (its my only sps) I have a hammer couple of acans a torch and a couple of zoas and a duncan. after about a week I glued it to a rock about halfway up my 30" high tank..the light sits on glass top and the monti is off to the right ( not under the middle of the light but closest to the end led..its about 20 to 22 inches from light to monti cap..I have had the light peak at about 80 percent though I have toned it down a little and then back to where it was ( minor change in percent) other corals seem to be doing just fine ...it wouldnt bleach from too little light would it? I thought that was usually too much..or you have an alk issue or maybe high phos..I appreciate the help and advice..its def fading over the last week ..I want to figure it out and save it if possible..do they recover..if they bleach some?

 

[t blackwell]

ps I really dont have a decent camera right now to get a picture...but also no pic of the nice kind of metallic green it was when i got it almost a month ago...

 

[LilElroyJetson]

ok ..its in a 220 gallon tank..been up right at a year..the light is a 320 watt razor 15k with two channels white/blue. paramters..all have been checked by me to include an aquamedic test a couple of weeks ago..cal 468 alk has been 7.8 to 8.0 mg fine phos good..the only parameter I have that is not in line is my nitrates which are a bit high at about 35 to 40.. temp seems fine averages around 79 with a high of maybe 81 and a low of maybe 78..ph has been tested a few times..7.8 and 7.9. when i got the cap I first put it on a frag rack near the bottom (its my only sps) I have a hammer couple of acans a torch and a couple of zoas and a duncan. after about a week I glued it to a rock about halfway up my 30" high tank..the light sits on glass top and the monti is off to the right ( not under the middle of the light but closest to the end led..its about 20 to 22 inches from light to monti cap..I have had the light peak at about 80 percent though I have toned it down a little and then back to where it was ( minor change in percent) other corals seem to be doing just fine ...it wouldnt bleach from too little light would it? I thought that was usually too much..or you have an alk issue or maybe high phos..I appreciate the help and advice..its def fading over the last week ..I want to figure it out and save it if possible..do they recover..if they bleach some?

It could be fading from not enough light and if it is that and it’s not experiencing Slow Tissue Necrosis (STN) then it’s possible for it to regain it’s color but would take a while and in my experience is unlikely unless you solve the issue. I tried to do some research but didn’t find much in the way of the Razor.

Here is a thread of someone having similar issues with SPS losing color using the Razor due to lack of light intensity:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/maxspect-razor-settings.282230/

Typically I don’t advise moving corals around because that typically just adds to the stress but with yours deteriorating I think it may be worth a shot. Can you move it up higher or to a higher intensity area in the tank to see if it responds positively or at least stops fading? Is the monti large enough that you can frag off a piece that still has it’s color to save it just in case?

My last guess is maybe it’s the opposite, and it’s light shock after being moved up too quickly, but I definitely think it’s light related, as your parameters look fine (with exception to the pH being on the lower side and the nitrates being on the high side, but I don’t think that’s what’s causing this). Try to turn off flow and get any sort of photo even from your phone if possible, that would be helpful. Please keep us posted!