Why is my coral losing color?

[Betsy]

Both undersides of these two corals are bleaching??? Why? They're at the top of my tank under an AI prime light.

 

[Lonny]

Shading and lack of flow maybe? My birds of paradise is bone white towards the bottom and middle for those reasons. Just a guess though.

 

[Betsy]

The flow is closest to them actually. Don't know??

 

[Betsy]

 

[Lonny]

Lol, I don't mean lack of flow in your tank. I mean the coral has grown and it, itself is blocking light and flow. With mine you can't see the bleaching till night when the polyps recede. Then it's very noticeable. The coral is healthy but the parts being blocked from flow or light bleach. Again I'm guessing but your corals look healthy.
Do not think I know what I'm talking about! This is just a guess based off what happens in my tank lol. Has there been any changes lately? Light, flow, parameters?

 

[Lonny]

Nice tank by the way!

 

[Betsy]

It's worse!

 

[Betsy]

 

[jsker]

Were are your No3 po4's at. Are you dosing any trace elements?

 

[Betsy]

Dosing calcium and alkalinity

 

[Betsy]

I think I found the culprit

 

[Betsy]

 

[jsker]

Dosing calcium and alkalinity

There are several programs out there the introduce elements via doing for you color and health of your corals . I would take a look at those to introduce the elements that are being depleted for the salt you are using before water changes. I would say that is your issue with coloration. I use the Balling Method to manage my trace elements

 

[jsker]

Astira star

 

[Betsy]

Do you think removing them will resolve my issue?

 

[ksc]

No. Asterinas feed on the dead tissue. How long have you had those acros and how long has the tank been set up?

 

[jsker]

Do you think removing them will resolve my issue?

I have them all over my tank and I am fortunate the ones I have do not eat the corals. Here is some reading for you on asterina stars A re you sure that it is the stars? or the lack of nutrients and elements?

 

[Perry]

I have thousands of Asterinas, they are on the coral to get algae, nothing more, working on the skeleton, not eating tissue. If I had to bet, I would go to the chemistry aspects of the tank first. Run tests and take it from there, I would bet alk is the cause

 

[Scott.h]

Could it be a residual effect of an alk spike from a few weeks ago?

 

[Betsy]

No. Asterinas feed on the dead tissue. How long have you had those acros and how long has the tank been set up?

The acros have been here about two months. I'll check them chemistry tonight to see where we're at. This just started within the past week.