Acropora Bleaching

[MBVette]

I have a biocube 14 setup that I put in a couple strips of LEDs that I was guessing would be enough light for SPS.

So yesterday I went out and bought a small acropora frag to test to see how it would do. When I put it in, it was bright green and all the polyps open; then when the lights came on this morning it is basically completly white and completly closed (dead??) No idea what happened or how it happened that quick.

Parameters:
Salinity 1.024
Nitrates 0
Phosphates 0
Calcium 480
Alk 7.7

So any ideas what happned?

 

[Thisseemsfishy]

Salt is a little low, but I dont think that would cause it to bleach like that. How did you acclimate it? Placement?

 

[MBVette]

it is placed in the top middle. Aclimated by drip for about 30 minutes

 

[batt600]

Yeah but you didnt Aclimated to your lights alway place new coral in the bottom of the tank to Aclimated to your lights and mpove them up slowly every week . But thats to soon for it to bleach out it most likly rtn on you . Do you have any pics that would help. And you Salinity it fine 1.024 to 1.026 is the range you need , so your fine with that.

 

[MBVette]

Well Im going with its dead now, not sure how I killed it in 24 hours. lol

I didnt know about putting it on the bottom and moving up. My other tank doesnt have strong lighting so I dont worry about it (plus dont do SPS in there)

 

[Mock]

RTN... Rapid Tissue Narcrossis... It can take one down in a matter of hours...

 

[MBVette]

ok so what is the cause? So I know what to do next time

 

[karsseboom]

Stress... Acclimate it slow and place the coral on the sand bed, then move it to the top slowly. SPS are tricky man you really need to do more research before spending money on a frag.

 

[ashish]

I left town for 5 days and return just few hours ago and found my fiji green acropora bleached White..Never had this happen to me before and it was caused by a malfunctioning heater (which wound not stop). Swinging in temperatures 76-84 and no one could stablize the temperature. This coral was in my tank for only 8 days was doing fine. Everything else in my tank (including 2 large staghorns) nd few sps seem to be fine. It's a sad day for me as if i was here this could have been avoided.

 

[OnceTrueFalseBr]

There are more elements to test for to keep acropora correctly...

http://youtu.be/LPs1WCdW4y4

 

[Hentz]

How long has your tank been running, MBVette?