Zooxanthellae ran away from Home

[reefnut]

My coral that I've had over a year has just went though some major bleaching. About half is fully bleached and the other half seems full of color??
I know there are many causes for bleaching. I have had a bad summer with kalk overdosing, temp swings, ca reactor causing low PH, etc so the cause could be a number of things.
What I'm concerned with now is how to save the coral. I have started feeding which should help a little but is there anything specific that can be done?

 

[jauringer]

feeding is the best thing to do. if it's easy to lower it on the sand bed that would help.
Have you added new bulbs?
added a whole lot of carbon or some type of media?
I hope it recovers.

 

[reefnut]

The coral is pretty low in the tank already. Bulbs were changed in April, no carbon or other media out of the ordenary. I think the bleaching is from the chemical swings.
I have my fingers crossed but I don't know??

 

[nm reef]

I've recently added several SPS myself and that would be a nightmare for me. I'm sure at some point I'll be facing the same concerns. So far mine have adjusted real well and no problems have caught my eye ... yet!
I'd also think proper diet/lighting/circulation would be the best bet...and hope it becomes stable and recovers before it continues to decline.
Looks like a sweet piece...best of luck & keep us posted.

 

[reefnut]

I was/ is a nice piece

. Hope you never have to worry about this...

 

[spsfreak100]

About half is fully bleached and the other half seems full of color??
The coral polyps will expell their zooxanthellae when under stress. A high temperature or sudden temperature swings will oftewn cause them to release their zooxanthellae. Unfortunately, during this state it's often very difficult for them to regain the dinoflagellates within their tissue and they will often starve to death.
Feeding would be the best thing to do. I have had several bleachings (zooxanthellae loss, not tissue loss) due to an extended high temperature of around 86-88 degrees F.
I would expect other corals to also expell their zooxanthellae as a result of any temperature spikes or swings. Generally, it can take up to several weeks for you to begin noticing any loss of coloration.
Here is an example of two corals which lost their coloration due to excessive heat. Unfortunately, the color still hasn't begun to come back. I'm expecting it to take another several weeks before I notice any zooxanthellae in the coral.
This was a deep green A. micropthalma

Originally this was green with reddish polyps

Graham