Why do corals bleach for no reason

[Pizzapro83]

All my levels are dead on. MY TEMP IS STABLE AT 78. My TDS is .01. My bulbs are only two months old and I can not figure out why I have a coral here and there bleach every week. I take very good care of my tank. Why do chalices just die or bleach for no reason?

 

[kiraburk]

Maybe it has to do with the lighting. May be too strong or not strong enough. Placement can also be a determining factor, along with your water parameters.

 

[Pizzapro83]

Yea I know that. But I had a tiny frag that grew into four eyes and was in the same spot for six months and just bleached.

 

[Ike]

Are they bleaching white or just lightening color? Are you using T5's?

 

[Supreme Reefs]

Would it have anything to do with how old the bulbs are?

 

[Ike]

Would it have anything to do with how old the bulbs are?

New T5 bulbs can bleach stuff for sure, changing MH's doesn't see as bad but that can still do it as well.

 

[akunochi]

Yeah if you just replaced bulbs then the PAR may be higher causing it to bleach. Heep an eye on your parameters as well. I know a slight change in salinity can bleach things for a bit.

 

[FaviaFreak]

T5's bleach chalices like nobody's business if you aren't careful

 

[holdyourlight]

i think i bleached just about everything in my tank when i put new t5's on

i reduced the lighting cycle by 3 hours but i turned a few of my chalices to skeletons

acans were also bleached.......Z's, P's and SPS were unaffected, does this sound right?

i guess the question is what is the proper procedure for acclimating to new lights?

 

[thomasdo87]

either raise the light, shorten time the lights are on, or use layers of screen mesh and take a layer off every so often.

 

[Ike]

i think i bleached just about everything in my tank when i put new t5's on

i reduced the lighting cycle by 3 hours but i turned a few of my chalices to skeletons

acans were also bleached.......Z's, P's and SPS were unaffected, does this sound right?

i guess the question is what is the proper procedure for acclimating to new lights?

Reducing photperiod isn't a very effective method, it's the intensity change that's the issue, not the duration. Some eggcrate with a few layers of fiberglass screening is a good method, and remove one layer of screening every week or two.

 

[uchin]

What par is best for chalice?

 

[Ike]

What par is best for chalice?

Depends on the chalice and the way the light is delivered... In general figure they're more of a medium light coral.

 

[roshi719]

Also if it is mostly chalices you are having a problem with I would double check your magnesium and make sure it stays between 1300 and 1500

 

[Harry_Y]

I was just thinking about this (changing lights)
since Mine are approaching that time.

I was thinking of changing 1 or 2 bulbs a week
or month would be reduce the light shock.

Something to think about.

 

[Ike]

I was just thinking about this (changing lights)
since Mine are approaching that time.

I was thinking of changing 1 or 2 bulbs a week
or month would be reduce the light shock.

Something to think about.

I had issues even when changing two at a time, so just changing 1 isn't a bad idea. If you have a less than stellar fixture or tend to use lower par bulbs it's not as important.

 

[Pizzapro83]

My bulbs are not old. I use power brite for atinics. My mag is 1350. Once the coral is bleached and white will it come back. Why do the bleach?

 

[elekamit]

Well, I can tell you I've got a 400watt MH on my 100g and most of my LPS have bleached white within days.
Since then I've shortened the lighting time to 4 hours a day and have ordered an ATI SunLight 6x39 watt T5s.
I'm going to make it very blue, I don't care about growth, just color 4 me