Why does my Monti look like this?

[Yates273]

I’m totally lost here. This Monti was nice and red and for the last several weeks it faded. Outer edges red but the rest is brown/white. All polyps are out but under white light looks horrible. Numbers have been stable for a while. I am running 2 hydra 26 a Kessil ap 700 and the Aquatoc life hybrid with 3 blue plus and one actinic. Too much light? What the hell am I doing wrong. My Xmas tree Favia also looks crap. euphyilla acans and other corals look fine. Im almost done with any type of Monti. I can’t keep them looking nice. TYIA
tank temp 78-79 degrees
Alk 9.1
Cal 400
Mg 1600

 

[mwil79]

That is a lot of light, you sure you aren't cooking it? Ever tested par in your tank?

 

[Yates273]

That is a lot of light, you sure you aren't cooking it? Ever tested par in your tank?

Par at that level is about 170 according to Apex par meter

 

[Yates273]

So the hybrid only comes on from 1pm to 5 pm
Hydras at highest are 82%
Kessil is 80%
Figure if too much light it would bleach out totally not brown out. Should I lower intensity on leds?

 

[Yates273]

Lowered Kessil to 50 % and hydras to 60% leave T5 for same photo period. Any other ideas

 

[Salted]

That’s a big change in lighting. Since your other corals look fine could you just move the two problem pieces? Why risk upsetting the rest for these two. Or try only lowering the light to 70%. You stated that this started several weeks ago. Does your tank get a lot of increased light with the longer days? Is there a lot of sunlight in the room? If yes maybe try closing curtains rather than adjusting a lighting schedule that was working. Brs and others say consider any changes in lighting as a step backward. Good luck.

 

[mwil79]

Phosphates also make a big difference in browning montis in my experience.

 

[Yates273]

Tank in basement so no sunlight at all. I kept Phosphates a little high since I I was battling Dino’s which are now gone. Phosphates at .08. Put Gfo in reactor 2 days ago. Didn’t realize lowering light could upset the coral. Can’t move it is encrusted on rockwork. Will readjust lighting so I don’t shock the tank then

 

[Bot587]

is that a leather coral next to it?

If so look up Terpenes from soft corals.

If you are doing a mixed reef sps do not fare well against soft corals. The terpenes will kill the monti in time.

 

[ericrodriguez]

You could also us the acclimation mode for your light and you don’t have to be doing little adjustment.