Coral with spots, Trouble?

[ptgestimator]

First off, Hello! I have been lurking and reading. Great site with lots of people who know thier stuff. I'm hoping someone might be able to tell me if my coral is sick/in trouble. My soft coral was looking good for the first two days after I added it on Saturday. It was open and extended. The last day it hasn't opened fully and it has developed white spots that appear "dead". I'm sure this is not good. What might be causing it and what are the possible corrective measures? Thanks.

I was told my lighting might be too much for my tank. They are: Two MH fixtures, 250watts each at 15k on a 55 gallon tank. My parameters are: Amm/Nitrite/nitrate/phos=0's, Alk=12, Silcates=0, Calcium=440, Mag=1280

Another question. I saw that you don't advise on feeding softies phyto/zooplankton? I have been using both and target feeding. What about torch corals? They seem to love it.

[Hop]

It is really hard to tell what is on the coral from those pictures. Sorry.

How did you acclimate the coral to the lights? Flow is also another consideration... How is the flow at the coral?

[Hop]

Oh and I don't target feed my softies at all. They just get what they get. I sort of target feed my LPS by using a turkey baster to feed the fish and blow mysis and other small meaty foods at the LPS. This has seemed to work well. My SPS just get what they get also

[ptgestimator]

Thanks for the reply!

I just looks like a area void of polyps and grey flesh tone. It was in a shallow tank under intense MH lighting. I would say it is equal to or less than intense as the LFS. Flow is good I suppose. A koralia #2, #3 & nano as well as a maxijet 1200.

[Hop]

Well try moving it to a really low flow place. Softies are not big flow fans and will retract their polyps if they are getting too much. Also, try dropping the lighting period to about 4 hours with your main lights or add several layers of screen over the tank partially shading the coral.

The difference in lighting alone can shock/bleach/wither/burn a coral even if we are going from more to less intense lighting.

See if that helps and let us know!