Candy Cane Coral Turning White

[rharwood]

I have had a reef tank for about a year now. Doing regular test and water changes and so forth. I have a candy cane coral that is tan in color with lime green center. It has been in the tank for about 6 months and was doing great. The last couple of weeks I have noticed that the fleshy tan part is turning white. It still expands itself during the day and otherwise looks good. I have also noticed that the tips of a brown hairy mushroom in the tank is also starting to show white.

My tank parameters all seem to be the same as the last year according to my test kits. I have a 72 gal bowfront with a Ecosystem mud based sump, about 120 lbs of live rock and and two 250 watt Hamilton pendant double-ended halides.

Any ideas on what is going on the the candy cane and mushroom?

 

[SoupySteve]

The only soft corals that've lost their coloring (that I've had) have done so when they are being stung by another coral... is your mushroom close to another coral? Do you have something that may be agitating the corals?
This is just a stab in the air, of course. A picture may help...

 

[Jah2707]

Very strange. They normally don't need to much light, but how old is your light? If it is really old then that could be a problem or if you have changed the light lamps recently. If it is to much light there could also be a problem. You could even try moving it arround.

Another question, have you added anything new to the tank?

 

[Jah2707]

oh yeah pics would be great.

 

[aquaconnect]

I agree, check the lights, sounds like bleaching or not getting enough light. If they are old, then the spectrum has changed and could be bleaching them. If they are new bulbs, you have to acculmate them to light or they will bleach. If the shroom and candy are close enough they could have chemical warfare. I would suggest moving them away from what they are close to, and lower them in the tank until you find out for sure what's up. Candycane is a LPS and when they split they sometimes morph color, then color back up after time. BTW, what are the tank spec's? Heat could be an issue as most corals like a stable temp and with the weather lately maybe the tank is fluxing too much and causing some stress. Think about corals in the wild, only a 1 degree flux and demo a wild reef! Get some pics and let us shadetree reefers help you out. Good luck w/your tank.

 

[rharwood]

Thanks for the great responses. I will try and answer them. I have not added anything new to the tank. The mushroom is not withing 6 inches of any other coral and those are softies. The candy can is very near a brain coral and I have suspected that to be the culprit, but they have been near each other for over 5 months. The bulb currently being used are Hamilton 250 14k. One is about 5 months old and the other is about 3 months. Heat is not an issue since I have a chiller in the system and it appears to be keeping the temp 79-80 degrees. I will try and get pictures and current tank specs. Thanks again

 

[aquaconnect]

Brains have sweeper tenticles that come out at night, and grow over time. I have one once that when they came out were over 5". I would agree that that's the culprit.

 

[Jah2707]

I say move it and keep us updated!

 

[rharwood]

Thanks for your responses. Moving the candy cane was my next option as well. Any ideas on the mushroom which is 6+ inches away from the brain?

 

[Shaun120]

If the flow of the tank directs the tenticles or other chemical warfare agent away/toward a particular coral, the affect will reduce or increase the rate of response to surrounding corals.

Kinda like when your near a campfire, the smoke goes downwind.

Just something else to consider...