Need help with Kenya Tree and other soft corals

[tnt2k03]

Hello everyone,

I have a 75 gal tank with 2 150watts metal halide and 2 blue power compact light 75watts each. I have some fish and about 50 lbs. of live rock. I have some hard coral and some soft coral and a few mushroom. They are doing ok except the christmas trees, the leather coral, and frog spawn are in trouble. I am not sure what is going in my tank. The christmas tree and the frog spawn loosing their colors. The christmass is white and the frog spawn corol normally is green and brown, but now it is almost white too. The leather coral is dying. Its body is tearing off and hanging down. the brain coral is clear white, and the green color is disappearing. I make 20% water change every month. This tank also has a big protein skimmer. Anyone has any idea what is happing to my coral? Any input is greatly appreciated. Please help. Many thanks in advance.

Sorry I posted this same subject in the "Talk Anything Saltwater" section by accidence.

Sincerely,

TNT

Did these corals experience a change in lighting recently?

[tnt2k03]

No, everything is the same. I couldn't figure out what happened. The only thing I could think off is the blue compact lights might be going dimmer. I will change the bulbs today to see they will get any better. I just did 50% water changed yesterday, 09/03/05 because I was afraid there is something wrong with water. If there will be any changes after water changed, it wouldn't show untill the next few days.

TNT :?

[icereefer]

yeah looks like a light issue to me too.
looks like there loosing there zooxanthellae

[Doctor_Reef]

Ditto's looks like they are bleaching.....Light issue!!!!

[FishinInTheDark]

Bleaching could also be a heat issue. Have you checked your temperature lately?

[tnt2k03]

Temperature is 78 to 80 F. Light issue, do you my blue compact light is too dimmed or the metal halide is too bright? Could you please be more specific? I have been searching everywhere for a solution to this problem, and I just found out that it could be the protein skimmer removes iron and iodine from the water along tank's waste. I am waiting for the test kits in the mail so I can determine if that is problem. I am all confused right now.

One more question. Could this be the cause of my problem? I recently installed a water softener unit in my house (about 3 months), and the water I am using for the tank is softwater.
Please let me know, thank you for all the answers.

Sincerely,

TNT

[Doctor_Reef]

Have you checked your ph. alk. dkh. ca. lately??? The change in light can cause bleaching...did you acclimate these corals to the MH lighting??? MH lighting is very intense and if these corals were not acclimated over time to the MH lighting then that could be what is causing the bleaching....or it could be the water parameters....

[tnt2k03]

Yes, I have tested the water, and everything is good. I just ran across an article about coral bleaching, and I think that is problem. Water temperature is the main cause. The water temperature of the tank is 90 F. About two months ago, we had a fire fish and a cleaner wrase jumped out the tank so my wife put a pieace of the flexiglass on top of the tank and the temperature built-up overtime when the metal halide is running in the daytime. The temperature sticker on the tank shown 82 F but the sticker was at the bottom of the tank and below the sand level. I used the thermometer to check the temperature it was 90 F. I almost died to see that. Anyway, I removed the flexiglass last night, and the water temperature is dropping slowly. This morning I checked it again, and the water temperature was at 85 F. Hopefully this was the only problem. thanks again for all the inputs. I will let you guys know how it goes.

Sincerely,

TNT TRan :oops:

[FishinInTheDark]

I'm glad you've gotten to the bottom of the issue. Now that you're getting the temp right, you need to decide what to do with the bleached corals. Your best bet will be to move them to a very shady spot where they don't get any direct light. Keep your water quality pristine and it's possible that they recover. It's also possible that they don't recover, so keep any eye on them. The leathers especially may need to be removed if they continue to do poorly. Once they have gotten their zooanthellae algae back, they can be acclimated to light again.

GL,

[tnt2k03]

Thank you, FishinInTheDark. I was just wondering about, good thing you already read my mind. I will do just that. Thanks again for the help.

Sincerely,

TNT

[FishinInTheDark]

YVW!

[CZ]

The temp issue is surely your problem. Reef tanks are ok up to 85 degrees. After that, things start dying. 90 degrees is well known as a death zone. Thats where you were at.