High Alkalinity - Is that the Secret to More Colorful SPS?

[that Fish Guy]

High Alkalinity - Is that the Secret to More Colorful SPS?

I keep my SPS Tank Alkalinity Low at 7.7

I do that because in the past I was told that High Alkalinity gave you More Growth while Low Alkalinity gives you Better Color and I care more about Color so I always kept the Alkalinity Low for that Reason.

My SPS are Very Healthy and Grow but most of them are Lacking Color compared to other people's SPS.

I'll get a new Acro and it will look awesome. But then by day 3 or 4 it starts to "Fade" and Loose Color. This always happens like clockwork.

I go to people's houses and see awesomely colorful SPS and wonder why mine do not look like that?

Lately I have been asking people what they keep their Alkalinity at and it seems everyone's is High at 10.5

Is that why I do not have great colors?

I trade stuff in to my LFS and within a week those Frags Color Up and Look Great.

For instance I have a Big Colony of ORA Neon Green Bird's Nest.

I will trade Frags into the LFS.

This Coral Grows Super Fast for me but the Color is a Darker not so Flattering Green.

After being in the Tank at my LFS for about a Week it "Glows" Neon Bright Green.

So I asked them what they keep their Alkalinity at?

Guess What it was 10.5 like everyone else that I ask.

This Drives me Nuts!

So I am thinking about Raising my Alkalinity to 10.5

Do you think that will solve all my problems with Color?

What are your experiences with SPS in regards to Color?

Do you have any other Tips for me?

 

[Realposition]

i havent really ever noticed a relation between alk level and coloring up acros. there are lots of nice tanks at all alk levels. i would look at lighting and nutrient levels (to high or to low) first

 

[Jettareefer]

Following NSW parameters best for Sps. Your colors really going to be more lighting and nutrient related. How long has your tank been established?

 

[that Fish Guy]

Following NSW parameters best for Sps. Your colors really going to be more lighting and nutrient related. How long has your tank been established?

The Tank has been up for 5 Years.

For Lighting I have the following.

4 Bulb T5 HO (2 ATI Blue Plus and 2 ATI Coral Plus)
2 All Blue LED Stunner Strips

 

[that Fish Guy]

i havent really ever noticed a relation between alk level and coloring up acros. there are lots of nice tanks at all alk levels. i would look at lighting and nutrient levels (to high or to low) first

Why is that that of the 6 people with nice SPS Tanks that I have talked to all keep the Alkalinity at exactly 10.5 ?

It seems like that is the Magic Number.

 

[Jettareefer]

My alk 7-7.5 dkh
calciums 380-400 ppm
mag 1350 ppm
Phos .03-.05 ppm
Nitrates .25 ppm
Salinity 1026

My growth rates are becoming crazy colors still good in my acros.

 

[Jettareefer]

What lighting is your lfs running ?

Just wanted to add I've hady alk at 10 and my growth was stunted as it slowly came down to where maintain it now I see better color.

When you talk about these other reefers are you seeing any other correlation in their parameters ?

 

[that Fish Guy]

What lighting is your lfs running ?

T5 HO - Same as me with the Same Bulb Configuration too.

 

[Jettareefer]

What are your nutrient levels and what do you use to test them?

 

[ajcanale]

High Alkalinity - Is that the Secret to More Colorful SPS?

I keep my SPS Tank Alkalinity Low at 7.7
While slightly on the low side 7.7 dKh is completely acceptable in most cases, it is actually near NSW level

I do that because in the past I was told that High Alkalinity gave you More Growth while Low Alkalinity gives you Better Color and I care more about Color so I always kept the Alkalinity Low for that Reason.
I've never heard this and doubt there is any objective evidence that this is true. Of course I could be mistaken.

My SPS are Very Healthy and Grow but most of them are Lacking Color compared to other people's SPS.
Could possibly be due to lighting (whether lack of, excessive, or poor spectrum) or lack of nutrients

I'll get a new Acro and it will look awesome. But then by day 3 or 4 it starts to "Fade" and Loose Color. This always happens like clockwork.
This is completely normal with many acropora species, especially with small frags or wild specimens. They lose color and take 3+ weeks to color back up.

I go to people's houses and see awesomely colorful SPS and wonder why mine do not look like that?

Lately I have been asking people what they keep their Alkalinity at and it seems everyone's is High at 10.5
I don't personally know a single avid SPS keep that keeps their dKh that high. 7-9 is much more common.

Is that why I do not have great colors?
If you are asking if 7.7 dKh alkalinity is the sole and absolute reason that you are having issues with colors, I'd say absolutely not.


I trade stuff in to my LFS and within a week those Frags Color Up and Look Great.
This could be due to nutrient availability, more stable parameters, better or more sufficient lighting, or a combination of the aforementioned.

For instance I have a Big Colony of ORA Neon Green Bird's Nest.

I will trade Frags into the LFS.

This Coral Grows Super Fast for me but the Color is a Darker not so Flattering Green.

After being in the Tank at my LFS for about a Week it "Glows" Neon Bright Green.

So I asked them what they keep their Alkalinity at?

Guess What it was 10.5 like everyone else that I ask.

This Drives me Nuts!

So I am thinking about Raising my Alkalinity to 10.5

Do you think that will solve all my problems with Color?
Doubt it
What are your experiences with SPS in regards to Color?
Maintaining a proper balance of Alkalinity, calcium and magnesium and stability of these elements. Also excellent flow and adequate lighting. Proper feeding of fish and sps corals helps too I believe. All that said it's good to see that you are concerned with alkalinity as I believe it is the most important element to focus on in regards to the overall health of SPS, specifially acropora.

Do you have any other Tips for me?
Try to provide and analyze as much information as possible instead of focusing on one factor. There could be a lot of variables at play here. Calcium, Magnesium, Specific Gravity (from properly calibrated refractometer), Nitrates, Phosphates, Lighting, Flow, Specific types of coral, livestock, whether or no corals were dipped/quarantined/properly acclimated.... etc

 

[ZON]

Absolutely not..every tank that i know and are well colored have alk under 7

 

[Tweaked]

I strip my tank to try and get the zoox within the coral to be less abundant and not on the brown side. In doing this, if I let my alk go above 8 I start seeing necrosis, burnt tips etc. Colors are great, growth is slow.

 

[JB NY]

I know a few people who swear that high all is the key to good coloration. Lower all around NSW level only came info fashion 8 or so years ago, before that people tended to keep it at 11 or so. I used to talk a lot about keeping it around 8 back then but it was mostly because of less problems with RTN, not coloration. FME keeping both high and low Alk. I did not see any difference in color, but my acros were much easier to keep alive at lower all levels.

I found water (stable and good quality) and light play some of the biggest roles in coloration.

 

[jackson6745]

IME, for whatever reason, ULN tanks do not tolerated higher alk levels well (stn/rtn will likely occur). In higher nutrient systems, lower alk levels leads to slow growth and base recession. Just my experience, I can't explain it. I can tell you that I'm done keeping 0 nitrate tanks. My nitrates are 20ppm right now and I've never had such healthy, colorful looking SPS before.

The colors are more dependent on the nutrient level/ lighting balance which manipulate the population of zoox within the SPS.

 

[that Fish Guy]

IME, for whatever reason, ULN tanks do not tolerated higher alk levels well (stn/rtn will likely occur). In higher nutrient systems, lower alk levels leads to slow growth and base recession. Just my experience, I can't explain it. I can tell you that I'm done keeping 0 nitrate tanks. My nitrates are 20ppm right now and I've never had such healthy, colorful looking SPS before.

The colors are more dependent on the nutrient level/ lighting balance which manipulate the population of zoox within the SPS.

What is the difference between low nutrient and high nutrient systems.

I hear these terms a lot but nobody ever explains what the difference is?

 

[Jettareefer]

Hey Jackson silly question but what kit are you using to measure nitrates with?

 

[tonyscoots84]

He uses salifert

 

[Jettareefer]

That's what I use to I can never seem to get a reading above the low range on the kit JW.

 

[phenom5]

IME, for whatever reason, ULN tanks do not tolerated higher alk levels well (stn/rtn will likely occur). In higher nutrient systems, lower alk levels leads to slow growth and base recession. Just my experience, I can't explain it. I can tell you that I'm done keeping 0 nitrate tanks. My nitrates are 20ppm right now and I've never had such healthy, colorful looking SPS before.

The colors are more dependent on the nutrient level/ lighting balance which manipulate the population of zoox within the SPS.

Agreed. IME NO3 of around 10ppm results in some very healthy, colorful corals.

I also think stable alk is more important than a specific number.

 

[ZON]

High Alkalinity - Is that the Secret to More Colorful SPS?

For sure..

But how you cannot keep no3 under 2/3 which is is the target of a good tank for sps?? Too many fish?? I only ask.. Hear that someone have 20 or 30 of nitrate and good colorations and grown appear strange.. I must add no3 to keep level detectable