Bleaching acropora

HiddenClown · 10/18/2006, 12:28 PM

What can I do for a bleaching acro? I think the problem was that he wasn't getting enough flow and now I have changed that. Is there anything I can do? As of right now, only a few of the tips are starting to turn white.

-Thanks

Travis L. Stevens · 10/18/2006, 12:48 PM

Most likely if you've only had a tank up for about 3 months, it's not ready for that type of coral. But, normally, different colored tips are often an indication of growth. In the even that it is under direct, high powered flow like from a powerhead, you could be doing more harm than good. What are your water parameters and lighting?

HiddenClown · 10/18/2006, 12:59 PM

My experience and tank are out of date. I had a 30 gal. for about 2 years and then moved it to a 65 gal. I'v got a coralife light that is has 2 150 watt HQI bulbs. The coral itself is about a foot right under one of the bulbs. Water parameters are all good and where they should be but calcium and it was down to 370 ppm. The tip aren't just whats becoming white, it is slowing starting to run down the stalks of the coral.

J_Geisinger000 · 10/18/2006, 03:50 PM

cant help if you dont list all your params?

HiddenClown · 10/18/2006, 06:43 PM

ph 8.2
nitrite 0
nitrate 0
calcium 400
alk. 14.1 dKH (i haven't dosed to raise it so i don't know how or why it's that high. the only thing I can think of is the new substrait from when I switched to the 65 gal.)
ammonia 0
mag. 1000 ppm

I know calcium and magnesium are alittle low but would that cause this problem? I don't believe so but I want to make sure. Also the very tips of the acro aren't bleached it starts right after the very tip top of the stalk, the tips are still the color of the rest of the acro.

HiddenClown · 10/18/2006, 07:59 PM

bump, please guys any help?

HiddenClown · 10/18/2006, 09:30 PM

bump

Trigeek · 10/19/2006, 04:58 AM

Did you add any new LR during the upgrade? If you did, you might be getting some die off from something in the rock (sponges, bacteria etc.) that would release stuff into the water that might not show up on the test kits. Acro is ultrasensitive to parameter changes which is why they do best in mature, stable systems. Are you getting temperature swings or pH swings during the day?

GMAX · 10/19/2006, 08:11 AM

With alkalinity that high you may have burned the coral. A strong base is just as caustic as a strong acid.

Big water change and then add some white table vinegar to start bringing the alk down a bit. Only dose calcium for a bit to allow the alk to drop naturally too.

HiddenClown · 10/19/2006, 10:18 AM

temp stays around 79-80 during the day and wouldn't the die off from new live rock show up at ammonia and nitrates?

GMAX · 10/19/2006, 10:23 AM

NSW is 7 dKh recommended range is 7-11. You are at 14.1! And this is a logrhythmic scale not a linear one so you have an extremely base tank. It aint anything else.

HiddenClown · 10/19/2006, 11:53 AM

you think the only problem is the high alk.?

grego · 11/14/2006, 01:29 AM

mine is at 12.6, and the same thing my acros started to bleach from the tips now IÂ´ll try to bring it down to 8-9

theatrus · 11/14/2006, 02:12 AM

It could be many many things, but very high kH or kH swings are a leading cause of the demise of acros.

I would do some water changes with water you know is roughly where you want it dKH and Ca wise. Personally, I run 10.5dkH and 460ppm Ca.

10/18/2006, 12:28 PM	#1
HiddenClown Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Virginia Posts: 276	Bleaching acropora What can I do for a bleaching acro? I think the problem was that he wasn't getting enough flow and now I have changed that. Is there anything I can do? As of right now, only a few of the tips are starting to turn white. -Thanks

10/18/2006, 12:48 PM	#2
Travis L. Stevens Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Perry, OK Posts: 13,946	Most likely if you've only had a tank up for about 3 months, it's not ready for that type of coral. But, normally, different colored tips are often an indication of growth. In the even that it is under direct, high powered flow like from a powerhead, you could be doing more harm than good. What are your water parameters and lighting? __________________ Travis Stevens Current Tank Info: Restarting 28g Bowfront

11/14/2006, 02:12 AM	#14
theatrus 100-mile-commuter Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: almost nevada Posts: 4,721	It could be many many things, but very high kH or kH swings are a leading cause of the demise of acros. I would do some water changes with water you know is roughly where you want it dKH and Ca wise. Personally, I run 10.5dkH and 460ppm Ca. __________________ Custom electronics purveyor. blueAcro.com Current Tank Info: 90g SPS+mixed reef (10 yrs): LEDBrick LEDs, 40g custom sump, Ca reactor, chiller, Vortech, lots of custom electronics

10/18/2006, 12:59 PM	#3
HiddenClown Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Virginia Posts: 276	My experience and tank are out of date. I had a 30 gal. for about 2 years and then moved it to a 65 gal. I'v got a coralife light that is has 2 150 watt HQI bulbs. The coral itself is about a foot right under one of the bulbs. Water parameters are all good and where they should be but calcium and it was down to 370 ppm. The tip aren't just whats becoming white, it is slowing starting to run down the stalks of the coral.

10/18/2006, 03:50 PM	#4
J_Geisinger000 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: United States P.A. Posts: 748	cant help if you dont list all your params?

10/18/2006, 06:43 PM	#5
HiddenClown Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Virginia Posts: 276	ph 8.2 nitrite 0 nitrate 0 calcium 400 alk. 14.1 dKH (i haven't dosed to raise it so i don't know how or why it's that high. the only thing I can think of is the new substrait from when I switched to the 65 gal.) ammonia 0 mag. 1000 ppm I know calcium and magnesium are alittle low but would that cause this problem? I don't believe so but I want to make sure. Also the very tips of the acro aren't bleached it starts right after the very tip top of the stalk, the tips are still the color of the rest of the acro.

10/18/2006, 07:59 PM	#6
HiddenClown Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Virginia Posts: 276	bump, please guys any help?

10/18/2006, 09:30 PM	#7
HiddenClown Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Virginia Posts: 276	bump

10/19/2006, 04:58 AM	#8
Trigeek Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Broward County, FL Posts: 638	Did you add any new LR during the upgrade? If you did, you might be getting some die off from something in the rock (sponges, bacteria etc.) that would release stuff into the water that might not show up on the test kits. Acro is ultrasensitive to parameter changes which is why they do best in mature, stable systems. Are you getting temperature swings or pH swings during the day?

10/19/2006, 08:11 AM	#9
GMAX Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: DFW Posts: 839	With alkalinity that high you may have burned the coral. A strong base is just as caustic as a strong acid. Big water change and then add some white table vinegar to start bringing the alk down a bit. Only dose calcium for a bit to allow the alk to drop naturally too.

10/19/2006, 10:18 AM	#10
HiddenClown Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Virginia Posts: 276	temp stays around 79-80 during the day and wouldn't the die off from new live rock show up at ammonia and nitrates?

10/19/2006, 10:23 AM	#11
GMAX Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: DFW Posts: 839	NSW is 7 dKh recommended range is 7-11. You are at 14.1! And this is a logrhythmic scale not a linear one so you have an extremely base tank. It aint anything else.

10/19/2006, 11:53 AM	#12
HiddenClown Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Virginia Posts: 276	you think the only problem is the high alk.?

11/14/2006, 01:29 AM	#13
grego Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 116	mine is at 12.6, and the same thing my acros started to bleach from the tips now IÂ´ll try to bring it down to 8-9