Fading coral colors

[doconnell]

Some of my coral is losing it vibrant colors. Does anyone know how to get it back?

Danette

 

[turbo21]

Some of my coral is losing it vibrant colors. Does anyone know how to get it back?

Danette

Have you checked your alk levels lately. high levels can cause fading



bob

 

[Misled]

What types of coral?? Tank parameters?? Lighting, type and age??

 

[doconnell]

Some hard and soft coral. Green slimmer, orange leather, xenia and green Sinularia.

I keep my alk. levels on the high side but for the most part I alway have as that was the advice I received.

 

[turbo21]

what about bulb age ? have you changed aything in your regiment lately, salt, ro cartridges etc...




bob

 

[brettnleslie]

What size is your tank? Leathers can play chemical warfare with SPS corals. Regular water changes and frequent carbon changes can help.

I use Marc Weiss Reef Vital DNA and Combo Vital to help maintain colors. Are you adding anything with amino acids as this can help with colors.

As asked before, your lighting and age of bulbs can have an impact as well.

 

[doconnell]

bulbs are about 6 months old. I'm not adding anything with amino acids. Will the Marc Weiss Reef Vital DNA and Combo Vital help with color or only maintain it when you get it to the point you want it?

 

[brettnleslie]

What type of light. Yes, they will help with the color. The Reef Vital DNA is $$$ though.

Combo Vital is reasonable.

 

[AHDOnline]

When you say losing color, have they been in your tank for a long time and then all the sudden are losing or are you saying you bought them they were bright and after a time in your tank are losing color?

How is your lighting setup? Do you know if you are getting sufficient PAR? You have cooling for the lighting?

Have you added any fish that might be tormenting the coral?

Is it one or two coral in a certain area? A particular coral type?

Additives might do more harm than good if its another source of problem.

I myself use eco systems reef solution

 

[doconnell]

They lost their color over time. It isn't all of the coral just some of them. Mainly the hard coral but some softies have faded. I have 108 watts of night and 162 watts of day lighting. the lights are about 6 -8 months old.

 

[AHDOnline]

The question about lighting it more about cooling than watts.

For instance I have 312 watts over my tank. WITHOUT cooling my par in the middle of the tank was on average 80. WITH cooling (just adding two fans) my par tripled) So age of bulbs doesn't always matter.

Forgive me if you already said but what size tank ?

 

[bmiller1234]

+1 on everything AHD said.

If bulbs are 6-8 months old, i assume T5? if not cooled and not a high end bulb they are starting to lose their push and they are losing color spectrum as your bubls lose spectrum, so do your corals

Cooling bulbs is huge, when AHD cooled his and told me results I put fans in and had to raise the lights 3 inches due to burnt tips.