Your thoughts after a bad day of reefing

[Myka]

I always dim the lights if there is a bleaching going on in the tank. I'm not sure that it was caused by the lights being stronger, but from the lack of flow, and possible a temperature drop and fast rise. You mention the pumps were very hot, and I'm thinking the water may be quite warm in the sump too. The other thing to think about is the possibility of the melting plastic leeching toxins.