HELP Milli in distress

[ssmtcarlo]

I noticed that recently one of my milleporas looked as if the tissue on some parts was missing. The tips are still ok but many branches seem to be loosing tissue. the polyps are still extending even where the tissue is missing. What could be causing this. There is another mille next to this one and it is doing fine. got this piece as a mini colony now its over 7 inches across i would hate to loose it. please help

tank is a 30 gal with 4 39watt t5ho bulbs.

water parameters

ca-410 ppm
alk- 10 dkh
ph- 8.2
po4- undetectable with seatest test kit
nitrates- 0
ammonia-0

 

[reefman]

strange that the polyps still there if the tissue is gone. r u sure its not just bleached?

 

[EXPEDITION]

Have you recently cahnged bulbs,added a new fish?

 

[ellebelle]

looks like it's bleached.

 

[ssmtcarlo]

no the bulbs are not new. if it is bleached what could be causing it. all my water parameters are good.

 

[cybermeez]

Temperature flucuations can be one cause of bleaching in some corals.

no the bulbs are not new. if it is bleached what could be causing it. all my water parameters are good.

 

[ssmtcarlo]

tank temp is controlled by a renco 2 stage controller the temp is set at 78 and does not fluctuate during the winter. goes up to a high of 82 during the summer but has not caused problems with bleaching for me.

could it be the bulbs need to be changed. 2 actinics are 9 months old and my 2 10k's are 14 months old i know they need to be changed but could that be causing bleaching

 

[reefman]

i changed out my carbon all at once n bleached once. is this mini colony at the very top of the tank? i see some tips r above the surface.

 

[ssmtcarlo]

its high up but the tips are only out because i tilted the colony to get a better picture of the coral.

 

[House of Laughter]

AEFW - have you dipped the coral? AEFW's are known to east from the bottom up.

house

 

[ssmtcarlo]

have not dipped this coral but i have had it for over a year and a half. I am very careful of what goes in my tank, im not ruling it out but wouldn't the polyps be gone as well. only tissue seems to be gone or bleached.

 

[House of Laughter]

SMT - I don't think so (polyps) have you tired to turkey baste?

Not saying you have em, but ruling it out is key!

Also, sometimes,and I mean sometimes, corals just get to thier natural length and just crap out for no apparent reason -t this is possible too.

house

 

[ssmtcarlo]

hope thats not the case. this thing has grown from 2 inches to a 7inch diameter colony
ill pick up some TMPCC and dip it. will i be able to see the dead worms in a bucket if it had them.

 

[nanoreefer22]

If you want to check for flatworms take a turkey baster and blast the colony with jets of water, if there are any on the colony they should come flying off.

I've seen this done and it does work for getting them out into open water. This is probably going to be less stressful than the dip and it'll save you money, if you have to go out and buy TMPCC

 

[ssmtcarlo]

i have basted it and seen nothing