Frags are losing color

[MajorKook]

Hello, my sps frags have all lost a significant amount of their color over the last 3 months. I am trying to figure out why and was hoping you guys could help me narrow it down. One thing I did have a problem with during these three months (not at the beginning) was a mis programmed timer that dumped a bunch of alk in my tank. Things got worse...I did a series of water changes and everything lived, except a few acan frags. Other than that, growth is slow but the frags have all encrusted.

20 gallon main
30 gallon sump and refugium with chaeto
MP10 for flow
EuroReef Skimmer
3 small fish
4xT5 24w bulbs in individual reflectors
0 - nitrates, phosphates
calc - 380 (working on fine tuning this)
alk - 9
mag - 1250
temp - 78 - 80
5 - 10 gal water changes every 2 weeks

Thanks for your help!

 

[OrlandoReef407]

Yeah my frags did the same thing couple months back due to high alk! but colored back up nice. have you tried feeding more roti feast or oyster eggs at nite. also how long do you run your lights could be stressing them out just a thought!

 

[MajorKook]

I have roti feast, but haven't fed consistently. I think my tank might have too low of nutrients. I only have 3 small fish and I don't feed that much either. My skimmer doesn't need to be emptied very often.

Also, I run my lights for about 9 hours a day. My tank does get direct sunlight for about 3 hours as well.

 

[evsalty]

What actual frags are they?
Where are they placed in relation to the mothers (if you have them)?
If just the frags where were they placed in their tank and what lighting did they come from?
What are the bulbs you are actually running and how old are they?

I would step up the water changes for a bit to each week IMHO. Are they browning or bleaching?

Also I would cut that light cycle a bit. You might be over feeding the zooxanthellae inside the corals which in turn makes them grow too fast for the actual coral and the coral will tend to brown out.

 

[MajorKook]

I have about 10 frags and three medium sized ones with multiple branches, no mothers (hopefully one day). They are all slowly bleaching...The birdsnest and the green slimer seem to do the best. Some of my frags without color, but encrusted are red planet, pink lemonade, some monti and blue mille (amongst others).

Most of the frags came from similar T5 lighting.
I'm using 4 - 24w in individual reflectors. The bulbs are about 6 months old.
super actinic
blue+
fiji purple
blue+

I'll try cutting the light cycle some, good idea.

Should I add a fish?