Signs that SPS is coming back from the dead

Naturalreef · Oct 26, 2020

Purchased a vivids confetti from a well know vendor and it came in browned out and stressed. Week later it completely bleached in 200 par with no visible polyps. I have had completely bleached/dead coral come back before, but I didn’t pay close attention to the recovery. The confetti has been completely stark white for the last week. I turkey basted very little algae of the tips, but now in the last two days the internal skeleton is filling with brown with a little darker brown patches here and there. Anyone recover bleached sps and watched the recovery day to day? Wondering if this is zoox populating the coral? Really hoping this one comes back. Thanks for any input!

lemonade · Oct 26, 2020

It's impossible to tell what's going on with that much blue light. Most of the time if an acro completely bleaches but is still living it will have some polyps visible whether they are retracted or extending depends on your tank. Also the coral may be white but no algae will grow on it. If algae begins to grow on the coral it's dead.

schuby · Oct 26, 2020

I have a frag right now that turned completely white, right after receiving it, except for one tiny nub. The white got covered with algae and then coralline. After 3+ months, the nub has grown to about a half-inch square of tissue and growth, growing over the coralline and protruding from base.

As @lemonade said, once a coral goes completely white then gets completely covered with algae, I've never had one come back. Any tissue or polyps and there is still potential for a comeback.

Naturalreef · Oct 26, 2020

Thanks guys, lights were just coming on hence deep blue. I have had completely dead coral (fox flame and rainbow loom)no polyps and algae covered come back from the dead so I know it’s possible. Just wondering if anyone had documented it.