Coral color lightening up due to vodka dosing?

[fabbss]

After reading several in depth articles and posts on vodka dosing I decided to try it as well. I have had severe issue with hair algae. My Corals are very colorful and have great polyp extension. My parameters are normal, I feed the fish and coral daily and I don't consider it to be a lot. I am running a powerful cone skimmer. But I need to redo my sump layout as my skimmer and return pump are in the same chamber.

My tank is a 120 with a 29 gallon sump and a 15 gallon refgium. I will admit that I don't do regular water changes the last one I did was about 8 months ago. I do add water due to natural evaporation. I think I have a large amount of organics in my water, so I began running phosban and carbon in a reactor to help and I have been dosing 0.8ml of vodka daily. I have noticed that the hair algae is dying off. But I have also noticed that my corals have lightened up in color, some turning pastel. Even some of my zoos. I was wondering if this could be from the dramatic loss of food or organics in my water?

I have seen pictures of other members showing before and after pictures of vodka dosing and their corals appear to be more colorful and bright. I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this and if this type of color loss is temporary until they get used to a lower nutrient system?

Thanks:reading:

 

[stephenrsaiz]

If you read closely in the vodka dosing threads, you'll see that most folks (those who have sucess with it) dose amino acids, as well.

 

[Stanley-Reefer]

Yes, feed your fish a little more!

 

[sedor]

+1...the coral is basically starving because the vodka is doing its job removing their food from the water. This isn't such a bad thing though! You just need to either feed heavier or add amino acids and find that sweet spot between to much and not enough nutrients.

 

[RickMartin]

It is also possible your water clarity is a lot better allowing more light through.

 

[fabbss]

My water column wasn't really dirty, but I am sure it is clearer now. I begin amino acid dosing and see where that goes. Thanks

 

[Amphiprion]

Yes, feed your fish a little more!

I would concur with this, assuming too many other things have not changed. As was mentioned earlier, though, a sudden increase in water clarity could also be a factor. Address one for a while and see if it makes a difference. If not, give the other a shot. Try to only do one potential solution at a time, since that can muddle the actual fix.