How can I tell if my sps is bleach/brown out/too much light/not enough light?

[bk_market]

I just recently start to stock sps for my new tank.
Im running 24" 6 bulbs ATI sunpower above 24x24x18"tall tank ~ 8" above water surface. I have sps all the way from sand bed to 6" below water surface.

I havent seen enough grow on my sps and the color are kinda boring for me.
Some of my color have grow from green to brown. My question is are they brown due to too much or not enough light? Maybe something to do with flow? Also is brown out = to bleach. I dose 1ml of coral amino everyday. does that have anything to do with it? The cheato in my fuge is growing out of control but when I test nitrate i get 0~5 ppm. Please advise. Thanks.

 

[buy_baff]

You have two much nutrients in your water. Look into carmon doseing such as vodka, suger, vinager, polomer pellits etc....

 

[bk_market]

What do you mean by too much nutrients? Should I stop dosing amino and stop feeding my corals?

 

[franklypre]

No you should just add sugar vodka or vinegar, or you can go the commercial way. Do some research about carbon dosing, you'll be amazed at what you find.

 

[bk_market]

Isnt dosing vodka is to lower nitrate? If my nitrate is low already do I still need to dose?

 

[Felixc395]

Well by too many nutrients there can be many causes. Whether it's overfeeding or not your system does not have the capability to break down all the nutrients that enter so your nutrient intake is just too high for your tank to handle. So you must reduce your feeding or like buy baff suggested you should look into carbon dosing. Either way your allowing your system to process the nutrients so that they are not in your tank.

I would agree that carbon dosing would be a smart option in your circumstance. It doesn't sound like your feeding a whole lot so you may want to increase your bacterial population with a carbon source or other equivalent to get things under control.

 

[Felixc395]

sorry, double post

 

[bk_market]

I'll look into the vodka dosing. Do I need the fuge anymore if I start dosing vodka?

 

[sedor]

You can certainly continue to use your fuge, but vodka will be accomplishing about the same task as macro algae in a fuge will. A fuge is still a great place for pods to grow and overall provide a safe haven for little critters in the system.

 

[bk_market]

thank you all for your input. I will start to look into vodka dosing. Is it just vodka or is it vodka and vinegar?

 

[Reefer08]

First of all are you testing your alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium parameters? Those are most important for keeping SPS happy. Also what are you using to keep these parameters stable... 2 part or calcium reactor?

IMO, I suggest stopping all dosing of Amino acids. Its unnecessary unless your tank is low nutrient. Even if your tank is low nutrient I don't recommend AA, simply feeding your fish and allowing your SPS to live off of fish poop is enough nutrition for them.

 

[joe_dejesus]

I am surprised nobody has requested water parameters...

test your water and post alkalinity, calcium, ph , and magnesium params...
also whats your water temp ...


do you see any algae in rocks or anywhere??? algae present eats up phoshates causing low readings
when in fact phosphates are high causing algae...