Superman monti bleaching? (pics attached)

[reeferoni]

Hello all,

I acquired this superman monti frag about a month and a half ago, and for the first month or so it was doing very well with vibrant color all over. In the last few weeks, however, it has started to bleach on one side (see pics).

I have not changed the placement of the coral in my tank (high, and in high flow), and its a few inches away from a birdsnest acro that is growing like a weed so I would think it would also be doing well.. params are as follows (I don't have a magnesium test kit so that is the only one I'm missing:

SG- 1.024
Temp- 78
Trites/Trates- 0
Phosphates- 0
Calcium- 380 ppm
Alk- 9 dkh
pH- 8.2

There has been a bit of fluctuation in the calcium and alkalinity levels, since I am currently finishing off my supply of Instant Ocean regular salt so whenever I do a water change the levels drop (I dose ESV 2-part component to work against this). Could this cause bleaching in the monti even when the birdsnest is not effected?

Thanks all

 

[Dugless]

Looks like a sunset rather than a superman. My first suggestion would be to move it down a bit. It might be bleaching from too much light. However, try not to move it too much, that will just make it angrier. Encrusting monitporas have always done well for me with moderate lighting. Keep your parameters stable and the piece should rebound.

 

[reeferoni]

Looks like a sunset rather than a superman. My first suggestion would be to move it down a bit. It might be bleaching from too much light. However, try not to move it too much, that will just make it angrier. Encrusting monitporas have always done well for me with moderate lighting. Keep your parameters stable and the piece should rebound.

Yes, sorry-- sunset