Can't Nail SPS Color

[newsalt]

No matter what I do, I can't seem to get the great SPS colors that other reefers I know do. Here's some info on my tank:

Main Tank: 180-gallons - 72"x24"x24"
Sump: 55g
Filtration: MRC MR-2 skimmers
Lighting: 72" Aquactinics Constellation - (14) 39W T5 bulbs
Bulb Arrangement:
FRONT
ATI Blue +
ATI Aquablue Special
ATI Blue +
ULV Super Actinic
ATI Blue +
Giesmann Actinic +
ATI Blue +
BACK
Calcium reactor: MRC CR-2 Reator
Circulation: (2) Vortech MW40w and (4) Maxi-Jet 1200 Mods
Chiller: 1/4 HP Current USA
I run 2 cups of Norit ROX Carbon, 1 cup RowaPhos, and Purigen
I dose 1 drop of Lugol's solution/day and 1 drop of Zeo Amino Acid/day

Water Parameters
Specific gravity: 1.026
pH: 8.13
Calcium: 450 ppm
Alkalinity: 7.2 dKH
Magnesium: 1300 ppm
PO4: 0.06
Temp: 78° F - 79°

Fish Load
(1) Hippo Tang
(1) Naso Tang
(1) Yellow Tang
(1) Convict Tang
(5) Green Chromis
(5) Bartlett Anthias
(1) Six-Line Wrasse
(1) Royal Gramma
(2) False Perc Clownfish
Fish are fed at least twice a day with Ocean Nutrition Pellets

My RO/DI water tests at 000 ppm. What am I not getting?

Side Shot:

 

[jcal]

I really don't see a color issue. Could be placement of some sps. Are you feeding anything else to the corals? And what's all that reddish on your rocks and one powerhead?

 

[newsalt]

Are you feeding anything else to the corals?

Once in a while I'll add coral Frenzy after the lights go out.

And what's all that reddish on your rocks and one powerhead?

That's a good question. I don't know. I doubt it's cyano. In other tanks, I've had cyano, and this is nothing like it. Usually you can siphon cyano. This seems like red coralline. What I also have that you can't see is this white-ish "peach fuzz" growth on the rocks. Don't know what that is either.

 

[tsr770]

Looks like a red turf algae that I do battle with, found some BIG Mexican Turbo's that love the stuff and have been keeping it in very good check for me.

 

[kcreefer86]

maybe mb7 and vodka?

 

[newsalt]

maybe mb7 and vodka?

Tried MB7 and Vodka. I just stopped dosing that. I think that's where I got all this crazy growth...red turf and "peach fuzz". That's what I mean, I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I know other reefers that do nothing to their tank (maybe that's the secret). They hardly check the water parameters and they have unbelieveable color.

 

[mkareef]

maybe if you photo shop your pictures before posting them that might help...LOL just kidding just kidding......

color looks nice to me...have any other shots?

 

[newsalt]

maybe if you photo shop your pictures before posting them that might help...LOL just kidding just kidding......

color looks nice to me...have any other shots?

That's the only shot I have right now.

 

[chadfarmer]

my trick was to add a few more fish

 

[newsalt]

my trick was to add a few more fish

I know. That what I've been told, to add more fish. I've got 18 fish.

 

[stooges3tx]

Try to just keep testing keep it consistent and do not move corals around for at least a week. After at least a week any coral that looks a bit brown move up a bit. anything pale move down a bit. Not too drastic. After moving leave it there for at least another week and see the results.

SPS= Stability Promotes Success.

Test and keep em where they are once you find the sweet spot. Once you find it you should know.

 

[LISound]

Just run a lot of GFO for the next few months. Great colors come from great water. Even what your testing could be bound up in the rocks, etc. how long has the tank been up? Where did the rock come from before? I really thing that has a lot to do with it. So many people have problems with algae or color, growth, the list goes on. Your rock should be void of any "bad" algae. ie, GHA, turf.

you may have to change out the GFO often for the first 2 months but you should see results in 3 weeks.
Keep an eye on your PO4. See if you can get it down to .03 steady.

If your colors don't come back, you'll know its not that. Maybe Lighting? how old are the bulbs?

 

[Me No Nemo]

I run Chemipure Elite, GFO in a reactor, Biofuel, and feed Microvore Diet twice a day (small amount) along with my regular feedings. I also always run a 15-20 gallon refugium with Chaeto on my SPS tanks and mine are extremely colorful. I add Reef Pods about every two months and make sure my pod population stays strong. I'm a firm believer that not only do the pods help keep the tank cleaner, but they also spawn regularly and their spawn is extremely small and a good live food source for the SPS. My thought is to superclean the water then feed well without overfeeding. You might also consider swapping the second and third bulbs. Not sure if it will help, but I have two Blue+ in front and then my Aquablue Special and I'm very happy with the color.

 

[chadfarmer]

maybe phosphates .06 really isnt high unless the algea is eatting it up andf you only checking one phosphate

i run my alk at 10 last time i checked it thats a debate also

time and time and time

i ran my alk low with zeo and never got the colors

i stopped and ran just a bare setup (no special foods plenty of flow and light and stable parameters) (my tank was to clean than i added a tang and everything colored up in about a week)

i run the same light my pics

to be honest i dont test my water but about 2 times a year

 

[Me No Nemo]

Very nice Chadfarmer!

 

[Me No Nemo]

Here's an SPS I got about a month ago that was pretty much brown with just a promise of purple. It's been coloring up nicely.

 

[newsalt]

I moved one of the pale corals up a little higher. I'll leave it there for a few weeks and see what happens.

I'm using about 1 cup of RowaPhos and change it about every 30 days. Do you think 1 cup is to small an amount? Should I change it out sooner than 30 days? I noticed since I stopped MB7, my water clarity as gone down slightly. Should I start up MB7 again and hold off on Vodka for a while. Not sure what to do because of the turf algea.

 

[DT's_Reef]

For the nuisance algae on your rocks, I highly recommend getting common Mexican hermit crabs (grey legs, red/orange antennae). I had similar micro algae on my rocks and within a week, they were completely clean.

I'm happy with my SPS color, and I just feed some flake every day, and a little bit of Coral Frenzy twice a week. Recently I did start adding the Coral Frenzy to a teaspoon of Warner Marine Ultimate Snow (I think that's what it's called), and my corals seem to like it as I've seen an increase in growth.

 

[newsalt]

For the nuisance algae on your rocks, I highly recommend getting common Mexican hermit crabs (grey legs, red/orange antennae).

Where did you buy the Mexican Turbo's from?

 

[DT's_Reef]

Mexican hermit crabs, not Turbo's (snails).

You should be able to get them from most fish stores. They're extremely common.