Need help with monti frag

[xbethx]

I have a red monti cap frag thats maybe about an inch in size. Awhile back it started getting a white spot on it i dunno if it was bleaching or dieing or what but it started getting a little better and then algae started growing on the white spot..
Now the whole frag is losing color and has blotches of white spots all over.
Is there anything i can do for it or is it a lost cause?

This is when it first started turning white..

This is now..
sorry for the horrible picture quality

Lighting consists of 2 x 250watt metal halides which i replaced the bulbs on about a month ago hence the bluer second pic.. the new bulbs are 14k vs 10k that i had before and now i cant get a pic that isnt super blue

 

[tripdad]

Did you light acclimate after the bulb change? How dead were the old bulbs versus brand new? This could be a potential problem. Hard to tell from pick if it's bleaching or what.

 

[xbethx]

didnt acclimate to the new bulbs but it had started to turn white before the change.
the old bulbs were about 9 months old

 

[DNA]

I's say it's a water quality issue.
The frag is definitely going to do well if you provide the right conditions for it.

 

[jg93]

FWIW I had the exact same frag and when this happened to me it was an Alk swing. Monti's are hardy for SPSs but they are still not very hardy

Mine bounced back and is now encrusting like crazy, it's doubled in size in about three months.

 

[squaretankguy08]

+1 on the alk swing, had this happen to me as well

 

[xbethx]

havnt noticed an alk swing. i dont test it super regularly but every time ive tested its been 8

 

[xbethx]

not to mention the frag has been like this for months now..
still growing but colors not getting better

 

[xbethx]

not to mention the frag has been like this for months now..
still growing but colors not getting better