SPS bleaching under branches

[D&D Fishery]

So I have a nano reef tank. It is a true mixed reef I have a few acros some montipora digitata and Monty cap. One of my favorite frags is an Apache tort however I noticed over the first month of having it the underside of the branches began to bleach. At first, I thought it was just dying out however over the past three months it has been doing amazing. It has colored up so well with amazing polyp extension and everything. It looks like a completely new coral compared to when I bought it. However, the underside of its branches and on the backside it is still completely bare. I have great flow in the tank as it is small and I’m running random flow generator nozzles as well as an AI Nero wave maker. It is my only SPS that has done this. The rest of them are doing amazing. At first, I was not sure if it’s just natural die off Because it’s only the underside of the branches that aren’t getting as much light but literally the rest of it is doing amazing so I thought it would regrow tissue. just to be safe I dose amino acids as well. In addition, I also am dosing all for reef as well and my chemistry is stable. KH runs about 8 to 9. Anyone else have this issue ever?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Possibly just shading but pictures my man, pictures!

 

[twentyleagues]

Like @Mr. Mojo Rising said probably shading. Lighting and lighting angles and reflection(?) off of sand/bright surfaces contribute to coral health. Having more than 1 fixture for lighting is one of the best ways to help prevent shading. Setting a second fixture or a different fixture like a bar at an angle intersecting the first will increase spread and par giving better coverage. White sand will help reflect some light to the bottom of the corals also.

 

[D&D Fishery]

Like @Mr. Mojo Rising said probably shading. Lighting and lighting angles and reflection(?) off of sand/bright surfaces contribute to coral health. Having more than 1 fixture for lighting is one of the best ways to help prevent shading. Setting a second fixture or a different fixture like a bar at an angle intersecting the first will increase spread and par giving better coverage. White sand will help reflect some light to the bottom of the corals also.

Since it’s a nano tank I’m currently running the an AI Blade coral grow. I do have white sand but the piece is up on my rock that is covered in coralline. Honestly it is not noticeable to anyone but me, you cant see it when facing the tank I just was curious to get others opinions. I will definitely be running light bars with my main fixture when I do my big tank in the future.

 

[twentyleagues]

Since it’s a nano tank I’m currently running the an AI Blade coral grow. I do have white sand but the piece is up on my rock that is covered in coralline. Honestly it is not noticeable to anyone but me, you cant see it when facing the tank I just was curious to get others opinions. I will definitely be running light bars with my main fixture when I do my big tank in the future.

Yeah I get it and depending on tank size you dont want to go over kill on lights even if you can turn it down. One plane of light just isnt enough for sticks especially. It ends up fine for certain corals but not all.

 

[ptrusk]

Perfectly normal. Hard to light a nano. You are going to get shading. Coral isn't dying, How about a pic?:)

 

[ptrusk]

I'm still trying to get my 30g long tank squared away and just can't seem to get it in it's happy spot. I'm not sure if it was higher than normal alk, not a swing, lighting or what but I started having issues with tips and tops of branches bleach out and then algae collecting on them. I have a par meter, reads in MV then you need to convert and I think I am 2-300 par but something is not right. I have also upped my nopox since nitrates were higher than I wanted, but trying to figure out what if anything I should tweak. I am tempted to lower my lights but again....not sure whats the usual cause for tips and top of branches, just the top bleaching.

normal stuff:
alk-7.8
phos .27ppm
nitrate 40

Been lowering phosphate and nitrate, obliviously my DIY nopox was not strong enough to keep things in check but I need to figure out what I can do to correct the bleaching. My gut tells me to lower the lights a little and go from there, really wish I could get things dialed in.

Might want to start a new thread. And what corals are getting burnt tips?

 

[Jamein]

nice discussion here.