Better color in SPS

[mpderksen]

Everything in the tank is doing great. Growth everywhere. My SPS seem pale. Could be the LED lighting doesn't make them pop the way MH would? I don't feed them or supplement with anything. Should I? Maybe I just have light colored specimens? Maybe they are growing too fast? Thoughts?

 

[Cdodge1]

Here's something I think may be useful:

"Another byproduct of the symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae is color. Several million zooxanthellae live and produce pigments in just one square inch of coral. These pigments are visible through the clear body of the polyp and are what gives many reef-building coral their beautiful color. The zooxanthellae range in color from golden-yellow to brown and give their hosts the same shade. Color can vary or change depending upon the intensity of light to which the coral and its symbionts are exposed. If the light intensity is lower than normal, the zooxanthellae cells may increase in number and may also produce more chlorophyll to maintain photosynthesis. If the coral is exposed to higher intensity light, photosynthesis may increase, which can produce dangerously high levels of oxygen in the coral's tissue. To counteract this, the coral may expel some zooxanthellae or the zooxanthellae may reduce the amount of chlorophyll within them. [c]"
Source


Also, and I am no expert, different wavelengths of light effect zooxanthellae as well I believe. So higher levels of reds will make your corals "brown out" much easier than high levels of blue or UV.
I don't think fast coral growth would make them pale..there are plenty of hobbyists who see lots of growth and have vibrant colors.

I wish there was an easy answer! lol. Hope this helps.

 

[cloak]

What are your parameters? If your water is just stripped of nutrients I have seen people recommend to feed a little bit more.

 

[Tweaked]

There are allot of reasons for pale sps, but if they are overall pale, IE not just the tips and top sides from light, then I would wager you need to feed more. More fish, coral food, or amino's are among the most popular solutions.

 

[lpsouth1978]

I was having some coloring issued in several of my SPS. My tank is ULNS and phosphate and nitrate were at undetectable levels. I started feeding heavily 2x a day, as well as using Amino acids once a week and Reef Chili every other day. Now my colors are getting better everyday and my params are still perfect.

This may not be a solution for you, but seemed to work for me.