Burnt corals...

[wow.such.chris]

A few weeks ago I made a supplemental LED atrocity with some cheap RGB strips and a reflector, just for viewing after the main lights go down. I was running them at full power during the day as well thinking the cheap LEDS wouldn't do much for the corals.

 

After a week of running the strips I noticed my monti cap had retracted polyps. A few days later I noticed algae growth on it, since then all my SPS that is up higher have developed bleached tips which are growing some algae.

 

So, what can I do to remedy this? I've since turned the lights wayyy down, but its been a few weeks and I'm still not seeing polyp extension and all the bleached tips have algae growing on them. Is it cool to rub the algae off them? Just keep up on WCs, or is there more that I can do to help?

[GTi]

A few weeks ago I made a supplemental LED atrocity with some cheap RGB strips and a reflector, just for viewing after the main lights go down. I was running them at full power during the day as well thinking the cheap LEDS wouldn't do much for the corals.

 

After a week of running the strips I noticed my monti cap had retracted polyps. A few days later I noticed algae growth on it, since then all my SPS that is up higher have developed bleached tips which are growing some algae.

 

So, what can I do to remedy this? I've since turned the lights wayyy down, but its been a few weeks and I'm still not seeing polyp extension and all the bleached tips have algae growing on them. Is it cool to rub the algae off them? Just keep up on WCs, or is there more that I can do to help?

Try removing the algae by rubbing but I usually trim the affected part off. If the corals are happy again, they may grow tissue over the exposed skeleton but I still sounds like they are not that happy. If the corals were doing well without the LEDs, perhaps try leaving them off and see if that helps?

[wow.such.chris]

Try removing the algae by rubbing but I usually trim the affected part off. If the corals are happy again, they may grow tissue over the exposed skeleton but I still sounds like they are not that happy. If the corals were doing well without the LEDs, perhaps try leaving them off and see if that helps?

 

My digi just grew over the algae, I was hoping the rest would follow. I think I may try and trim off the acro tips that look rough, but they're only like 2" frags and I'm not sure they'd do better. I've been leaving the lights off during the day and just super low if I want to view at night. I'd really hate to cut off beautiful blue tips... thanks for the advice, I may indeed trim them in a week.

[GTi]

In that case, I'd try cleaning them first and hope for the best - good luck!