Are these white areas new growth in my Pavona maldivensis?

[rsaylor3]

This is one of only a few SPS corals I have and I have only recently started dosing Kalkwasser to the tank for more stability. Noticed theses spots at the tips and one at the base area that are getting a bit whiter. Is this new growth or is this a problem?

 

[homer1475]

Think you forgot a picture?

 

[rsaylor3]

I did

 

[homer1475]

I see the white at the base, looks to be bleaching.

Any recent changes to the tank?

 

[rsaylor3]

I was hoping that wasn’t the case! I did increase the intensity of my xr15 Radion pros a bit, but did it over a 45 day acclimation period. Went to 60% point intensity vs 45%. My thought was to bring up the PAR a bit for the SPS I was slowly starting to add.

mall other perimeters have been the same, just ALK is more stable with the Kalkwasser.

 

[rsaylor3]

Here are my settings

 

[rsaylor3]

Photo is tough, but one of the upper tips has the same white as that spot on the base. When I search for colonies of the same coral, online for sale, it seemed that a lot of them have the same white on the tips and the edges of the base. That’s why I was hoping and assuming you growth.

 

[homer1475]

The tips I can agree with you on as growth, but the base should never turn white, It's either bleaching, or shading. I do not see any shading in the pic though.

 

[rsaylor3]

Ok, thanks! Really appreciate it and I will drop the light some and see how things go. How quickly can I realistically expect to see any change or recovery of a change in lighting?

Would just dropping the light starting tomorrow be ok, or should I do it over some time with an acclimation period?

 

[homer1475]

I personally would probably just leave it be. if it progresses over the next couple days, then maybe drop the light.

 

[rsaylor3]

Ok, thank you very much for you help and insight!

 

[homer1475]

I like that pavona. Might have to add that one to my collection.

I currently have 2. a Hairy pavona, and an ORA mint chip pavona.

 

[Dburr1014]

The tips I can agree with you on as growth, but the base should never turn white, It's either bleaching, or shading. I do not see any shading in the pic though.

Could also be a flow issue. The coral needs flow all around it to shed its waste. I have seen this in my birdsnest, as it grows the flow minimizes.

 

[rsaylor3]

Thanks Homer! I really liked it as well! I actually bought it that size from a local Reef store. I’d have to look back in photos but I think I’ve had it for about five months now.

Dburr, I was actually up last night thinking about this. Watched a BRS video about flow that I had watched when it first came out. It made me think I might not have enough flow in that area anymore. I just modified my schedule for flow and made sure to add a good four hour heavier random flow. Each day.

I’ll keep an eye on it and besides the change in flow I’m gonna definitely leave the lights as they are. Thanks as always!

 

[rsaylor3]

Well after increasing the flow during during a 5 hour window yesterday and then today, I noticed that it has a very large number of small feeder tentacles or something extending from it. Very thin and almost silk like, and maybe 1/4” long if I had to guess.

Guessing that it likes the increased flow! and will have to possibly Change my flow schedule to include increased flow throughout the day.

 

[homer1475]

Sweepers. They come out to sting nearby corals that are competing for space. I ahve never seen them on my mint chip, but the hairy pavona has them all the time. Pavona's pack a punch in that respect.

 

[rsaylor3]

Whoa! There was so many I thought it was something else. It’s all by itself so I don’t think it can hit anything else there.

 

[homer1475]

Yeah my hairy one always has sweepers out. 24/7/365. They are very cool to watch.