Coral coloration

[lostoften]

I have a 40 gallon breeder with 2 AI Sol blues roughly 6" above water line with stock optics. I am struggling to maintain coral coloration. Water parameters are within limits. Sg 1.025, pH 7.8 (average), temp 78 (average), phosphate 0 (via Hanna checker). My calcium seems high (over 500) but dKh was 9 both via API test kit. I didn't know what suggestions everyone would have to look into.

Thanks,
Lost

 

[lostoften]

ORA green birdsnest that had tan skin

 

[RKLion]

Well you can start with lowering your cal to 420 -440 by stopping dosing until it reaches there. Test your mag too...

 

[lostoften]

I don't dose anything, although LFS store told me to raise my ph so I just picked up a bottle of 8.4. And a Mg test kit. I use reef crystals for my salt mix, could that be causing such a high calcium? Also, I had increased my lights so I backed them back down to my previous settings.

 

[lostoften]

My max white is 40, 50 for blue and 55 for royal blue.

 

[LazRodriguez]

Well this is my AI SOL Timers.
Calcium is a tad high. But that will come down.
I also use reef crystals my mix is 3cups salt to a 5 gal ro/di. Salt 1.026 Cal is always 430 alk 9.1-9.2 mag 1440.
What are your nitrates at?
Also maybe re calibrate your Hanna it could be off . Is there any abnormal amounts of algae? If so the algae could be causing the false readings on the phosphate. From what I've researched.
Just my thoughts hope thus helps

Timer 1 60m Ramp
10:00am
W05 B15 RB 15

Timer 2 30m Ramp
11:00am
W15 B25 RB25

Timer 3 30m Ramp
11:30am
W22 B30 RB30

Timer 4 30m Ramp
12:00pm
W32 B35 RB35

Timer 5 60m Ramp
3:30pm
W38 B74 RB74

Timer 6 20m Ramp
8:30pm
W05 B36 RB36

Timer 7 30m Ramp
9:00pm
W00 B30 RB30

Timer 8
10:00pm 30m Ramp
Lunar Cycle on
W00 B5 RB5

 

[lostoften]

My NO2, NO3, and NH3 are all zero. The Hanna is new and I did the clear water calibration. I don't have any algae noticeable. I just tried testing Mg and either its greater then 1500, or wont register since Ca is above the range. Also I am running GFO and carbon in a BRS dual Reactor. My lighting schedule is much easier, which might be the issue.

8-9AM Ramp
W 0-40, B 0-50, RB 4-55

9A-8P
W 40, B 50, RB 55

8P-9P Ramp
W 40-0, B 50-0, RB 55-4

Thanks For the help and input.

 

[LazRodriguez]

Are your corals browning out? If so it could be an increases in zoanthanelle production to protect the corals. Due to to much light.
The only other thing I could think of is maybe move your lights to 12in AWL.

 

[LazRodriguez]

I started my whites out at 30 and have slowly increased to where I'm at over a course of a year.

 

[jda]

How old is that tank? How long have you had those frags? The stuff all looks pretty new. It will take some time.

Also, you won't likely get super-awesome colors with a sol blue, but they should be better than that. I would start the whites at 20% and raise them from there - there is too much excess garbage spectrum in the whites in the yellow/green range that can really hurt coral. This is not a "too much" thing, rather a "too much of the wrong kind" thing. Some coral can adapt as you turn them up, but some will just suffer and/or die.

 

[lostoften]

I will try dialing back the lights. The frags have been in tank for over 2 months, they have always had their polyps out, until the last few days. The birdsnest went from tan to brown, within the first week but the polyps had stayed green. The other coral had seem to be good until this past week. Within the past two weeks I started running GFO/carbon, and had increased the lights slightly.

 

[power boat jim]

I will try dialing back the lights. The frags have been in tank for over 2 months, they have always had their polyps out, until the last few days. The birdsnest went from tan to brown, within the first week but the polyps had stayed green. The other coral had seem to be good until this past week. Within the past two weeks I started running GFO/carbon, and had increased the lights slightly.

If the trouble ocurred 1 week after you started using GFO why not remove it from the system and leave everything else alone. Corals dont normally turn brown from excess light. If they slowly bleached I would maybe change the lighting intensity.

The light you are using should keep a birdsnest in great color, especially at the intensity and combination you are using. I run mine at max of 51-70-72 for a few hours and the birdsnests look outstanding.