Why is my Chalice Bleaching?

Coral Pimp · Jun 17, 2012

So i have tis piece for about 6 months now and it bleached on me 1 month ago. Its still alive. i was running 4 blue plus 24w ati bulbs but now switched to 2 bulb. all parameters are in check and the temp stays at 78f. I have another chalice going down hill as well my convict ;( Whats my problem?

wysiwyg · Jun 17, 2012

my guess would be its not getting enough light

k2parkstar · Jun 17, 2012

I would try more light as well. My chalices are all under 4 bulb t5's some higher up than others.

Coral Pimp · Jun 17, 2012

really? i thought chalices like low light? i had him on the sand bed rocking and rolling!

fab1971 · Jun 17, 2012

yeah, i don't really think you want to give a bleached chalice more light, that's for sure. gl with your piece.

Coral Pimp · Jun 17, 2012

Hey frank what should i do then?

fab1971 · Jun 17, 2012

a bleached chalice, in my experience, is the result of a piece getting shocked by too much light, being stung by a nearby neighbor or sudden changes in alkalinity. I think the best thing would be to keep it in partial shade and just hope it can come back to health.

k2parkstar · Jun 17, 2012

Typically I would agree with keeping low light but considering he went from 4 bulbs to two I don't think it's to much light. Frank is right about the Alk, so that maybe something to look into. That being said I've got 3 chalices in my tank that have gotten better color under higher light. No two pieces are alike though. So good luck to you.

Steelerfan747 · Jun 17, 2012

My guess would be the change of light as well. I would try moving it up but that's just my opinion

fab1971 · Jun 17, 2012

Info below is taken directly from Wilkepedia. Again, my advise to you is not to raise your chalice and give it more light. I've never heard or seen anything that supports this theory. While it may or may not hurt it, I'm almost positive it won't help it in any way.

Coral bleaching is a generalized stress response of corals and can be caused by a number of biotic and abiotic factors, including:

increased (most commonly), or reduced water temperatures^[4]^[5]^[6]
increased solar irradiance (photosynthetically active radiation and ultraviolet band light)^[7]
changes in water chemistry (in particular acidification)^[8]^[9]
increased sedimentation (due to silt runoff)^[10]
bacterial infections^[11]
changes in salinity^[12]
herbicides^[13]
low tide and exposure^[14]
cyanide fishing^[15]
elevated sea levels due to global warming (Watson)

While most of these triggers may result in localized bleaching events (tens to hundreds of kilometers), mass coral bleaching events occur at a regional or global scale and are triggered by periods of elevated thermal stress resulting from increased sea surface temperatures.^[9]

Coral Pimp · Jun 17, 2012

My alk was at 7. is that bad for a lps tank?

k2parkstar · Jun 17, 2012

Coral Pimp said:
My alk was at 7. is that bad for a lps tank?

Natural ocean water is between 8-12dkh.

fab1971 · Jun 17, 2012

Coral Pimp said:
My alk was at 7. is that bad for a lps tank?

I keep mine at 7.5 - 8. It's more important to keep it stable. Fluctuations and instability will surely kill the sensitive pieces fast. I've learned that lesson the hard way

Coral Pimp · Jun 19, 2012

i just boosted it up to 8, see a good difference already. whats the most important factor when i comes to chalices?

k2parkstar · Jun 19, 2012

Stability. Find a good spot for it and don't touch it. As previously stated typically lower light brings out the most color, but in my experience moderate light encourages more growth.

H2O · Jun 19, 2012

I read a bunch of treads that say when chalice is receding to check Magnesium first

mcarroll · Jun 20, 2012

Coral Pimp said:
My alk was at 7. is that bad for a lps tank?

For those following along, that's 2.5 meq/L - precisely the danger number where I've personally had bleaching and STN multiple times. Not always, but usually.

Problem is that with alk that low, pH can start swinging to dangerous levels - that's what really p's off your corals.

Reduction in light may have stressed them, but the low alk is really what you want to correct. See what happens from there.

BTW, I would probably do a nice 20-25% water change, retest, then make your dose from there. Divide the dose into at least AM and PM doses, or half today and half tomorrow. (You dig?)

Good luck!

-Matt

Coral Pimp · Jun 21, 2012

mcarroll said:
For those following along, that's 2.5 meq/L - precisely the danger number where I've personally had bleaching and STN multiple times. Not always, but usually.

Problem is that with alk that low, pH can start swinging to dangerous levels - that's what really p's off your corals.

Reduction in light may have stressed them, but the low alk is really what you want to correct. See what happens from there.

BTW, I would probably do a nice 20-25% water change, retest, then make your dose from there. Divide the dose into at least AM and PM doses, or half today and half tomorrow. (You dig?)

Good luck!

-Matt

yea i dig ll thanks for all the info.

Coral Pimp · Jun 28, 2012

now some of my acans are going bad! losing lots of $ here

SeahorseKeeper · Jun 28, 2012

Can you post a full spectrum of parameters? Also, your tank maintenance procedures? Also, FTS? How about some detailed info about the tank and its inhabitants? We'll help solve this mystery.