SPS bleaching, whats my plan?

[nikesb]

For some reason i thought i had my ati sunpower 6x24w at 12" above water surface on a 24x24x12 tank and realized today that it was only at 7" above the water surface. All my sps colors are faded and bleaching. I've raised it to 13" above water surface and have all bulbs on for 3 hours and my actinics for 5 hours. Is this high enough? I cant raise it up higher unless i redo my light rack. If anyone has par measurments at this height, post em.

 

[skinz78]

You can get some window screening and place 3 to 5 layers over the tank. After a week remove one layer, the next week remove another and so on. This should help the corals to light acclimate and the bleaching should hopefully stop.

 

[Captain Nemo]

+1 to what skinz said. You can also keep your parameters on spot and it will help a bit too. Good luck!

 

[cccharliecc]

You have them raised so thats good.
Decrease the light period for a good week or more, then slowly increase it by an hour each day to acclimate the corals to the more intense light.

 

[nikesb]

alright, i will add a net to keep the fishes in and i read that this should reduce the lighting about 25%. I think i have enough material to do another 2 layers just to lay on top. thanks, i'll be doing today!

 

[skinz78]

Right on, keep us posted on your results, can you get a before pic just for comparisons?

 

[m and m]

Thats a bigg diffrence 7-12 lol. Why would you need to add the screen to cover light if your raising it. I think raising it will be fine.

 

[Troylee]

How are your nutrients??? Try adding some coral amino and see if that helps.. Another thing that bleaches sps is temperature if they get to hot they will bleach!!! Running your lights 5hrs a day shouldn't bleach them fwiw...

 

[nikesb]

Right on, keep us posted on your results, can you get a before pic just for comparisons?

I will be taking pictures prior to my water change tomorrow

How are your nutrients??? Try adding some coral amino and see if that helps.. Another thing that bleaches sps is temperature if they get to hot they will bleach!!! Running your lights 5hrs a day shouldn't bleach them fwiw...

My nutrients are really low now that two of my fishes jumped. I'm left with one small cryptic six line so i hope to be getting more fishes soon, if not i'll add some AA to see how it does

Thats a bigg diffrence 7-12 lol. Why would you need to add the screen to cover light if your raising it. I think raising it will be fine.

lol just to bring the par down more, i underestimated the sunpower and could still be getting too much light since my tank is only 12" tall

 

[Troylee]

Oh dang only 12" deep???! I would raise the light like 18" above the tank fwiw... That's how I got my frag tank and I still bleach stuff...:(

 

[skinz78]

Yeah that is a really shallow tank for all that light, if you can raise it some more!

 

[raymond]

the screen is a good idea, or even egg crate, thats what it was made for to begin with, and what ever changes you make do it slow as can be, the corals definately dont need any kind of shock right now

 

[johnanddawn]

i don't know how that fixture is corded but you could just unplug a couple of the bulbs for a while to cut the light back and then slowly ramp up the time those two bulbs run with a timer? seems easier then screening or other solutions

 

[davelink]

yeah id lower the corals if you can and raise the lights, my tank is 24" and i keep some of my sps on the sandbed still