SPS turned white

[sean112280]

I have a piece of brown birds nest that in 2 days has turned completely white. What do you think it could be?

PH-8.0
CAL-495
Alk-15DKH
Nitrate-0
Salinity-1.025

 

[neilanh]

Could be RTN (Rapid Tissue Necrosis). I'm no expert on it, so probably best you google it. I've had this happen to a few of my SPS as well.

 

[Kurt_Nelson]

Was this piece new to your tank? If it was new, improper light acclimation comes to mind.

 

[ccCapt]

My guess would be your alk is way too high if it's really 15 dKH. 7-11 dKH is where is should be.
Reef Aquarium Water Parameters by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

 

[sean112280]

whats a good way to lower ALK? yes new to my tank. think its alk related too

 

[mr_X]

My guess would be your alk is way too high if it's really 15 dKH. 7-11 dKH is where is should be.
Reef Aquarium Water Parameters by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

or too low. everyone readily adds calcium without tending to the alk. not saying you did this, but that would be my first thought.

that said i grew a birdsnest from a 1.5" frag to a softball sized colony and fragged it multiple times. ones day i cut a small piece off of it for a friend and put it back where i got it without removing it from the water. the next day it was completely dead.
i didn't change any parameters in my system, so i attribute it to what was residing on my hands at the time.

pics-
original frag-

colony at it's best-

the day after fragging-

 

[sean112280]

Wow that is crazy. Maybe it was something on my hands. I did handle it a couple times to get it placed right