Montipora looking funny…

Zeal · Jul 10, 2021

Title

Alk 8.9
Calc 460
Mag 1280
Temp 78

So a couple of my Montiporas have been acting a bit strange these past couple days.
I’m not entire sure what could be the issue.

As you can see in the picture they look kind of white up top and also have like brown stuff coming off of them.

The only thing I can think of is my light(?) I run AB+ full blues with whites at 20%. The whites used to be 10% but I bumped them up hoping to get a bit more par.

I relocated these montis to a fellow reefers tank in hopes of saving them… also this cherry tree colony we cut yesterday brown up top…

I do weekly waterchanges with Tropic Marin salt.

Also I did have a minor Alk swing about 3 weeks ago but nothing really suffered. It not sure if that Alk swing is related to the Montis…

MnFish1 · Jul 10, 2021

With apologies - I can't see what you're talking about - except for perhaps the tips of one coral. IME, either the alkalinity swing (how much)? or the light change (did you happen to check the PAR?) could cause the symptoms - and likely they will be temporary. When I have increased light - I have also tried to increase flow some - in the tank in general - it seems to help prevent some of these issues. Likewise, an alkalinity swing 'up' with increased light can be a double whammy without increased flow.

Zeal · Jul 10, 2021

MnFish1 said:
With apologies - I can't see what you're talking about - except for perhaps the tips of one coral. IME, either the alkalinity swing (how much)? or the light change (did you happen to check the PAR?) could cause the symptoms - and likely they will be temporary. When I have increased light - I have also tried to increase flow some - in the tank in general - it seems to help prevent some of these issues. Likewise, an alkalinity swing 'up' with increased light can be a double whammy without increased flow.

I did not check par.

Alk swing it went down to 7 then slowly brought it up to 8 over time. I ran out of Alk supplement.

If you look at pictures 2/3 youll notice theres a bit of brown on it

elorablue · Jul 10, 2021

Umm they look good?
Moving them to another tank may accelerate any issues you may have, wouldn’t it?

MnFish1 · Jul 10, 2021

Zeal said:
I did not check par.

Alk swing it went down to 7 then slowly brought it up to 8 over time. I ran out of Alk supplement.

If you look at pictures 2/3 youll notice theres a bit of brown on it

I would not call that an 'alk swing. And I agree with you its probably not playing a role. I think the coral look great in general - and I would tend to not fuss with them - unless there is worsening. Again assume all of your parameters are 'correct'.

Zeal · Jul 10, 2021

You guys really don’t see the bleaching?

MnFish1 · Jul 10, 2021

Zeal said:
You guys really don’t see the bleaching?

No - BUT, since we haven't seen it before, as compared to now, its hard to say. If you changed your light - that could easily cause subtle changes. I might make absolutely sure that your lights are set the way you wanted them (ie. in case you made an error when you made the change). If you could annotate the pictures where you see changes - it would also be easier to see what you mean. Do you think there is any evidence of coral warfare going on - i.e. causing damage?

Zeal · Jul 10, 2021

MnFish1 said:
No - BUT, since we haven't seen it before, as compared to now, its hard to say. If you changed your light - that could easily cause subtle changes. I might make absolutely sure that your lights are set the way you wanted them (ie. in case you made an error when you made the change). If you could annotate the pictures where you see changes - it would also be easier to see what you mean. Do you think there is any evidence of coral warfare going on - i.e. causing damage?

Nope no coral warefare. My gut is telling me light issue...