Corals/Anemone Bleaching!

[huskysglare1]

I'd just recently changed my 12 months old radium bulbs for new radium bulbs. I've reduced the photo period from 8 to 5 about a week ago, but my corals are still bleaching. Should i turn it down to 3 hrs/day?

Is it too much light or too little light with the photo period reduced to 5 Hrs?

 

[LukeA]

had this problem i thought it was my lights but it ended up being no nitrate or phosphate im using alot of coral food and feeding my fish heavily nitrate and phosphate are still undetectable good luck

 

[huskysglare1]

No nit and phos? Do you mean high nitrate and phos?

 

[javajaws]

No nit and phos? Do you mean high nitrate and phos?

I'm pretty sure he meant LOW/NO nitrate/phosphate. Usually that condition exhibits itself as corals fading or having poor color, slow/no growth, etc. I've never seen it cause bleaching except when a coral has deteriorated to the point that its on its deathbed and RTNs.

 

[Toddrtrex]

This is why, IMO/E, using layers of window screening works so much better then just cutting back the photo-period. I would suggest using 3 layers (( supported by egg crate )) b/t the tank and the lights, with removing a layer every 5-7 days.

 

[huskysglare1]

I agree todd. I'll be adding some later on.

I have just started running Bio-pellets too. I think i added too much and phosphate and nitrate dropped dramatically. i am getting STN too. I think i added too much biopellets. I added 1000 ML of bio pellet for my 170g tank. I think i'll be running about 250 ml.

 

[huskysglare1]

Will too much bio pellet cause sps to stn?

 

[Santoki]

I experienced STN when I was dosing Vodka (end results similar to Bio-pellets). I also lost my anemone. It started bleaching and rapidly declined thereafter. In hindsight, I should have stopped dosing when that happened, but at the time I didn't attribute the negative affects to carbon dosing (since some corals where just fine and growing fast). I was also really enjoying a spotless no algae tank due to the Vodka. I've concluded that some corals and especially anemones are very sensitive to rapid reductions in P and N levels.
-Robert

 

[nivram]

Use shade cloth or multiple layers or screen to acclimate your corals and anemone to the new light intensity. I usually reduce photo period like you have done and use 3 sheet and remove them every week and half. then start to slowly bump up the lights.

 

[huskysglare1]

I experienced STN when I was dosing Vodka (end results similar to Bio-pellets). I also lost my anemone. It started bleaching and rapidly declined thereafter. In hindsight, I should have stopped dosing when that happened, but at the time I didn't attribute the negative affects to carbon dosing (since some corals where just fine and growing fast). I was also really enjoying a spotless no algae tank due to the Vodka. I've concluded that some corals and especially anemones are very sensitive to rapid reductions in P and N levels.
-Robert

That is so true. My tank became spotless and i didn't have to clean the glass at all. However, the decrease in phosphate was too much, too fast. The corals could not handle it. The recommended dosage is way too high IMO. I'll be cutting back dramatically.

 

[29reef]

Its very likely you added way to much BP too fast for your system. It's not like GFO or GAC where you can fudge it a little. Likely your lighting just compounded the issue for your sps. I would remove all but maybe 100-200ml to start and work up to a level where the results are favorable. There's not really a good ml/gal for pellets because every tank is different. Remember the tank and sps especially do not like change so anything that you do, do slowly and not much at once. Problems are created over night and results are created monthly.

 

[huskysglare1]

Do bio pellets really work?