Sps bleaching

[Addicted2coral1]

. I have added several sps frags and this is the first time since i began reefing that I have seen them turn white. Not dead, but pale white. Polyps and all. I have seen rtn and stn alot, this is not the case. I know thy alive. They just white.
I just started my 250dd around first week April. I waited for 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite and added some livestock. Fish and softies.
I waited until my levels for phos was .09 and nitrate was 2 and added my first few frags. Alk then was 10, Calc never below 410, mag 1300.
Then after my phos went down to .06 I added more acros. Then I noticed over Half my acros are bleaching. I have only lost 2 frag. But several are just kinda white and nothing changes it. I have tried feeding more, tried less. Nothing changes it.

For nutrient export and control I use prodibio biodigest(inoculant), Red Sea carbon source(no3po4x). For aminos and fatty acids I have used the Red Sea energy part a and b. I can't afford to keep doing this tho. I have to find a different brand if it is necessary. I also have an algae scrubber that has just now algaed over.. My carbon dose is down to the minimal dose. I feed alot also. One problem I had with my levels was my alk went up to 12.. I stopped water changes and it came down to 8 within about 3 wks. I have auto water change btw. 2 gallons per day. Now with a different salt my levels are stable at 7.9, 440, 1300. I use a cal rx but it is off.

I didn't think this msg would be as long of a message as it became. But do you think of anything I could do to help. I have tried lowering my light, I started them off at 75 percent now I only run at 40 percent. (Radion t5 combo)

Thanks for reading.

 

[MHG]

Well IMO it sounds like either low nitrates or high light. If your nitrates are at 2, then I would rule that out. Also, I see more of the polyp bleaching with high light. So what type of light? Also, borrow, rent or buy a PAR meter. Unless you know a reefer with the same tank and light you have nothing to go by... I found out my PAR was almost 1000 at the top of my rock work.... I cooked everything... It all lived, just turned white...

 

[zv3n]

I would completely stop the nopox. I had bad result in a 1.5 y old sps tank (100g) with 4ml per day. Your water is prob too sterile..

 

[Addicted2coral1]

I left something out.


Cyano. I forgot but I got a cyano out break goin. So this made me think I was not sterile as u speak.

I am OCD. Every possibility has crossed my mind. I know it's impossible to tell what the problem is. But I go thru a series of thoughts and always end up with. "***".

Sterile- possible. I have cyano eating nutrients, I have a scrubber working dang good, and nopox.

High light- maybe. 4 radions,two gen 1
two gen 2 with tir lense.. 4 t5s. But I have my radions set at 40 percent and the total schedule is 12 hours with 5 hours peak. Like mentioned. I need a par meter. No one I know has one.

Nutrient rich-- don't think so..

Bugs-- really don't think so.

Anything else I can check for??

 

[Addicted2coral1]

And nitrates were at 2 when I added these frags.

Now they are less than 1. Phos went from .09 to .05-.06.

 

[Addicted2coral1]

... Accidental posing ....

 

[MHG]

How about coralline. Do you have any? has it gotten lighter? It takes two weeks to make a frag go light from too much light or two little nitrates. It takes a year for it to color back up. At least it did in my tank...

 

[tdb320reef]

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What is your Temp running at?