Help with bleached lobo

[driftin]

We have a good sized red lobo... well it was red. It very quickly bleached 2 weeks ago after being in the tank for months. It didn't lose any tissue and didn't lose all coloration, but it is pretty translucent now as opposed to its deep red coloration a few weeks ago.

We're trying to figure out what caused this, as no other corals in the tank have shown any problems. Montiporas, frogspawns, bubble coral, hammer coral, brain corals, zoos & shrooms...

I've been struggling to keep alk and ca at around 8 dkh and 400 ppm respectively, even with kalkwasser top-off and two part solution. Mainly because I wasn't using two-part daily. But I haven't seen it drop below ~5.8 and 380.

We hadn't been target feeding the coral. Could that affect coloration?

Lighting hasn't changed. Skimmer hasn't changed. Salinity didn't change. Didn't happen immediately following a water change...

Any thoughts?

 

[Underwaterparadise]

IMO if your Alk gets down to 5.8 that is your problem. If you are having a hard time keeping up with ALK and CA. stop using the 2 part formulas and use dry products. I find that Sea Chem Reef builder used with Kent turbo Ca. works best for me.

BTW Temp. flucuations can cause bleaching as well

 

[driftin]

Thanks, that was my first thought too (alk). My kalk reactor had been keeping things a lot more stable than that, so I have some more homework to do. In the meantime I have been doing daily measurements and adjustments with the 2-part. Maintaining much better levels.

Was surprised I guess that the lobo was the most sensitive coral in the tank. Hopefully it will start to color back up now.

 

[elegance coral]

Feeding the coral will help with color and keep the corals overall health up. If it will eat, I would start feeding it because it's not getting nourishment from the lights anymore. When a coral suddenly bleaches after being under the same lights for months and the water quality is acceptable, a temporary spike in temp is usually to blame. I would move the coral to a slightly more shaded area and feed it. Good luck.

 

[driftin]

The coral has been accepting food, so I will continue to target feed it. Appreciate the advice! Will post back up in a few weeks with an update.