Brown Acro back to color questions

[deepseadan]

Just wondering if anyone's bought a brown acro and nursed it back to a beautiful color. If so, what did you see take place? Did the brown skin thin out etc?

 

[xenon]

Yes. Do it all the time.

A brown acro usually means high nutrients (phosphates/nitrates) so you should start by brining those levels down SLOWLY!

Once your PO4 and NO3 levels are low or undetectable, you should see a massive improvement. If it does not color up, I would suspect your lighting to be the issue.

If you determine that its a blue acro and you want it to be more blue, you will need to test for iodide and bring up the level to 0.03-0.04.

If you determine that its a red/pink acro and you want it to be more red you will need to test for potassium and bring up the level to 400.

Iron is what you will need to dose to get green but make sure you don't overdose because then your yellow corals will have a green shimmer.

In an SPS dominated tank, you will need to dose these trace elements to maintain natural seawater levels. 10-20% water changes wont keep up with demand and even high end salts like Tropic Marin Pro Reef have very low levels from my experience.

 

[Allmost]

it basically looses brown daily, showing more and more of its true base color. which is scientifically what happens too, the zoox algae[brown in SPS] starts disapearing and color pigments of corals becoming more visible.

 

[xcorallusx]

most acros turn green before they start to color up

 

[deepseadan]

Just wondering because I was just given a completely brown acro which started out blue. Glad to see that it may come back. Just wasn't sure what to expect.

 

[deepseadan]

Yes. Do it all the time.

A brown acro usually means high nutrients (phosphates/nitrates) so you should start by brining those levels down SLOWLY!

Once your PO4 and NO3 levels are low or undetectable, you should see a massive improvement. If it does not color up, I would suspect your lighting to be the issue.

If you determine that its a blue acro and you want it to be more blue, you will need to test for iodide and bring up the level to 0.03-0.04.

If you determine that its a red/pink acro and you want it to be more red you will need to test for potassium and bring up the level to 400.

Iron is what you will need to dose to get green but make sure you don't overdose because then your yellow corals will have a green shimmer.

In an SPS dominated tank, you will need to dose these trace elements to maintain natural seawater levels. 10-20% water changes wont keep up with demand and even high end salts like Tropic Marin Pro Reef have very low levels from my experience.

Good info about the colors. I will go get some test kits for those elements. What brand do you prefer.

 

[captjab]

I've got one coloring up right now. I bought it for a really good price and it's starting to color up nicely. I'll post picks tomorrow when my lights come on.

 

[xenon]

Good info about the colors. I will go get some test kits for those elements. What brand do you prefer.

Salifert.

The new potassium test kit (black box) they released this year is fantastic.

 

[REEF SMAC]

Good info about the colors.

+1

That's good stuff.

 

[TauReef]

I would not worry about dosing those elements until you make sure the phosphates and nitrates are in check. Dosing iodide, iron, etc. is only important when you are able to keep nutrients in check and you are looking for better color.

 

[BrianN]

I never dose Potassium or iodide in my reef tank and my SPSs still look color up nicely. Keep low nutrient in your reef and maintain Mg, Alk, Ca levels should do the trick.