SPS bleaching Q's.

[Palting]

I though SPS bleaching was due to not enough light?

Anyhow, I got a pink and a green Stylophora from my lfs. He had then under PC lights, about 14" down. So, I light acclimated them under my 150 MH and put them on the substrate first 24" down. I noticed they started to bleach after a few days, so I started moving them up. They are now about 10" under the water surface, each directly under an MH bulb. They are still continuing to bleach. Most of the polyps are still out, still pink on one and green in the other, but their skeletons are now more white rather than their original brownish. Both are also under moderate to high flow. Looking info about them on the net and on the books I have, Stylophora prefer strong light and moderate to high flow.

Just to fill out the full picture, all my parameters are pristine, there is a purple acro, a wild branching acro, and a green millepora in the same vicinity that are doing just great!

What gives?

 

[Palting]

C'mon, guys. Somebody has to have an idea that might help. Thanks!

 

[scubasteve06]

Do you know how long the corals were in his store? My theory is that they got used to the PC lights that they were under and they have gotten shocked now that they are under your MH's. Cut your photoperiod in half and slowly bring it back to normal over a period of two weeks or longer. This should acclimate them to your lighting conditions.

 

[byrdman81]

Agree with scuba here. They are bleaching from your light.

 

[Palting]

OK. I guess I am learning sommething new here, as I thought bleaching was a sign of not enough light. That's why I thought they were bleaching when they were sitting on the substrate. I guess even that was too much light, then.

Alright then, I'll cut the photoperiod in half. I'll just have to watch the ther sps to make sure they don't suffer!

Thanks!!

 

[scubasteve06]

No problemo palting. I think moving them up was a mistake, but hopefully it hasn't been too long from you asking for help and that it can be reversed easily. Good luck!

 

[dublo8]

Yes def. from your lighting. I got a 1.5" stylo about a year ago and the person I bought it from had it under MH. I only had PC at the time and it browned out. Got T5's and it started losing color as well as my acro. It's reversable though. I had some window screens laying around in the garage so I cut a couple small pieces and layered them. Every week I would remove one layer and moved them up a little. worked like a charm.

 

[greenbean36191]

Well, bleaching is a general stress response that can be caused by any number of things, either alone or in combination. Generally though, in newly added corals it's caused by too much lighting and not enough flow.

Cutting the photoperiod in half doesn't do anything to alleviate the damage that leads to bleaching. To stop it, you need to decrease the lighting intensity. You can do that by moving the coral lower in the tank, raising the light up a few inches higher, or placing a few layers of window screen between the light and the tank. You should also increase the water flow the coral gets, at least until it's recovered. That helps reduce the buildup of reactive oxygen species in the tissue, which is the main mechanism behind the bleaching.

 

[Palting]

Yeah, it's been about 2 weeks. Mistakes will always be made in this hobby. The important thing is to learn from them by asking others.

I think I like the screen idea. That way I can shade just the parts with the bleaching stylos. Off to Lowes this PM I go.

After moving them up, I have now glued them to the rockwork, so can't move them anymore. They are under moderate-high flow, directly in the path of 2 K 750's, but I'll hit them with a blast from a turkey baster once in a while just in case. Thanks again!