Favia Bleaching

[GardenVariety]

I've had a favia for a couple months in the same location. Last week its eyes started bleaching on the right side and ejecting little brown balls. I did start GFO and carbon around the same time which I've discontinued. All other parameters are excellent. Should I just leave alone?

PO - 0
ALK - 9
CAL - 430
N - 5
SG 1.026

Lighting is Kessil 360WE at 50% intensity and coral is about 8-10" under water level.

 

[ROlympia]

My favia is not nearly as large as yours but soon after I bought it, at the high points with the most direct light, two of the polyps turned from neon green to translucent for a few weeks and I thought it was not doing well. It turns out the polyps multiplied at those points (big polyp turned into several small polyps). It has since turned green again and is now starting to extend onto the rock the plug is glued to.

 

[GardenVariety]

My favia is not nearly as large as yours but soon after I bought it, at the high points with the most direct light, two of the polyps turned from neon green to translucent for a few weeks and I thought it was not doing well. It turns out the polyps multiplied at those points (big polyp turned into several small polyps). It has since turned green again and is now starting to extend onto the rock the plug is glued to.

I can only hope this is the case. I have a feeling I may have caused too much light penetration along with lack of nutrients by introducing GFO and Carbon on a tank with little nutrients to begin with.

 

[mcgyvr]

Why did you run GFO when you don't have a phosphate issue?

 

[GardenVariety]

Why did you run GFO when you don't have a phosphate issue?

A brief moment of stupidity... I wanted to get my new reactor online with GFO/Carbon. I've sinced switched to only carbon in a bag.

 

[GardenVariety]

Seems to be slowly fading more. I'm at a loss. I did notice some red tubes underneath the back as pictured on the second shot. Any help would be appreciated. Dip? Still ejecting little brown balls at color loss continues.

 

[mcgyvr]

Too much light IMO.. hence the zoox expulsion.
Move it to a shaded/low light area and hope for the best..

What temp is the tank at? any change there?

 

[GardenVariety]

Too much light IMO.. hence the zoox expulsion.
Move it to a shaded/low light area and hope for the best..

What temp is the tank at? any change there?

I'm not sure I have anywhere to move it. The temperature has not deviated more than 1 degree in 4 months. It's hard to believe that 50% intensity at 35% color is too much light with the coral more than 10 inches below the water level. I'm a little baffled since everything else it doing great.

 

[jacksonpt]

Mine is REALLY sensitive to light... I almost can't keep it shaded enough.

 

[GardenVariety]

Mine is REALLY sensitive to light... I almost can't keep it shaded enough.

You have the same type? I know they have different light requirements. I'll just have to keep an eye on mine and hope for the best.

 

[Tcox]

I have one that looks strikingly similar to yours. For what it’s worth, mine does best in medium flow and LOW light. Part of mine is shaded while the other part is in a very low light zone and further, it’s near the bottom of the tank.

 

[mcgyvr]

It's hard to believe that 50% intensity at 35% color is too much light with the coral more than 10 inches below the water level.

Not hard to believe at all..
10" down is nothing..

 

[GardenVariety]

I have one that looks strikingly similar to yours. For what it's worth, mine does best in medium flow and LOW light. Part of mine is shaded while the other part is in a very low light zone and further, it's near the bottom of the tank.

Thanks. I've rearranged some corals and now it's on the sandbed. Hopefully it starts healing.

Not hard to believe at all..
10" down is nothing..

Gotcha. I purchased a Digitata to put where the Favia was and now it's on the sandbed.

 

[AlpenReefer]

Update on your coral? Did moving it help?