Pale or STN - Need help!

[DFason]

Hey guys,
I just need a little help. Everything has been going well with my tank until that past couple of weeks. It first started with my Setosa, A couple of the tips started to look pale or kinda STN. The only problem is the tissue is almost white/pale orange and the polyps are still extending far. It then spread to another branch and with the same stuff.

Before I left to the beach my Purple Bonsai looked like it was a ALK burn. It started to get pale but the polyps were out but not fully, but only at the base. It looks like it could be turning around.

My ALK is a little low 6.5-7, but I have been dosing C-Balance and hopefully I will get that back up. My Temp stays very consistent. I have been dosing MB7/vodka for a month or so but I just stopped because of the paleness.

Any help would be great! I have a low bio-load too, clown, blenny, cardinal and goby shrimp pair.

Pictures of the Setosa...

Month or so ago...

a few days ago...

P.S - I also added a K1 to my sump to get the crap out of there, and I upgraded my skimmer to a iTech.

-Dave

 

[bluebeltreefer]

i dont think thats stn. if it was, you would be able to see the flesh coming off of the skeleton. looks more like its losing color or somewhat bleached.

 

[DFason]

The odd part is that it has been in the exact place since march.

Do you think over time it has beached?

-Dave

 

[amay121]

Maybe it's just with the MB7 and Vodka that the water clarity has increased and the coral is adjusting to it?

 

[DFason]

I was wondering the same thing. Maybe I should move it lower...

Anyone else?

Thanks amay

-Dave

 

[pisces4u]

MB7/vodka dosing moves the tank towards an ULNS and can pale/pastel down SPS coloration similar to the "Zeovit look".

Some people say adding amino acids can help maintain strong colors.

Great looking Setosa btw. Look me up when you need to trim it back :wink:

 

[DFason]

Thanks pisces.

I stopped dosing the MB7 and vodka to see how it goes from there. Seems like alot of trouble to dose stuff because you are dosing other things...

SO the verdict is.... wait it out?

-Dave

 

[FateX8]

deffinately not stn as none of the tissue is gone
you really wouldnt see the tissue sloughing off like rtn but youd deffinately see pure white skeleton
its deffinately bleaching btu the question is why is it only bleaching on that one side?
is there more light there?

 

[nivram]

Did you change anything recently like your lights? I have a similar issue with my encrusting Montiporas. They just out of the blue started bleaching when everything else looks fine.

 

[DFason]

Honestly nothing has changed with the lights. Around 2 months ago I changed by dusk and dawn setting ( did not change to new bulbs ). I was doing Aquablue Special and UVI 75/25 but now I run my Aquablue special and Blue +...

There is not more light on the side as I only run 4 bulbs.

I'm stumped! Anyone else? Thanks guys for all the input its driving me crazy!

-Dave

 

[Henry C]

I think you stated your answer in your first post. Some corals are affected more than others with any kind of change. Your alk is close to half of what it should be so I would have to say that it is probably your issue especially since you stated that nothing else has changed. Just my 2 cents..........