Help! SPS color fade.
- Thread starter jbarone
- Start date
Not really any good ones, but here's few for conversation sake 
Red Bugs? Has your Alk stayed stable since you started noticeing the bleaching? Have you added any new fish (angels) or large leathers? Have you always used the same bulb type? What are you using for your Randy's two-part?
Red Bugs? Has your Alk stayed stable since you started noticeing the bleaching? Have you added any new fish (angels) or large leathers? Have you always used the same bulb type? What are you using for your Randy's two-part?
Oh, and have you made any recent changes to the flow regime in your tank?
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12392962#post12392962 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reeferhead
Not really any good ones, but here's few for conversation sake
Red Bugs? Has your Alk stayed stable since you started noticeing the bleaching? Have you added any new fish (angels) or large leathers? Have you always used the same bulb type? What are you using for your Randy's two-part?
There are no red bugs.
The Alk has been pretty stable. There was been a minor fluctuation when I switched from B-Ionic to Randy's 2-part. I new my consumption before the switch so calculating the change was pretty easy.
I'm using unbaked BS and Dowflake.
Other than the Monti nothing has been added. In fact I've removed some LPS.
The bulbs have been the same since all SPS except for the Hydno.
Shooter7
New member
I'm not overly convinced either, given trates at 5 - 10. My tank that a couple of those corals came from runs at zero trates. Maybe there's a phosphate issue as well? I know that I have scanned over my frags with a big magnifying glass and have seen no red bugs. I have been QT'ing and dipping incoming SPS for awhile. Also check for AEFW's. He does have a large leather in there and I was wondering about that too. I got rid of a large toadstool I had before just so I wouldn't have that potential chemical battle going on.
Any chance your getting some temperature fluctuations you not noticing?
Nutrient starvation could be your problem, I'm not going to say it isn't a possibility. The only reason I'm hesitant to suggest it is that I personally have never experienced it. I've only ever noted improvements in SPS color with nutrient limitation. IME the most common reason for bleaching, either long term or short, is fluctuations some parameter commonly: SG, temp, pH or Alk.
SPS: "Stability Promotes Success"
Its difficult to do in a smaller tank, trust me I know.
Good Luck
Nutrient starvation could be your problem, I'm not going to say it isn't a possibility. The only reason I'm hesitant to suggest it is that I personally have never experienced it. I've only ever noted improvements in SPS color with nutrient limitation. IME the most common reason for bleaching, either long term or short, is fluctuations some parameter commonly: SG, temp, pH or Alk.
SPS: "Stability Promotes Success"
Its difficult to do in a smaller tank, trust me I know.
Good Luck
Did you add the colt or has it significantly increased in size since the bleach issues started? If so I wouldn't recommend removing the carbon.
A photometer won't help you. Inorganic PO4 will almost always read zero even with it. You could try running a little GFO if your not already.
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The colt has been in there a long time. Almost from the start. It's grown but not much.
Ya know...None of my softies have grown much ever. Come to think of it, I've had a green sinalaria for over a year and nothing. The same with a Kenya tree, hardly any growth. Zoas are so so. Nothing to brag about.
I was completely unaware of the daily temp and pH fluctuations I was having until I hooked up my ACjr to an old laptop and ran it as a datalogger. I've since taken measures to limit these fluctuations and have noticed nothing but improvement.
Before:
Night: Temp 77-78 pH 7.8
Day: Temp 82-83 pH 8.2
Now:
Night: Temp 79.0 pH 8.0
Day: Temp 80.5 pH 8.2
Its doesn't seem like much but it has made a huge difference
Before:
Night: Temp 77-78 pH 7.8
Day: Temp 82-83 pH 8.2
Now:
Night: Temp 79.0 pH 8.0
Day: Temp 80.5 pH 8.2
Its doesn't seem like much but it has made a huge difference
That is odd and would lead many expect this reinforces the nutrient starvation idea. However, as Shooter already pointed out you're registering fairly notable nitrates. Maybe try a new NO3 kit just to be sure yours is accurate.
Yeah, I'm thinking the tank is starved too.
Is 5-10 in nitrates really that out there? I have seen and read about SPS tanks that are far more off than that and they look great. Some seem to think that trace amounts are necessary. I will veryify the nitrates tonight.
No, they're not out there but if your reading is correct it does suggest the nutrient limitation is not your problem.
I rarely register any NO3 at all using a Salifert Kit. I'm to the point where I only test for it bimonthy or when something in the tank looks off.
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