Anyone know why a Christmas Favia would start loosing color

[epleeds]

Just yesterday, my Christmas favia started loosing its color. It has been in the same place for 9 months. Now its looking very pale.

 

Anyone ever experience this?

[L8 2 RISE]

What (coral wise) is within 8 inches of the favia? Long stingers can extend quite a ways and start to hurt it. If the whole thing's more pale though, it's probably your lights. How long has it been since you changed them?

[epleeds]

nothing near it that could sting it. lights 2 months old. everything else in the tank is fine. guess its time to test the water,,,

[L8 2 RISE]

I'd do that and if the tests turn back fine and if nothing else in the tank is having problems, wait for a couple of days and don't do anyhing. I would bet that it comes back in that time. I have a few corals that occassionally just don't seem well, then they slough off a layer of slime or something and then are fine.

[scott711]

have you changed anything recently? Last time you did a water change?

[epleeds]

nothing has changed. I do water changes every 2 weeks, with 5 gallons top off each week. Nothing has changed...that is why its strange..

[Coral Hind]

Too much light normally makes them to lighten in color. Adding carbon, a new UV, or new lamps can cause that.

[Jon Lazar]

IME bleaching is most frequently caused by either an increase in light or an increase in temperature. The increase in light can be from improved water clarity, as mentioned above, change in position of the coral (in shadow vs. out in the open, low vs. high, and laying flat or perpendicular to the tank bottom), or just brighter lights.

[epleeds]

and nothing like that has happened. I change my carbon on the 1st of the month and the lights are only 2 months old. I will do some testing this week and will let everyone know.

[scott711]

what about alk/calcium?

[Incredible Corals]

I had bright green montipora lose all it's color and then bounce back with in a month. I didn't change a thing during that time and always did my weekly water changes. I bet it comes back. Maybe it was a lingering effect of the new bulbs and changing carbon?

[Coral Hind]

Is it expelling any brown stuff?