Help! whats happening to my coral?

[meemoo]

I got this frag from a fellow reefer and I have noticed over the past couple of days it's loosing polyps and turning white. What should I do is there anything to save this is one of my favorite corals?

 

[MikeG]

Sounds like it is bleaching out. Is there a big difference in lighting between the tank it came from and yours?

 

[NateHanson]

Are those zoanthids? You probably have a zoanthid fungus that is difficult to cure, but doesn't often become a systemic problem.

 

[meemoo]

Sounds like it is bleaching out. Is there a big difference in lighting between the tank it came from and yours?

I did switch my MH's from 20K to 10 K recently, all other coral seem fine.

 

[NateHanson]

After a second look at the scale of the picture I guess that's a close-up of SPS and not a far-away shot of zoas. So I probably couldn't be farther off with my last guess.

 

[MikeG]

What kind of coral is it? Has it been in your tank for a while or was it just added? Did you do any type of acclimation when changing bulbs like raising the fixture or putting some screen on the tank to block out some light?

 

[meemoo]

Are those zoanthids? You probably have a zoanthid fungus that is difficult to cure, but doesn't often become a systemic problem.

Not zoanthids, but a blue polp montipora of some sort.


I did raise the lights and lowered my photoperiod while acclimating to the new lights.

 

[MikeG]

Is it just turning white (bleaching) or is the tissue coming off of the skeleton (STN, RTN)?

 

[meemoo]

I'd be surprised if it was bleaching as the area that is turning white is shaded or not directly facing the lights. I am thinking the other problem. Am I at a loss with this coral if it is STN/RTN.

 

[MikeG]

If it is a tissue necrosis, my first suggestion would be to frag some of the unaffected area as this will give the best chance for some of the colony to make it.

 

[Reef55]

check parameters... alk, calcium, magnesium, salinity.

Also, 10k's have a LOT more PAR (useable light) than 20k's. Which exact model wattage bulb did you go to / from? Which ballast are you using?

Mark

 

[meemoo]

I have the 10K AB bulb switched out a 20K AB bulb. I think my ballasts are HQI. I will check my params now.

 

[meemoo]

Nothing unusuall with my parameters- SG= 1.026 Ph=8.1 Alk= 2.5meq/l (been this for a year)
CA=400

 

[Richard]

Is there anything near by that could sting it?

 

[meemoo]

Is there anything near by that could sting it?

A while back my RBTA was awfully close. I got a closer look and the white part does not look like it has any polyps and is turning a little greenish where I first noticed it turn white last week. Could the sting cause RTN?

 

[Richard]

Could the BTA have been stinging it befor it was moved?

The green you are seeing is probly algea growing.

Have it receded more since last week?

 

[meemoo]

Could the BTA have been stinging it befor it was moved?

The green you are seeing is probly algea growing.

Have it receded more since last week?

yeah everyday a bit more, thats why I am worried I will lose the whole thing

 

[Richard]

I would take MikeG advise and frag it, a smaller piece would be better the no piece. Or take a chance and run a bead of super glue along the receding line and try to stop the advance of tissue lost.

 

[meemoo]

Thanks everyone I will frag and cross my fingers.

 

[Reef55]

Assuming your AB's are 250 watt doubled ended, according to Sanjay's reef lighting information, the 10k has 104 PPFD and the 20k 45 PPFD. So the 10k will look about twice as bright to your corals in comparison to the 20k's.