Is this bleaching?

[staciloraine]

We just added this coral from Kevin's shop a little less than two weeks ago...it is some form of pocillopora.

This is our first attempt at keeping SPS coral, however we have had a fish only tank for 8 years. This tank is a recent upgrade to a 160 gal w~30 gal sump/refugium, we have had it 6 months but it was an established healthy tank when we bought it.

The white spots on the ends and right side of the coral don't seem healthy, is that the case? We know the calcium is low, and that nitrates should be 0. We are going to test for magnesium. Is there anything else we should do??
We don't really want to be coral killers.
Thanks for the help.


Lighting: 4 x 54w T5 HO
SG: 1.025
Cal: 300 (trying to bring up to 400-450 w/Turbo Calc on a drip into the sump)
Nitrates: between 15 & 20
Nitrites: 0
Alkalinity: 3.66
Phosphate: .03 ppm
pH: 8.0


Entire tank:

Coral is in the middle about 12 inches from lights. The lights are about 3 inches from the top of the tank.

Sad looking coral:

 

[Myteemouse]

had same problem with mine. It is bleaching try less flow

 

[kevinpo]

Hello,
It appears that it has been bitten by something, most likely a fish. Be sure to keep a close eye on the P. hepatus (Hippo Tang) as they can sometimes nip corals. This coral is used to being a 16" or so from a 400W 10,000K halide driven by a HQI ballast.

HTH,
Kevin

 

[staciloraine]

We just caught one of our blue-green chromis eating the coral, it looks pretty bad this evening. Maybe we can try to fish them out!

 

[noonesname124]

Never heard of chromis eating corals. The foxFace, on the other hand, is a different story!

 

[staciloraine]

It is really strange, nothing seems to indicate that they would eat coral...I watched it nip at the coral several times over just a few minutes this evening. We figured it might be the Regal tang, but have not seen it bother anything.
We mostly feed pellets and some frozen cubes a couple of times a week. Maybe the chromis aren't getting enough meaty foods??