Red Montipora Dying

Fumbles · Aug 30, 2018

I’ve had my tank up for almost 5 months and this coral has been here since the beginning. Recently it’s started bleaching and spreading and I don’t know what could be wrong. All other coral and livestock is fine.

Nitrate and alk were tested with a test strip. I know the alkalinity is very high, but I question the accuracy of the strip and will be getting a different test kit for that.

Let me know if I missed anything. Thanks in advance.

Magnesium 1500
Calcium 400
Temp 78
Salinity .025
PH 8
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 40 ppm
Alk 300 ppm
Phosphate >0 and <.25

Crabs McJones · Aug 30, 2018

Better test kits would be a good start, I really like the Salifert or the Red Sea test kits. For alkalinity the Hannah Digital checker is wonderful. What are you using to replenish your calcium and alkalinity?

Fumbles · Aug 30, 2018

Crabs Mcjones said:
Better test kits would be a good start, I really like the Salifert or the Red Sea test kits. For alkalinity the Hannah Digital checker is wonderful. What are you using to replenish your calcium and alkalinity?

Thank you. I’m using calcification(Infrequently) and not dosing anything for alkalinity. I read water changes will help lower alkalinity.

Crabs McJones · Aug 30, 2018

Fumbles said:
Thank you. I’m using calcification(Infrequently) and not dosing anything for alkalinity. I read water changes will help lower alkalinity.

Alkalinity and calcium are generally consumed in equal amounts, so you want to dose both. If you're dosing calcium and not anything for alkalinity it could cause issues. I would look into Kalkwasser for a calcium and alkalinity suppliment. It's super easy to use

As far as your monti, parameter swings or out of wack parameter numbers can cause the bleaching youre seeing.

TexasTodd · Aug 30, 2018

What lights do you have and have you changed anything with them?

Fumbles · Aug 31, 2018

TexasTodd said:
What lights do you have and have you changed anything with them?

It’s a kessil a160we and no I haven’t changed its settings. The most recent change to lighting I made was moved it from a 12 hour cycle to an 8 hour cycle to control algae 2 weeks ago.

TexasTodd · Aug 31, 2018

Well, I wouldn't think reducing photo period would hurt so the light is probably out as a possibility.

Grsfish · Sep 3, 2018

I agree with other comments and would get better test kit before you make any more changes. Also dosing kalkweiser was one of the easiest changes I made to help my tank to keep calcium and alk stable.

Fumbles · Sep 4, 2018

Thank you, I’ve got it all on order!

madweazl · Sep 4, 2018

How far below the water line is the coral?
How far above the water is the light?
Is the coral directly under the light?

Monti caps can do well under very little PAR (50-100) and I've had them bleach out right around 250 PAR in my tank.

Fumbles · Sep 4, 2018

madweazl said:
How far below the water line is the coral?
How far above the water is the light?
Is the coral directly under the light?

Monti caps can do well under very little PAR (50-100). I've had them bleach out right around 250 PAR in my tank.

I’d say the coral is about 4 inches below and the light about 4 inches above. I feel this shouldn’t have an impact though since the coral has been healthy and growing for almost 5 months. It started as a flat plate.

madweazl · Sep 4, 2018

Fumbles said:
I’d say the coral is about 4 inches below and the light about 4 inches above. I feel this shouldn’t have an impact though since the coral has been healthy and growing for almost 5 months. It started as a flat plate.

I just looked at your parameter again, are you sure alkalinity is 300ppm (16+ dKh)?

Fumbles · Sep 4, 2018

madweazl said:
I just looked at your parameter again, are you sure alkalinity is 300ppm (16+ dKh)?

No, that was with a test strip. I have a Hanna checker on its way for a better reading.

madweazl · Sep 4, 2018

What salt mix are you using? Frequency of water changes? Some mixes are quite high out of the box and combined with a higher salinity, could exacerbate this. Are you using a refractometer that is calibrated with a 35ppt solution? The swingarm style hydrometers arent the most accurate but they're generally pretty close if used properly.

Fumbles · Sep 4, 2018

madweazl said:
What salt mix are you using? Frequency of water changes? Some mixes are quite high out of the box and combined with a higher salinity, could exacerbate this. Are you using a refractometer that is calibrated with a 35ppt solution? The swingarm style hydrometers arent the most accurate but they're generally pretty close if used properly.

I’m using instant ocean with weekly 10% changes. ro/di. Occasionally I will go 2 weeks. I am using a refractometer that was calibrated with freshwater and then double checked at my lfs.