Color loss in Monti cap

[lcs]

I have a small M. cap. that's been in the tank for about 9 months or so. Growth has been OK, but more encrusting than plating and it has lost a lot of color. I have another one, but different color, that has also faded a lot and recently has a brown tint to it. The tank was somewhat neglected from last fall until this January - so about three months.

Parameters:
SG 1.0255
alk 8.3
Mg 1305
Ca 450

Before . . .

After. It's actually a little paler in real life.

 

[Reef Bass]

Your water parameters look decent.

Have you tried feeding? I had some montis get real pale until I started feeding and they rebounded quickly. It looks a bit "droopy" too, which is odd. It seems to be encrusting v. plating. My caps tend to jut right out and keep going. How's the flow there?

 

[lcs]

How's the flow there?

Not bad. The toadstool that you can see moves around quite a bit, but isn't blasted. The tank is 30"x18"x24"H (56 column) and has the powerheads/return as in my signature. I have a third cap that hasn't plated at all, it has only creeped up the rock it's on. I absolutely love encrusting species, but it would be nice if these caps plated at least a little bit, ya know?

I've considered feeding, but haven't yet. I do feed Rod's Reed several times a week, but I haven't done anything to be sure the corals are getting food (shutting off pumps, etc.).

 

[Amazon4]

I find that it there aren't enough nutrients monti's tend to go pale. Unlike an SPS, they like it a little on the "dirtier" side. Your parameters look good - maybe your water is too clean Do you dose any coral supplements?

 

[lcs]

maybe your water is too clean

Could be . . . I think the cyano has been removing the nutrients my corals need! :hmm3:

I don't dose anything. From what I've seen people seem to have success with/without supplements or direct coral feeding. I'm not sure which way to go on that.

 

[chuckreef]

I see three corals that look pale/sick.
As more than one coral appears impacted, Have you considered something more systematic like pests/lights rather a species level food problem?

 

[lcs]

Yeah, the one above is supposed to be an "Idaho grape"; the orange digi above is actually recovering. I thought it was a goner from my period of neglecting the tank.

I haven't see any pests, but it's always possible.

For lighting I have 96 watts of T5 - (1) GE 6500K, (2) actinic, (1) 10kK. The montis are about 18" from the light.

I've just started 3 days of lights out because of cyano (as a result of the above mentioned neglect. *sigh*); I'm curious to see what happens because of that, if anything.

 

[chuckreef]

I suspect, you have little color because you have little growth. Or, said in another way, growing thriving corals look healthy and colorfull, whereas not growing corals are usually slowly starving and tend to look, pale/ less colorfull.

I would dump the two actinnics for two ATI Blue+ or similiar bulbs with some PAR to them. Ramp up slowly over a few days if you do.

 

[redbaron]

This happen to me, you need to dose potassium.

 

[Allmost]

K+ is low.

Kalium or potassium

get a test kit, as well as KZ's K strong. and dose Potassium, keep it at 380-400 PPM.

 

[lcs]

I'll look into the possible K issue, thanks!

I double checked my light set up and I lied about the actinics (I think). What I have are two Geismann Actinic + which look to have a similar wavelength peak as the ATI Blue Plus (Geismann is at 460ish and the ATI is at 430ish). Should I replace one of the Actinic +'s with something whiter? Say the ATI Aquablue Special or Geismann Aquablue Plus?

 

[chuckreef]

No, if you have four good par bulbs (that are not past due for a change), then please disregard my suggestion as to the lighting solution. I still think I see an overall - no growth situation with the three corals. I've never seen K be a problem with a digitata, they are pretty easy, but it might be worth a try. Maybe those who have suggeted it can provide a littlle more bkg info on their experience(es).

 

[twon8]

I would break off a piece of the cap and look for monti eating nudibranch's.

for lighting I would drop the 6500 for a purple plus and the actinics for some blue plus bulbs.

 

[Allmost]

No, if you have four good par bulbs (that are not past due for a change), then please disregard my suggestion as to the lighting solution. I still think I see an overall - no growth situation with the three corals. I've never seen K be a problem with a digitata, they are pretty easy, but it might be worth a try. Maybe those who have suggeted it can provide a littlle more bkg info on their experience(es).

the best way to tell K deficiency is actually orange monti ....

I see this happen weekly

 

[redbaron]

I'll look into the possible K issue, thanks!

I double checked my light set up and I lied about the actinics (I think). What I have are two Geismann Actinic + which look to have a similar wavelength peak as the ATI Blue Plus (Geismann is at 460ish and the ATI is at 430ish). Should I replace one of the Actinic +'s with something whiter? Say the ATI Aquablue Special or Geismann Aquablue Plus?

I never change water on my 150 gallon sps tank for over two years. My monti are always pale and no growth at all. As soon as I start dosing K, all my monti started to grow and regain their colors.

 

[lcs]

I'll definitely try a bulb change. I'm sure I'd like the whiter look better anyway. I've tried a KZ purple and didn't like the look it gave.

 

[chuckreef]

Are you saying your orange montis go pale weekly and when you dose this "k strong" they recover?
Can you post some pics?
Do they look like the OP's pics ?

K+ is low.

Kalium or potassium

get a test kit, as well as KZ's K strong. and dose Potassium, keep it at 380-400 PPM.

 

[reefnrod]

what kind of test kit are you using? how old is it? what are you using to test you SG? i noticed corals starting to bleach out like that with low alk.

 

[reefnrod]

do you know what your ph is?

 

[Gills 619]

I find if I dont check my iodine level all my caps and digi go pale and stn at the base may also sets in.