Corals colors fading

[All Delight]

I've had some corals colors fade, but not all of them. Maybe half. I have a 24 gallon jbj nano. Its seems like the coloration was better when I had stock 72 watt power compacts. But I figured MH would be nicer making my corals jump out with color and the shimmer would be nice. Anyways after about 8 months of my new lights, I've noticed that colors have faded some almost gone.

Here is an example of what is supposed to be a green and grey Japanese Lord.

Now under mh's 20k's

Back in Feb under 72 watt pc 50/50

Micros under 150 watt 20k's, now

Micros under power compacts, back in March

But I can't say lighting has contributed to it completely. Because I'll get corals from local reefers, bring them home into my tank and the colors fade in 1 or 2 weeks.

I've run tests on parms. Mag is kinda low at 1200, Ca is 480, ph 8, amonia 0, nitrate 0, nitrite 0, alk 5 or 6.

The lighting system I have is the current sunpod 150 watt de 20k's. I have changed the blub and its about 3 months old. People have told me to does potassium, amino acids, but I'm not confident thats the issue.

I'm thinking does actinic lighting as a suppliment make a difference?

Thats one thing I do notice, that everyone's tank has actinic suppliments, but I don't. So would that make the corals fade over a week or so?

 

[All Delight]

I'd like to add coral growth is not a problem.

 

[demonsp]

Calcium a little high. Do the readings stay consitant ?

 

[rickyfins]

What brand of 20k?

How long were the corals under PC lighting before the switch to MH lighting?

How long did it take before the original corals started fading? Is this recently or progressive?

What ballast/fixture are you using?

More information would be better for me to help assess and to give a proper diagnosis.

Explain as much as you can including current and past maint practices.

I keep a journal for all aspects of my tank, this includes when I bought bulbs, carbon, test kits, maint. schedule, and even where I purchased and when I purchased, this also includes corals, fish, and inverts so I can accurately measure, plan, purchase, and figure out problems.

Talk to you soon.

 

[All Delight]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11073445#post11073445 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by demonsp
Calcium a little high. Do the readings stay consitant ?

My Mag fluctuates some, Calcium is always at least 440.

I try to keep them as constant as possible, but its a nano.

 

[All Delight]

Rick -

Brand of bulb: 150 watt 20k double ended Radium

Time corals were under pc before switching to mh: I would say they were under pc's for 6 months before the switch.

How long did it take before the original corals started fading? Is this recently or progressive? There is a two fold to this. Now under the mh, when I purchase new corals they would start to fade in a week, and in two weeks the color change is night and day. On corals that I had in my tank when I was running pc's the color change was less drastic, taking a few months.

What ballast/fixture are you using? Its a Current USA Sunpod. Powered by our proprietary microprocessor based electronic driving system.
http://www.current-usa.com/sunpod.html

Explain as much as you can including current and past maint practices One thing I might note is that a month or two before the switch to mh's, I was using different salt mix. I was buying Tropic Marin Pro Salt mix from one LFS, then they moved and I started to buy my water from another LFS but they were using Tropic Marin Regular. I made that switch nearly a year ago, and I didn't find out it was Regular until a month ago when some of my chalices were starting to have tissue recession. I tested my water and found that Mag level had dropped to 1100. I've been slowly raising it since. So for nearly a year I was using Tropic Pro, then last year or so I've been using Tropic Regular.

I do water changes every 10-14 days, 3-4 gallons. Total water volumne is approximately 18 gallons.

I when I was using the Tropic Pro I wasn't dosing any suppliments as I was told it had what I needed. But as stated in the last year I was using Tropic Regular, and I still wasn't dosing. I just started to dose a month ago to raise my mag. Ca always stayed above 440.

Salinity is 1.023 - 1.024

I have only 1 fish, a 2 inch blenny. He feeds on algae growing in the tank, so maybe once a week I'll put in a few spirulina flakes but he only eats a little bit.

I was using Chemi pure carbon but last month changed to Black Diamond carbon. Chemi pure was changed once every 3 months. Black diamond is changed once a month.

I recently got a protein skimmer 2 weeks ago, but its still "breaking in".

 

[rgulrich]

What's your water temperature at the end of the aquarium's daylight period?

Is there sufficient circulation to keep the inhabitants cool from the lighting?

Cheers,
Ray

 

[All Delight]

What's your water temperature at the end of the aquarium's daylight period?
I have a chiller on my tank, temp stays between 76-78. 76 during night, and tops at 78 when the lights are on. Chiller is set to come on at 77.

Is there sufficient circulation to keep the inhabitants cool from the lighting?
The return pump is rated at 300ghp. I have a small powerhead in the back of the tank behind the rockwork that pushes 110 gph. And a koralia nano pushing 240 gph in one of the corners.

 

[twon8]

you alkalinity is a bit low imo. i prefer 8-9

 

[All Delight]

twon - whats the best way to raise it? I thought Alk and Ca go hand in hand?

 

[rickyfins]

Oh no they dont one will swing dramatically sometimes. Seachem Reefbuilder will raise it up, or baking soda mix(check out RHF for his recipe). I would go back to the salt you were using before and see if that helps.

Alot has changed in the past year so, start changing back and see if that helps. Just keep the MH

 

[All Delight]

What is the Alk that it should be?

 

[Reefflections]

All Delight,
What I noticed,you are running Barebottom system?I'm not saying to do this.But this is what worked for me.Keep it mind,because I've been down the same road,with Barebottom and the SPS corals.I was running a very low nutrient system.Where colors faded and were wahed out.We do see a lot of LPS system with a sand bed.I have a large SPS tank.And no matter what I did for color,it didn't work.Not matter what additive was use.Same results
I added some sand to my system,and within 4 days I could see colors making a comeback.I was totally floor,as for results that appeared.I'm not talking a deep bed.A very fine layer,where nutrients can be stored for the corals.And I'm sure a lot of these LPS corals like nutrients also just like SPS corals.Instead of a pristine water quality.But back then my corals looked like the were starving.And I could figure out what was wrong,when levels were in check.It's something to think about.But just giving you my 2 cents,on where I've been.

 

[roblack]

I use Purple Up to raise my alk, also adds some magnesium.

 

[All Delight]

Reefflections -

I do have a sand bed maybe 1.5 inches.

 

[All Delight]

roblack -

Today I bought some Warner Marine 2 part solution. I'll try to bring the alk up to 8