Coral Bleaching

[jackinfobo]

Hey everyone! I just upgraded my lighting system to metal halide. I am slowly acclimating my corals to it by useing layers of fiberglass screen and about every week and a half I take off a layer. My pink birds nest is not handling it very well. It is semi new to my tank, and when I got it some of it was bleached at the bottom of it. Now with the new light it is starting to bleach more. The thing is tho that the polyps are still being extended its just that they are bleached white. What should I do? The birds nest is about 10in down from the surface. It seams that the polyps are doing better, but the skeleton of the coral is bleaching more.

 

[divewsharks]

Is the skeleton bleaching or dying-- is there still flesh?

 

[SAZAMA]

pray its not RTN

 

[jackinfobo]

I believe there is still flesh and the polyps on the bleached parts are still fully extending, but the skeleton keeps bleaching further and further up the coral. The whole process seams to not affect the polyps at all, its just the skeleton.

 

[divewsharks]

Well if you sure it's just bleaching, lower the coral; put it on the sand and raise it up slowly

 

[jackinfobo]

Ok I will do that. Eventually should it retain its color back?

 

[divewsharks]

yes, there is no real reason it shouldn't; just give it time.