SPS Bleaching - Is it the light?

[viking]

I have 3 SPS pieces at the top of the water column that all seem to be bleaching. (5" wide pink bird's nest; 4" tall German Blue Digi; 3" tall Orange Digi) The pink bird's nest was initially placed in the middle of the tank when I got it (about 2 months ago) and started to bleach, so I placed it at the top of the tank and the polyps began to extend, and it colored up a bit more. The other two have always been at the top and have slowly declined in color and recently started to bleach. The one thing that baffles me is they are all growing. I see noticeable growth from all three of them with new branches.

As far as water parameters go, everything is right on the money. I have a orange cap in the middle of the tank that is not bleaching and is growing like a weed.

I'm thinking it could be the lighting. I started my 29 Gallon (30x12x18) 10 months ago and went with a 4 bulb T5 fixure. It came with the standard Aquaticlife T5's (10K and actinic; two of each). I also added a Marineland submersible LED strip for blue LED moonlights. I know that I'm nearing the 12 month mark for changing out the bulbs and was planning to do that, but am not sure if it is the lights that are causing this or my photo period. Here is my lighting schedule:

9am -- Moonlights On
11am -- 1st set T5 On (10K and Actinic)
1pm -- 2nd set T5 On (10K and Actinic)
7pm -- 1st set T5 Off
9pm -- 2nd set T5 Off
11pm -- Moonlights Off

For fear that my photo period was too long, last night I switched to the following schedule:

11am -- Moonlights On
1pm -- 1st set T5 On (10K and Actinic)
3pm -- 2nd set T5 On (10K and Actinic)
7pm -- 1st set T5 Off
9pm -- 2nd set T5 Off
11pm -- Moonlights Off

So, I have a few questions:

1. Is my lighting fixture sufficient to house these SPS? (I thought that it was)
2. When changing my bulbs, which ATI configuration will give me the best color for these corals?
3. Is my revised photo period ok, or is there another schedule I should try?

Any feedback is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[afrankiewicz12]

My MH's are on longer than that and in getting good growth and color so maybe the t5's are too weak?

 

[johntan]

I've run the same fixture on the same size tank and it didn't cause any bleaching for me, how stable has your alk been? I have the 29g still and if I don't keep up dosing reef builder my orange cap and flower petal cap won't care. My acros and millis though suffer.

 

[viking]

I've run the same fixture on the same size tank and it didn't cause any bleaching for me, how stable has your alk been? I have the 29g still and if I don't keep up dosing reef builder my orange cap and flower petal cap won't care. My acros and millis though suffer.

That was one of my thoughts, so two weeks ago I brought up my ALK using reef builder and added an ATO and dose kalk to maintain the stability. I was on vacation for a week so I couldn't test ALK daily, but my PH is between 8.1 - 8.3. The only small swings I have happen with the top off even, but they are >.2 per event. Plus, the bleaching was starting to happen before I added the ATO and kalk. I plan to begin daily monitoring of ALK and PH this weekend, but am not sure if that was the cause.

 

[stingythingy45]

Any spike in alk will cause those corals,especially the birds nest, to bleach.And once it happens it could go all the way.
I would also change those bulbs out,it's time.

 

[s_kelley]

Sps is very finicky. Id be more worried about water parameters then your lights. Sounds like your lights are fine.

 

[frank180reef]

Sps is very finicky. Id be more worried about water parameters then your lights. Sounds like your lights are fine.

agreed, likely ur alk was low or fluctuated too much

 

[viking]

Sps is very finicky. Id be more worried about water parameters then your lights. Sounds like your lights are fine.

Yet another reef keeper lesson; check the expiration on your test kits. My ALK and MAG test kits were expired and giving false readings. My ALK and MAG were low. ALK was at 7 dkh and MAG was at 1150. All other parameters in check. In the process of brining these back up now.

Also, switching out my Aquaticlife T5s for all new bulbs over the next 3 weeks. Going with:

2 Blue+
2 Coral+

Will also be monitoring my params every other day for the next week. Thanks for the help everyone, as always! Let me know if there is anything else I should be doing to get these pieces back on track.