Sps to much light??

[J Rog]

Hi all, so I bought this really nice strawberry shortcake cake type frag (they had given it a different name like bio shortcake or something like that) @ the FL frag fest on Feb 3rd. It has been looking great up until a couple of days ago. I have a feeling it may be getting to much light. Or I was thinking a snail rubbed up against it to roughly. My water parameters are

Temp- 78-79
Alk- 8 DHK
CA- 475
MAG- 1470
Salinity- 1.026
PH- 7.9-8.3
P04- .02- .05
N03- 5ish

My Lights are a 6 bulb ATI (4 blue+, 1 purple+, 1 coral+) and 2 reefbrite XHO all blues. Light is 9inches from water line. I really like this frag and would hate to loose it. Any suggestions would be great.

 

[Guttersnipe]

How tall is your tank? What is that red coral next to it?

 

[J Rog]

How tall is your tank? What is that red coral next to it?

Tank is 20inch high. The red thing is a star fish I’m baby sitting until my buddy’s tank is ready for it. [emoji849] But he just went in 2 days ago. I know he is not the culprit.

 

[J Rog]

Oh this frag is at the top of my tank so I would say around 10 inches from top of water line

 

[Skynyrd Fish]

How high up in the tank is it? What is your light schedule?

 

[Highgrade]

Overall your parameters seem to be good and your lighting is a good source. Do you know what type of light the frag was under previously?

 

[Highgrade]

Also looks to be more STN/RTN going on there. Rather than bleaching.

 

[Flexin]

Drop it down and see how it goes. I have some SPS that like the top and others that prefer mid to bottom.

 

[J Rog]

How high up in the tank is it? What is your light schedule?

Post right above yours has the height in tank. Light schedule

Reefbrites- noon- midnight
Ati ch1 2bulbs- 1:30pm-10:30pm
ATI ch 2 4 bulbs- 2pm- 8pm

 

[J Rog]

Overall your parameters seem to be good and your lighting is a good source. Do you know what type of light the frag was under previously?

I don’t, but these days I can only assume LED [emoji23]

 

[J Rog]

Drop it down and see how it goes. I have some SPS that like the top and others that prefer mid to bottom.

I think I will try this tonight. I just hate messing around with sps as far as moving and adjusting and what not.. I’m afraid I might do more harm moving things around. But in this case I think it’s a good idea. Don’t want to see this thing die over the course of a week or so..

 

[Highgrade]

I don’t, but these days I can only assume LED [emoji23]

This is most likely true. Possibly lower the coral a bit more and bring up gradually over the next couple weeks. I had the same ATI fixture with 4 Kessil A160WE's The ATI by itself definitely puts out some power.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Do you have other Acropora in the tank ?

 

[OnPointCorals]

I say leave it where it is. It’s adjusting.

 

[J Rog]

Do you have other Acropora in the tank ?

I do, all the others are fine. But the frag in question is the highest frag in the tank.

 

[J Rog]

I say leave it where it is. It’s adjusting.

See, this is what I’m inclined to do but don’t if there is something I can do to keep it healthy I don’t want to wait until it’s to late. It was having great PE and the past 2 days the PE has been minimal. Still there though. It does still put out some longer feeding tentacles when feeding..

 

[pdiehm]

is that an anemone near it? If so, possible that is stinging the coral?

 

[OnPointCorals]

See, this is what I’m inclined to do but don’t if there is something I can do to keep it healthy I don’t want to wait until it’s to late. It was having great PE and the past 2 days the PE has been minimal. Still there though. It does still put out some longer feeding tentacles when feeding..

It has taken me till just recently to realize most times its best to be patient and not impulsive. A good rule of thumb is to just wait and observe and not react (I am guilty of this all the time). It's one thing if you feel that anemone is stinging it or some other obvious pressing cause then yes move it.

So many times on this forum I hear its probably xyz you need to do abc. SPS hate change. Let them get comfy and stable. That's my opinion.

 

[J Rog]

is that an anemone near it? If so, possible that is stinging the coral?

No, it’s a starfish I’m sitting until his tank is ready. He just downgraded his tank so his new one is cycling. No nems in the tank. I know the starfish isn’t the cause though. He just went in the tank on Sunday.

 

[Todd31]

i have the same light... if it's hung 9 inches above water line and the frag is 10 inches below the surface i wouldnt think this is bleaching.