Reversing bleaching in a montipora

[LordJoshaeus]

Hi everyone! I have a plating montipora that appears to be partially bleached - part of its edge and its center are white on an otherwise brown to green and red coral (depending on the lighting). Is there anything I can do to reverse it? Nitrates and phosphates are both zero...I think it's because I am having problems keeping the frag plug from falling into the sand. Thanks

 

[lapin]

Mine bleached a lot because of added lighting and higher alk. I turned the new lights down a bit and reduced the alk from 9.5 to 8.5 where it was when I got the monti's 4 months ago.
Not that this will help you but its one problem with a solution.

 

[LordJoshaeus]

So...if I can just keep the monti from falling into the sand again it may eventually recover? The bleaching is now covering more than half of the coral.

 

[TheHarold]

If it’s half the coral you might want to break it or use superglue to separate the healthy vs dying flesh.

 

[Scotty Buttons]

What kind of lights are you running? Bleaching is usually because of too much light. And yes keeping it out of the sand will help.

 

[Breadman03]

Check out the BRS video on using superglue and epoxy for frag mounting. It may help you out.

 

[LordJoshaeus]

I am using a PAR38 ABI tuna blue 23 watt bulb over a 5 gallon tank.

 

[SKYHIGGh]

It’s alk most likely. I have a few monti and when I had alk issue they bleach got all back down to the 9 range and have come all the way back now from all the way white! I almost tossed it a few times thinking it was dead to be honest. I run my hydras very high almost 100% majority of time. It’s alk for sure I think

 

[SKYHIGGh]

I also did not break mine just left it alone and it came back fully almost at this point

Before and now

 

[DSC reef]

Falling in the sand can be an issue for sure. We had a bit of bleaching when nutrients got to low with a higher alk and par as well. Make sure alk swings are kept at a minimum .