HELP!!! Acanthophyllia Bleaching?

[N1tew0lf1212]

Don't they generally prefer low light??????

Yes but they also thrive in a sweet spot of light and flow....maybe the shading could be creating a lack of photosynthesis. There is a lot of things that can amount to this thats why i suggested moving to a diff location still sand bed which should result in similar par levels. Monitor for the next few days and see how the coral reacts.you will be able to tell within 3 or 4 days if it is helping or not...

 

[LovinlifeinGuam]

Yes but they also thrive in a sweet spot of light and flow....maybe the shading could be creating a lack of photosynthesis. There is a lot of things that can amount to this thats why i suggested moving to a diff location still sand bed which should result in similar par levels. Monitor for the next few days and see how the coral reacts.you will be able to tell within 3 or 4 days if it is helping or not...

I agree. The lighting (and possibly flow) aren't right in the current location. Either the lights need to be moved or settings changed or simply move the coral to a different location.

 

[LovinlifeinGuam]

The two primary causes of bleaching are due to improper lighting and excessively high temperatures. Im assuming the tank isn't excessively hot.

 

[N1tew0lf1212]

Hello i Hope someone can help explain why my acanthophyllia looks bleached. I keep it on a corner of the rock shelf at the corner of the tank so it shouldnt get more than probably 60-70 par. It use to be pink and bright teal but the teal has faded out.

I don't regular feed it. I usually broadcast a slurry of reefroids, zooton, phyton and AB+ once a week.
Side note I dose ALL FOR REEF but I cant keep up in DKH drop . without going over the recommended dosage. Is it ok to go above what's stated on the container?
I do 10% weekly water changes to keep the DKH up.

Tank is about 1 year old. I would appreciate any advice thanks!

I

Tank Params

Alkalinity	7.2
Magnesium	1400
Calcium	~400
Nitrate	~0
Nitrite	~0
pH	8.24
Phosphate	0.1
Salinity	1.026
Temperature	78

In this picture it almost appears to be stretching for light instead of skirting out flat on the ends it appears to be inflating to increase surface area for more light corals will do this if not recieving the correct amount of lighting and will slowly start to lose color as photosynthesis isnt happening correctly so it is not producing zooxanthellae which aids in color on a coral...

 

[LovinlifeinGuam]

In this picture it almost appears to be stretching for light instead of skirting out flat on the ends it appears to be inflating to increase surface area for more light corals will do this if not recieving the correct amount of lighting and will slowly start to lose color as photosynthesis isnt happening correctly so it is not producing zooxanthellae which aids in color on a coral...

Tbh that's pretty normal for an Acanthophyllia though...they are very fat

 

[N1tew0lf1212]

Tbh that's pretty normal for an Acanthophyllia though...they are very fat

Yes when feeding but nit bubbled up like that this is a healthy ancantho

Its not bubbled up but skirted outwards

 

[N1tew0lf1212]

Notice how in the picture i posted the mouth area is tighter with the exterior edges extending outwards the picture provided the mouth are is bubbled and severely inflated which happens on big lps when they are stretching for light the feeding ring that normally closes and grabs food particles and curls them into the mouth when feeding is stretched completely outward on top by the mouth in the ops picture which can be a stress sign due to improper lighting or not enough light is is increasing surface area to get as much light as possible to be able to survive. I have had this happen with one.

 

[LovinlifeinGuam]

Notice how in the picture i posted the mouth area is tighter with the exterior edges extending outwards the picture provided the mouth are is bubbled and severely inflated which happens on big lps when they are stretching for light the feeding ring that normally closes and grabs food particles and curls them into the mouth when feeding is stretched completely outward on top by the mouth in the ops picture which can be a stress sign due to improper lighting or not enough light is is increasing surface area to get as much light as possible to be able to survive. I have had this happen with one.

Yeah I have one as well. It appears to be making an effort to feed or you could be right. Either way, it's a little beside the point since we both agree lighting isn't adequate.

 

[Wayofthereef]

Hello i Hope someone can help explain why my acanthophyllia looks bleached. I keep it on a corner of the rock shelf at the corner of the tank so it shouldnt get more than probably 60-70 par. It use to be pink and bright teal but the teal has faded out.

I don't regular feed it. I usually broadcast a slurry of reefroids, zooton, phyton and AB+ once a week.
Side note I dose ALL FOR REEF but I cant keep up in DKH drop . without going over the recommended dosage. Is it ok to go above what's stated on the container?
I do 10% weekly water changes to keep the DKH up.

Tank is about 1 year old. I would appreciate any advice thanks!

I

Tank Params

Alkalinity	7.2
Magnesium	1400
Calcium	~400
Nitrate	~0
Nitrite	~0
pH	8.24
Phosphate	0.1
Salinity	1.026
Temperature	78

Alk too low. 8 to 9
Nitrate to low 5-15ppm
Phosphate is as high as they can be. And kalkwasser on the daily is a big help with ph and alkalinity.. the sooner you work towards stable.

 

[Auto-pilot]

I have a happy acantho and i feed it all sorts of things. It eats big and small foods. I think your nitrate is too low. I would feed it and do your best to bump up that nitrate. I use potassium nitrate if mine is too low.

 

[LovinlifeinGuam]

The one I have I actually just got last week and bought it knowing it was partially bleached (very honest vendor). I know there are no guarantees it'll make it or not make it so I'm just putting it under relatively low light to avoid stressing it and spotfeeding Reef Roids mixed with frozen copepods. Since it's weakened, although it is showing a positive response to feeding, it's not able to eat larger foods like mysis at this point. As soon as it's able, I'll be feeding it both what I'm feeding now followed by mysis. I'm also performing frequent water changes because I know the Reef Roids in particular contribute to high phosphates. The fish also add to the bioload.

 

[Reefer Matt]

In my experience, coral bleach when lighting is too high or parameters are not stable. They brown out when lighting is too low. Also, increasing nutrients and target feeding may help.

 

[LovinlifeinGuam]

In my experience, coral bleach when lighting is too high or parameters are not stable. They brown out when lighting is too low. Also, increasing nutrients and target feeding may help.

I have experienced bleaching due to lighting which is too high or too low. From a biological standpoint, why would zooxanthellae turn brown under lighting which is too low?

 

[Reefer Matt]

I have experienced bleaching due to lighting which is too high or too low. From a biological standpoint, why would zooxanthellae turn brown under lighting which is too low?

The zoothanthellae turn darker to try to absorb more light from my understanding. Also, as the coral bleaches, either flow should be increased or par decreased because the zoothanthellae are being expelled and not protecting the coral underneath.

 

[LovinlifeinGuam]

The zoothanthellae turn darker to try to absorb more light from my understanding. Also, as the coral bleaches, either flow should be increased or par decreased because the zoothanthellae are being expelled and not protecting the coral underneath.

It's dependent upon the species and just how low the light intensity is so thinking about it we're both right about too low light as it can cause either.

As for the reason par should be decreased, I know that's correct but am unsure exactly why it leads to the coral being less stressed and recovering more quickly. It's not the zooxanthellae that protect the coral, it's the coral that protects the zooxanthellae.

 

[Reefer Matt]

It's dependent upon the species and just how low the light intensity is so thinking about it we're both right about too low light as it can cause either.

As for the reason par should be decreased, I know that's correct but am unsure exactly why it leads to the coral being less stressed and recovering more quickly. It's not the zooxanthellae that protect the coral, it's the coral that protects the zooxanthellae.

My theory on the coral recovering when lighting is reduced is because the zoothanthellae act as a "sunscreen" for the coral. That's what I meant by protecting the coral. But, as I said, based on my experience, with my tanks. I'm no Dana Riddle, just offering what I have observed

 

[LovinlifeinGuam]

My theory on the coral recovering when lighting is reduced is because the zoothanthellae act as a "sunscreen" for the coral. That's what I meant by protecting the coral. But, as I said, based on my experience, with my tanks. I'm no Dana Riddle, just offering what I have observed

This is purely a guess but maybe the reason lowering light intensity below where it should be if the coral were healthy helps recovery after bleaching has to do with the fact that the UV wavelengths can cause damage similar to a sunburn in people. Also, when light intensity is lowered, there's an increase in zooxanthellae reproduction I believe simply because they sense the weaker light.