Wade Posted October 18, 2013 Share Posted October 18, 2013 How would I know if my new cap is getting too much light? It doesn't appear to be bleaching, but I don't know if caps typically bleach out. I do see some very small areas that seem bare where it was green before, but otherwise it looks fine. You can tell by the picture when it's positioned in the tank and the light is a Reefbreeders Photon 48" that maxes out at 60% white and 55% blue. Thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted October 18, 2013 Share Posted October 18, 2013 In metal halide lighting, you can tell if it looks dull and faded that it is getting too much light. At least for most of them, maybe not all. I don't know LEDs so can't say from that perspective. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victoly Posted October 18, 2013 Share Posted October 18, 2013 In my experience, if it's going to bleach, it bleaches in totality. You don't get blotchy bleach spots (lul). When I upgraded my LEDs, i definitely washed out some of my caps. The overall color faded by probably 90% from an intense green to almost a pastel green. Still hasn't returned, and it's been 4 months. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
esacjack Posted October 18, 2013 Share Posted October 18, 2013 if you have them under LED's they need to be shaded. Even though PAR may be similar to the halide/t5's, they have much higher radiosity, and lumens in a tiny point light source. So one LED at 100% is more 'blinding' than a single t5 HO of the same spectrum. In short, you either need to raise your LED's, or shade your caps. I have some green caps I picked up from Ty, and I have to keep them out of the line of fire from my LED's. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timfish Posted October 19, 2013 Share Posted October 19, 2013 Yes, Montipora capricornis can bleach just like any other coral. I have seen partial bleaching but it's going to be where a coral get's more intense lighting. Areas of a colony that are perpendicular to a new light source will get more light than surfaces that are at an oblique angle and can loose color while the areas at an oblique angle retain their color. If this is what's happened the silver lining is the color loss is mostly because of intensity and much less because of spectrum. As pointed out above you can manipulate intensity by moving or shading your lights. Remember it can take weeks or months or like Victoly pointed out may not ever regain it's original colors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wade Posted October 19, 2013 Author Share Posted October 19, 2013 Here's a short video. It seems like the videos come out better than pictures. I'll have to move it to a shady area tomorrow. IMG_0503.MOV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wade Posted October 19, 2013 Author Share Posted October 19, 2013 I'm going to try shading it by diffusing the light that's shining directly down on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timfish Posted October 19, 2013 Share Posted October 19, 2013 That looks more like detritus or sand had settled on spots long enough to choke the tissue. For partial bleaching I would expect larger areas more like a band in an area that was perpendicular to the light. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wade Posted October 19, 2013 Author Share Posted October 19, 2013 It released a lot if mucous or whatever when I first put it in the tank, but has looked good since then other than these spots showing up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juiceman Posted October 20, 2013 Share Posted October 20, 2013 That looks more like detritus or sand had settled on spots long enough to choke the tissue. For partial bleaching I would expect larger areas more like a band in an area that was perpendicular to the light. I second this. Some detritus settled on it and it killed a small part of it. Happens all the time to me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
esacjack Posted October 20, 2013 Share Posted October 20, 2013 +2 same here, when sand/detritus settles on an area of my caps, or my cyphastrea (sp?) it bleaches/erodes in that area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wade Posted October 20, 2013 Author Share Posted October 20, 2013 No need to shade it then. Good deal. Will it grow back? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juiceman Posted October 20, 2013 Share Posted October 20, 2013 No need to shade it then. Good deal. Will it grow back? Keep it clear and it'll grow back! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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