Bad color in my sps :(

[phishcrazee]

I've just started some sps this past summer, and most of them have taken a dive in the color department I have a 75g with 2x175w MH and 2x 96w actinics. I had the MH on for about 8 hours a day, until another reefer told me I should reduce it down to 6. So I've tried that now for the past week. The sps I have are: blue tort, (which happens to look good, go figure), some purple monti and some pink birdnest. I was under the impression that they needed MORE light, not less. They are placed on a rock with just sps about 5-6 inches from the water line. I also have some softies, and lps in the tank, but run carbon. I have been seeing growth, but just not a lot of color. If it weren't for the nice color of the blue tort, I think I'd sell the whole rock!!!

Any suggestions? Parameters are fine, the nitrates are at about 5ppm, otherwise they are good, wnl.

 

[Bebo77]

what are you parameters and what flow do you have in your tank...

 

[phishcrazee]

Re: Bad color in my sps

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8152211#post8152211 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by phishcrazee
Parameters are fine, the nitrates are at about 5ppm, otherwise they are good, wnl.

pH is at 8.3, calcium is at 440, alk is 8-10 dKH, temp is 79-82. I have 3 powerheads, with pretty good gph, although I don't remember what it is exactly.

 

[Covey]

Re: Bad color in my sps

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8152211#post8152211 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by phishcrazee
, and most of them have taken a dive in the color department

Hey phish
Define taken a dive. Lighter, darker, browner?

 

[phishcrazee]

the purple monti=tan
the pink birdsnest=tan/lt green

the blue tort is the only one that looks like it should. I don't know why that one would look good, maybe it just takes longer to turn TAN

 

[Covey]

If that is THE purple monti floating around GIRS it diffentily shouldn't be tan. More light wouldn't hurt but I think this is a nutrient issue. 5ppm nitrate is starting to get a bit high but I would think it would bother the tort before the other two.

What is your phos. at?

What skimmer are you running?

 

[Wiskey]

What K are your MH, and how old are they?

If those are 20K 175's then you could seriousally use an upgrade, if they are 10,000K, or 6700K then you should be good in the light department.

Whiskey

 

[Bebo77]

what is your Mg level and phosphate level?

 

[phishcrazee]

The lights are 10K and less than 6 months old. I don't test for magnesium, so don't know. Phosphate is 0. I'm running an ASM G2. And yes, it is THE beautiful purple monti, but now looks like s*%#

 

[GMAX]

Well its possible that your nitrate is 5 and your phosphate is zero, but in my opinion not likely. Test kit might be old or off. You dont mention a refugium. How are you managing your tank for excess nutrient export?

 

[phishcrazee]

I'm testing for phosphates as I type I have a 30g sump with a fuge in the middle chamber and a ton of chaeto. I'm thinking there might be too much chaeto, as there's not much room for it to grow anymore and I know it really needs to grow to use up nitrates, right?

 

[phishcrazee]

ok, looks like phosphates are between 1 and 2.......... but it's only recently that I've even had any nitrates and now some phosphates; would that effect the coloring or just polyp extension? Is 6 hours of 10K MH enough for them?

 

[GMAX]

[only recently that I've even had any nitrates and now some phosphates; would that effect the coloring or just polyp extension?

It would affect both. 1 on phosphates is high, 2 is astronomical. You want to do a large volumn water change.

If you have chaeto, you need to be pulling it apart as it tends to form tight masses or balls, and harvesting out clumps on a regular basis. This is how the nitrate and phosphate get exported from your system. Sounds like your grow light on your refugium is barely adequate. If you do a search on RC for refugium grow lights, you will find lots of folks using a 6.5K fluorescent spot light bulb that runs on 20 watts. Economical and it grows macro like crazy. How deep is the sand in your refugium? Can you add sand here to get 4-5 inches of depth. May help by creating an anerobic layer for bacteria to work on nitrate too.

 

[RichConley]

1 and 2 what? ppm?

it should be like .05 ppm or lower.

 

[phishcrazee]

I will work on thinning the chaeto tonight and do a water change tomorrow and see if I can get the phosphates down. The chaeto grows fine, but I have too much in there. Cheato anyone?!

I'm still wondering if 6 hours of MH at 10K is enough?

 

[GMAX]

I run my 400 watt 10Ks for about 9 hours. Six seems a little short to me, too.

 

[Covey]

I'd slowly get it back to where you had it and then maybe up it to around 10hrs.

The phosphate has got to be causing problems. I would get some PhosBan in there. At the reconmend dose. Even though the phos is bad dropping the level to fast would be worse for the coral.

More light, some phosban, trim the chaeto, and a water change and I think you will be back on track. Change but change slowly.

 

[NuclearReefs]

Check the Magnesium to.. If your dosing kalk daily your losing mag daily.......

PO4 will definately affect color of the coral faster than anything...

 

[phishcrazee]

Found part of the phosphate problem........ my ro unit is producing water that has at least .5 ppm phosphate! Damn well water in Iowa $%*&()#@!!! Time to change the filters; does anyone know of a cheap but good place to get filters for RO units?

 

[jay24k]

Cheap and good doesn't go together for Ro filters. You are better off getting good quality filters since your well water sucks. I would check the h2oguru guy or spectrapure as they both have good quality filters. I would check water after your membrane and see if you are getting the correct reading or if your DI is exhausted.