Bubble Coral bleaching out

[Clownkeeper]

I have had this bubble coral for just under a year and it had been doing really well then about 2 months ago it started bleaching out and wouldnt open up all the way. I have no idea why. Nothing in the tank has really changed. The only thing i can think is that the lamps i had on it was 1 aquasun 1 actinic white and 2 blues, and now it is 2 actinic whites and 2 blues. The params are all in spec. Have checked several times.
you can see a pic of what it looks like now at
http://www.geocities.com/Clown_keeper/corals
they opened up really big before it bleached out. Use to be a creamy tan color and now is white as rice with the base still a little tan in color.
I was feeding it Krill until i noticed it looked freezer burned. Now i am feeding it Bloodworms and frozen plankton.
If anyone has any idea why this happend or how i can get it to recolor please let me know.. do not want to lose this beauty.

Troy

 

[Dragonlady]

Your bubble coral might be bleaching because of insufficient light to maintain its zooanthellae.
You could try to move it closer to the light, or you could increase your lighting. I keep my bubble coral under 10,000k metal halide lighting, and the pinkish tan coral has grown at least 5 new polyps.

 

[Clownkeeper]

i will try that.. I am getting ready in the next couple weeks to install 2 250w Iwasaki 56k bulbs with 2 actinic blues. Hoping that will help the few corals that i do have out quite a bit.
Thanks for the reply

Troy

 

[MFisher]

I disagree with dragonlady. You don't want to stress an already stressed coral. I've had lots of stuf bleach in the past and >90% live. I don't know why it happens but it does in my tank and I don't get too bent out of shape about it. Just keep feding it and it should do fine.

 

[Dragonlady]

Clownkeeper,
When you increase your lighting, be sure to acclimate your corals to the new lighting gradually.

 

[Clownkeeper]

how do you acclimate corals to new lighting? once i put in the MH i will have no room for the other 2 VHO's

Troy

 

[kevjtomy]

My bubble "started" to bleach a couple of months after I got it. Got to where about 1/5 of it was bleached. Within a short time (week or so?) it had returned to normal without me changing a thing. Still not sure what caused it, all checks were good... Good luck with yours.

 

[MontanaRocknReefer]

You could acclimate your bubble to your new MH lighting by only having your MH lights on for say 6 hrs a day and then gradually increase the hours of usage. JMO Johnny