Brown SPS to Colorful Project

[dobly_1999]

Marineland 18x18x18 reef ready cube, 250w MH, Bubble Magus Curve 5 skimmer.

Today I installed the new sump amd skimmer. I started this tank March 2013. I honestly did not keep up with water quality. I did biweekly wc, no real calibration. Last we a couple of friends stopped by and made some hurtful comments. They were sincere, but I was ashamed. :headwally:
One ask, "What are those brown sticks?"

So, I changed the entire sump and a most better skimmer.

 

[MHG]

Listen here.... I have very colorful sps and the majority of people only see fish or if they notice the corals don't know or care that they are real. A minority get impressed andcomment positively...

With 250 mh on a 18 inch cube I am thinking it is not light related. I am guessing the brown is less of a rust color and more of a tan color? Anyway with that much light it is probably low nutrients. Nitrates of about 1-2ppm should bring that color back in about 6 months... Also make sure you have good random flow...

 

[dobly_1999]

Here is a video on Bubble Magus skimmer
http://http://youtu.be/c88CDtFFHKs

 

[trueblackpercula]

Listen here.... I have very colorful sps and the majority of people only see fish or if they notice the corals don't know or care that they are real. A minority get impressed andcomment positively...

With 250 mh on a 18 inch cube I am thinking it is not light related. I am guessing the brown is less of a rust color and more of a tan color? Anyway with that much light it is probably low nutrients. Nitrates of about 1-2ppm should bring that color back in about 6 months... Also make sure you have good random flow...

Perfect advice +1

 

[sahin]

Marineland 18x18x18 reef ready cube, 250w MH, Bubble Magus Curve 5 skimmer.

Today I installed the new sump amd skimmer. I started this tank March 2013. I honestly did not keep up with water quality. I did biweekly wc, no real calibration. Last we a couple of friends stopped by and made some hurtful comments. They were sincere, but I was ashamed. :headwally:
One ask, "What are those brown sticks?"

So, I changed the entire sump and a most better skimmer.

At least you can admit that you didnt maintain the tank as well as you should have. Thats the first step. Now you made some very good changes.

I suggest you carry out 20% weekly water changes for at least 3 months. Trust me you will see a big change in your corals.

Dont be too hard on yourself in any event. It takes a new tank sometimes up to a year or more to be successful at maintaining good SPS colour.

My own tank has taken 1 year to get to a point where I can be ok with the SPS colour.

Your light is perfect. I had a 250w over a 90G cubish tank year ago that had excellent colour.

Keep the water changes going, keep parameters stable and colours will turn up.

 

[Touring]

I had a 250w over a 90G cubish tank year ago that had excellent colour.

Keep the water changes going, keep parameters stable and colours will turn up.

Do you recomend 250w mh or a 400w for a 93 cube 30x30x24?

 

[dobly_1999]

LEDs are proven work well with sps. The heat issue of my 250w meh is an issue. I will switch to LEDs soon.

 

[trueblackpercula]

LEDs are proven work well with sps. The heat issue of my 250w meh is an issue. I will switch to LEDs soon.

Yes they sure do work enjoy and there a few LEDs out there that are very nice right now.

 

[sahin]

Do you recomend 250w mh or a 400w for a 93 cube 30x30x24?

A 250w will be ok for a mixed tank. But for an SPS tank a 400w is more suitable, especially as the tank is 30" front to back. That is a lot of area to cover.

I refered to my 90G as cubish because it wasnt exactly a cube and front to back was something like 26" and the length was 34".

 

[sahin]

LEDs are proven work well with sps. The heat issue of my 250w meh is an issue. I will switch to LEDs soon.

For your tank, if you wanted to go full LED, then I would recommend the Ecotech Radion Pro. If your tank was a little longer I would have said go T5's.

 

[dobly_1999]

 

[sahin]

 

[dobly_1999]

http://youtu.be/c88CDtFFHKs

 

[sahin]

You need to use these tags for videos:

[ youtube ]x[ /youtube ]

Where x is the youtube code identifier for your video. Also take out the spaces after and before the square brackets.

 

[JAustin]

Get rid of that coralife thermometer. It's junk. Many out there are a couple degrees off.

 

[dobly_1999]

Replaced the 250 watt MH with Euphotica 16 LED light fixture
Nice and corals look so much better.

http://youtu.be/MRJiy55zA9A

 

[dobly_1999]

I am still every excited about this LED unit.