Purple Monti Cap Bleaching

[jharding08]

Stats: 120 g Mixed SPS/LPS reef tank,30 gallon sump, live rock, GFO\Carbon, AquaMaxx AM250 in-sump skimmer, 100 micron felt filter sock, cleaning crew

I have had an ORA Purple Monti cap in my tank in the same spot for about 4 months. The Cap has grown to encrust on the near by rock and has always had decent, but not vivid color. Right now it is bleaching from the center out:


I have a Red Monti Cap that has not changed.

I have been trying to raise my Alkalinity from 7 to 8 via my dosing pump. It was 7 two weeks ago and now it is reading 8.1 from my Hanna checker. My calcium stays within 420-460 via dosing pump. I do bi-weekly water changes of 20% with BrightWell Neo-marine salt. My magnesium has always stayed in the 1150-1250 range, so I got another dosing pump and am trying to keep it at a consistent 1350 . Right now it is 1250.

My lighting is CREE LEDs and hasnt changed in 9 months. I keep my SG at a consistent 1.025.

I have some issues with Phosphates and Nitrates, where PO4 would get to .3 and NO3 would rise to 40, but it never affected my purple monti cap. Right now the PO4 is .1 and the NO3 is 10.

Any idea for the change? I am seeing some burnt tips on a valida and another acro. Did I raise Alk to fast? Could it be temperature? I keep it between 77 and 78 with an Apex Controller

Thanks for your help. Would hate to lose this piece

 

[Prochef176]

I would look at night for nudis. Little white mop head looking guys.

 

[jharding08]

Can i Just turkey baste them off the monti cap?

 

[Prochef176]

You can try that but without dipping the coral they will likely just come right back to it. Also the eggs they lay aren't killed by a dip. So if that is the issue you're probably going to lose the monti. Some people have had success with a yellow coris wrasse or even a six line wrasse. They are thought to keep the nudis in check but don't ever eradicate them. Most that I have read is when the wrasse goes the nudis come back. An alternative is to remove the coral and wait out the life cycle before re-introducing any montis. They are a pain in the a**. Hope this helps.

 

[jharding08]

Was just reading about all the different methods to eradicate. Right now, it is just the Purple Cap. I have Digitata, Undata and another Red cap that arent hit yet.

I will remove the infected purple cap and quarantine it. Also do frequent dips in Lugols and spot checks for the pests.

I'll look into the Yellow Coris or Six Line or Melanarus Wrasse as well.

I'm curious, when the lights are off in my tank, I see my live rock and sometimes glass covered in little white balls that look like pieces of styrofoam. Is this the eggs of the Montipora Eating Nudibranch? I always thought it was snail eggs or astrea stars... if its M.E.N. eggs, then I'll start siphoning them out

 

[Prochef176]

The montipora nudis eggs are usually at the base of the infected monti or close by on the rock, they are usually in clusters. You will know it when you see them. It will make you say "hmm look at those eggs that can't be good". Best thing for those is to either brush them off with a toothbrush or cover them with super glue. The nudis problem will take some time to get through. Be patient and diligent.

 

[BrentH]

I went crazy with super glue covering every single area on the backside on my montis that could possible have eggs and it worked along with removing a couple pieces of digi

 

[BrentH]

Did u spot any nudis? Pull it out if u can and look on backside

 

[rovster]

Nudis don't cause bleaching, you'll see ragged edges. They literally look eaten. Your issues are either chemistry or lighting related. Good luck!

 

[jharding08]

Here is what the cap looks like now:


Looks to me like those little motherf#$#ers are blazing a train across my purple cap. I took the cap out last thurs and put it in a 3 cups tank water/20 drops lugols solution. I saw 3-4 little nudis running for help. I turkey basted all spots that I could under the cap. I have been looking every night for more signs on this monti as well as my others. From the dip, it doesnt look like there has been a ton more dead tissue on the purple cap. I am thinking of quarantining it anyway,

ON another note, here is what my live rock looks like after lights out:


Those little white dots cover all my LR. Is that nudi eggs or something bad?

 

[rovster]

How quickly did that damage happen? If you confirmed nudi's then you are out of gas, sorry. They are a PITA! They do work VERY slow, and they are very EASY to spot. Look like little white frilly slugs. You will see them all over the ragged edges, more at night, but with lights on as well if the damage is severe. If nudi's, all your montis are at risk. Good Luck.

 

[Prochef176]

Those don't look like the eggs they lay. Usually really tiny and on or near the monti itself. They are clustered together.

 

[DopeCantWin]

Does it look like there's some kind of slime covering the dead parts? Especially at the edge where there's fresh death?

 

[jharding08]

The white parts are starting to turn brown a bit. Don't see any slime on the white parts. I have been checking it at night and no frilly slugs to note. I think I'll dip and super glue the base again in a couple days.

There hasnt been any new tissue necrosis and the other purple sections are starting to get darker. Not sure if I should leave it and see if it comes back, or frag off the good sections and start over.

 

[DopeCantWin]

The white parts are starting to turn brown a bit. Don't see any slime on the white parts. I have been checking it at night and no frilly slugs to note. I think I'll dip and super glue the base again in a couple days.

There hasnt been any new tissue necrosis and the other purple sections are starting to get darker. Not sure if I should leave it and see if it comes back, or frag off the good sections and start over.

I'd frag off at least one section just in case.