Torch partially bleaching (maybe?)

[Brian1f1]

Tank full of generally thriving LPS (including multiple other torches). Have had this one green torch for a few months, and it’s been kind of a diva. Can’t handle flow well at all. Anyway, it’s been on the sand bed for a couple of months and doing fairly well. I noticed it isn’t opening as much lately and the top halves of a lot of its tentacles are getting very very light (not white white, but getting there). The bottom half of the tentacles and the flesh the tentacles come out of is still green, so the contrast/change is obvious.

I’ll try to post a pic tomorrow. Could this happen bc of too little light? I can’t imagine it’s getting too much on the sand bed below the other torches and hammers. Can flow issues cause it? Debating moving it, but at this point not sure which direction to move it in or really what the deal is‍

 

[Brian1f1]

Here are some photos in just natural sunlight, before it opens for the day to see if anyone has any thoughts.

When it expands some and the lights are on it’s a bit more obvious, but I think it’s pretty clear even in these photos.

 

[Brian1f1]

Bump, I moved it across the tank, roughly same light, lower flow.
Anyone have any thoughts on what might cause this?

 

[LiveRockmia]

Too much flow can definitely cause the flesh to tear against the hard skeleton. Unstable alkalinity and calcium are usually the culprits. Do you have an auto top off? Stable paramenters are key. Chemical warfare between corals can also be a cause

 

[Brian1f1]

Too much flow can definitely cause the flesh to tear against the hard skeleton. Unstable alkalinity and calcium are usually the culprits. Do you have an auto top off? Stable paramenters are key. Chemical warfare between corals can also be a cause

I’ve torn this particular piece before... it hates flow, more than any torch I’ve seen. It has been in a lower flow area for months and seemed pleased until recently. My ca and alk seem to be relatively stable, if a bit high, generally above 500 and 10.5 to 11.2. I do have a large ATO,
a 35 gallon can that lasts about three weeks and delivers a relatively weak kalk solution (less than one tsp per gallon currently). Other torches, hammers, frogspawn, favia seem to be thriving. I do have one lepestrea that won’t open but isn’t dead or lacking color. A really nice WWC “burning” one.

I did move it again this week, it’s extending more in ultra low flow, not sure if flow can cause color loss, but I guess maybe we will see.

 

[Brian1f1]

Better pics if interested. Tested Alc today. It’s crept up to 12 from 11.2 over about a month. Must be the Kalk, even though it’s a lowish dose. I’ll probably back it off a bit.