Good growth but poor color

[lokii_37]

I have been seeing really good growth out of both my LPS and my SPS but the coloration on the SPS is seriously lacking. Mostly it is a tri color valida and a blue tenius. The new growth on the tenius is blue but the rest of the tissue is very pale almost bleached.
Both the valida and the tenius are about 6" below the surface with a 6x54w t5. the tenius came from under MH so I don't think I am giving it to much light.
I am thinking I may not have enough flow in the tank. I am running 2 850gph koralias in a 75g tank. Could that be causing the color loss?
My tank parameters are good. Nitrate and phosphate both test 0. But I don't have a low range test kit. Mg 1350 cal 430 alk 9.5 dkh.
These are both nice pieces and I would hate to lose them is there anything else I should check/ do to help these guys out?

Nick

 

[Grant W]

Mike have you tried dipping them?

 

[Grant W]

Oops I mean Nick.

 

[Grant W]

Sorry for the multiple posts but you could be too clean. You should have a little bit of nitrates in the system IMHO. Maybe 5or so nitrates and just a touch of phosphates. It may be hard to believe but since I've been in the hobby we have actually gotten to the point where we can actually over clean the water and over light the corals. I've actually turned my lights down recently (was actually at 800par a foot down into the tank)

 

[lokii_37]

So maybe I should turn off the skimmer and feed a little more? I'll give it a try I have a pretty small bio load. Only the clowns which are 1" and the yellow eye tang eat the food I add. The Blenny and the goby just feed off the tank.

 

[Grant W]

If you're sure you have zeroes for readings. Do you feed your corals? That could help also. I think my enormous fish load feeds my corals but I still add some phito and zoe. Funny I was worried recently when I tested and had a zero( or close to it) nitrate reading. Also your tank is still pretty young.

 

[lokii_37]

I attribute a lot of it to being a new tank, 6 months, still getting everything in balance. I feed my LPS but not my SPS. I'll have to pick up some food for them and see if that helps.
I also want to make sure as long as I am getting new and good growth that they won't die before I can get it figured out.
I'll check my phosphates and nitrates and if they are 0 I'll try to dirty up the tank a little. I do have some hair algea which I figured was from trace phosphates, but it might also be from a long photoperiod.

 

[sslak]

I have the same problem, but it's all my corals. SPS and frogspawn etc. Please let me know what you find out, as I've been trying different things for almost a year!!

I have good growth, and recently the new tips show good color, but the rest is pale..blah.

I too have hair algae and this makes me assume I have trace phosphates (0 with API will be testing with a hanna checker tonight).

What did NOT work so far:
New Bulbs
More light
GFO
Carbon

I admit, my Alk hasn't been as stable as I would like...so that could be part of the problem.

Here's my thread:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2103868

 

[allsps40]

OP yeah I think you need more flow. I have a 75g mostly sps and I have 2 Korilia 2s, a Evo 1050 and a moded MJ600 for around 50X turn over. However this is not you color problem, flow has no major impact on coral color. Look for pests like red bugs as they can impact coral color. Also check for po4 levels. Stability in ca, alk, mag and sg are very important for keeping good coral color. My tank is about 5-6 months old at this point (upgraded from a 5 year old 40B) and I started to get great color after about 2 months. So tank age really is not much of a concern, as long as the tank is stable (there's that stability thing again). I agree that having around 5-10max ppm of no3 can be helpful with sps color that or feeding the corals a bit more.

 

[lokii_37]

Thank for posting the link to your thread. Very informative. Base on the info I think I may have light shocked them.

 

[M Woodhill]

So maybe I should turn off the skimmer and feed a little more? I'll give it a try I have a pretty small bio load. Only the clowns which are 1" and the yellow eye tang eat the food I add. The Blenny and the goby just feed off the tank.

IMO lightin plays kinda determitive role in growth rate while trace elements colorin up

so probably u can try to dose some trace elements

 

[allsps40]

^^ I would not do that.