orange monti cap bleaching

I dont know if my new lights are to close to the waters surface or what but my monti cap is about 16" from the bottom of my fixture so about half way up from the bottom. I have only have my new lights from a few weeks now but its bleaching the 14k MH are only on for 4 hrs and only 12 hrs of total light.

Params:

420ppm Ca
9dKH
8.03pH
1.026 S.G.
0ppm Nitrates
0ppm Phosphates

14K Phoenix MH 2x250w
2 T5 Ati aqua blue speical
2 T5 Ati blue plus

Both sets of bulbs are brand new (few weeks old)

 

sorry to read that Leighton

how far as the lamps from the water surface?
in relation to the lamps, is the Monti directly underneath it?

because moving it one side or the other of the tank, away from being directly underneath the lamp, may well help to reverse this situation

the monti may well adapt to the conditions in its current location
but as I assume, you want to start increasing the duration that the MH is on
moving it to a more shady location, would probably help, and allow you to continue acclimatising the rest of the inhabitants

Steve

 

You are correct its direct below the MH and the lamps are about 6" off the water surface. So i think i will try to move it to one side except its encrusted to the rock so that might present a small problem lol I did just move my clam lower and it colored right up.

 

is moving the lamps higher an option?
I started/ still have mine at 12 inches of the water surface, and like you commenced with just 4 hours per day

this put the corals with tips closest to the water surface at least 15 inches away from the lamps, and my Montis being about half way up on a 20 inch deep set up, at about 22 inches from the lamps ( mine are within the reflector but not directly in line with the lamp)

moving the lamp upwards, if at all possible
could also help with the acclimatisation
Steve

 

I built the canopy so i think i can add something on to the bottom of it to raise it up to about 12". Thanks for the advice steve I just have to figure out how to move the LR lol

I have some more SPS coming soon from Wet thumb frags cant wait!!

 

Monti caps can definitely be sensitive to light. Feeding has been shown to inhibit bleaching though and I've found that they seem to respond "feeding" dosing of amino acids. There even seems to be some evidence to support this in the literature actually. So, if you are not dosing aminos, IMO, that may help. Moving it to lower light should help too.

 

I am using Red Sea Reef energy A&B twice a week that has aminos and other things like that in there. thought about getting the Reef color supplements but ill try to move the my light up and the adjust my dosing from there. Thank you both for the help