Merulina turning white.

[footballcs12]

I was rearranging my rock work a little bit and I picked up my merulina and noticed on the back side of it, it almost looked like it was receding to pure white. What could be going on? No other corals are near it. I had it on the sand in my 55 up until about a week ago and I moved it up to about 10 inches under my T5's. Anyone have any advice or experience on this?

 

[footballcs12]

I just tested my water and all of my parameters appear to be in check. I am not 100% sure but I think there was more visible recession overnight. Any thoughts from anyone?

 

[jcolletteiii]

Low light on the back side? Mine gets a bit pale on the side that gets less light, and the green fluorescence is barely visible on that side - it still has tissue though.

 

[footballcs12]

From what I could see this morning it looked like it was starting to come around the top of it where it's in direct light. Should I wait it out and hope for the best, try a dip, or take it to my LFS and try to get some credit for it?

 

[jcolletteiii]

Could it have been stung by something? What do you have in the area with sweepers?

 

[footballcs12]

The closest thing to it are my zoas and they're about 6 inches away.

 

[jcolletteiii]

Is this a coral you've had for awhile, or a new acquisition? It could potentially be light shock from moving into high light too quickly. I have mine about mid way down in a 50 cube - so its about 12" below the water, and the lights are 8-10" above the water, so 20-22" or so below the lights. My lights are 6x24w T5 ATI, and my Merulina loves it there - it has bright green fluorescence right around the polyps - although even when it's happy, it's a s-l-o-w grower. I found that it doesn't really like it high up, or low down in my tank. It's also out of direct flow. Is your in a high flow area? Do you have any other corals with problems - or is it just the Merulina?

 

[footballcs12]

It is just the merulina. I have had it a little over a month. I would say it is in medium-high flow. Its under a tek elite 6x54w bulb fixture. 10 inches maybe a foot away from the surface of the water. 18 inches? or so from the bulbs themselves, halfway up on the rocks..

 

[jcolletteiii]

Well, if the only thing that changed is placement, that's probably your best bet. I'd lower it back down in the tank a bit, or maybe find it somewhere in your tank with less flow. Merulina will not have polyp extension based on flow - it doesn't need to be blasted with flow like most Acros for example - I'd say it's probably a medium to lower flow coral. I'd start by finding it a perch with less flow and see how it responds.