I have trouble coloring up pinks!!

[Zacktosterone]

Hey there!

Can you guys help me maybe?
Tank parameters
Alk 9
Calc 430
Mag 1400
Phos 0
NitrI, amon, nitrA = 0

Lights 4 bulb ati led power module

Light combo (Back to front)
Blue plus
Purple plus

LEDs 80% (10/225 red, 225/225 royal blue, 225/225 blue, 85/225 white)

Coral plus
Blue plus


Water volume 200 gallons,
Tank age 4 months
Skimmer: sro 3000int
Media: carbon run in bags
No gfo, no biopellets

Fish stock,
One spot Foxface
2 clowns
1 coral beauty angelfish
1 red scooter blenny
1 algae blenny
1 royal grammar

I've got a lot of sps. All of my blues and greens are doing great, my orange monti cap isn't doing good, my yellow vermiculata has lost its pure yellow and has changed a yellowish green. My orange setosa is doing good. I don't have purple anything.

The two corals that are of no color are my true red dragon and my pink mili.

 

[BOMPH]

Riding this one, as I have a similar problem. But with reds, so I think maybe it might be similar

Params:
7 ALK
450 Ca
1440 Mg
PO4 - 0
NO3 - 0.2
SG: 1.024


I have amazing reds in a war coral that hitchhiked in on some LR, but I bought a DFS Red Dragon SPS and it went from Brilliant Magenta red when it arrived from Live Aquaria to a REALLY washed out pinkish brown. ORA Pink Birdsnest is a reddish brown. (tho oddly enough, when I turn off the lights on the tank and ambient room light enters the tank, sure enough, she's pink)

I think it's the nitrates being so low ( first world problems?). I even stopped dosing vodka to see ( which I started before I had a problem with NO3, as to ward off problems ).

I've read a lot on RC here that people experience better colors with NO3 in the 2-5 range. Thoughts, all?

 

[BOMPH]

Riding this one, as I have a similar problem. But with reds, so I think maybe it might be similar

Params:
7 ALK
450 Ca
1440 Mg
PO4 - 0
NO3 - 0.2
SG: 1.024


I have amazing reds in a war coral that hitchhiked in on some LR, but I bought a DFS Red Dragon SPS and it went from Brilliant Magenta red when it arrived from Live Aquaria to a REALLY washed out pinkish brown. ORA Pink Birdsnest is a reddish brown. (tho oddly enough, when I turn off the lights on the tank and ambient room light enters the tank, sure enough, she's pink)

I think it's the nitrates being so low ( first world problems?). I even stopped dosing vodka to see ( which I started before I had a problem with NO3, as to ward off problems ).

I've read a lot on RC here that people experience better colors with NO3 in the 2-5 range. Thoughts, all?

Should have added that I also have good growth rates on all my other SPS ( 10 other pieces), and great colors to boot, (blues, greens, purples ).

I had a couple browned out SPS (acro and a different birds nest) that are coloring up nicely

And all my LPS, Mushies, and Zoas are great with both color and growth as well ( 40 different pieces in total on that end )..

Even those 2 problem SPS are growing great. Their color just stinks.

 

[Geeray]

Should have added that I also have good growth rates on all my other SPS ( 10 other pieces), and great colors to boot, (blues, greens, purples ).

I had a couple browned out SPS (acro and a different birds nest) that are coloring up nicely

And all my LPS, Mushies, and Zoas are great with both color and growth as well ( 40 different pieces in total on that end )..

Even those 2 problem SPS are growing great. Their color just stinks.

Don't you think it's a little early to be hijacking a thread when no one has even responded to the OP yet?

 

[msderganc]

Sounds like a potassium deficiency. Have you tested potassium lately? Maybe try adding a little potassium (~2-4ppm) and see if it helps.

From what I've seen/read, potassium is tied to both red coloration and montipora capricornis growth.

 

[Zacktosterone]

Sounds like a potassium deficiency. Have you tested potassium lately? Maybe try adding a little potassium (~2-4ppm) and see if it helps.

From what I've seen/read, potassium is tied to both red coloration and montipora capricornis growth.

What would be a good potassium product? I've never dosed that before but I've been thinking its potassium. I don't have a test

 

[msderganc]

What would be a good potassium product? I've never dosed that before but I've been thinking its potassium. I don't have a test

Seachem Flourish Potassium, I would recommend testing for it first though. Maybe even do a Triton test for more accuracy and an idea where all of your trace elements are.

 

[msderganc]

You can also get potassium chloride powder and make your own solution. I'm sure Randy has posted something about it somewhere.

 

[Zacktosterone]

I use reef crystals...so I'm guessing it lacks in these things "IF" it turns out to be the case

 

[markalot]

No, it doesn't lack potassium and generally there is no reason to dose it unless it tests low. Make sure you are doing weekly water changes of at least 10% and feed the corals or lower the light intensity if they are pale. IMO.

SPS like clean water but they also like food in the water. It's a tough combination that requires good exports to keep from ending up with bad water quality.

 

[Zacktosterone]

No, it doesn't lack potassium and generally there is no reason to dose it unless it tests low. Make sure you are doing weekly water changes of at least 10% and feed the corals or lower the light intensity if they are pale. IMO.

SPS like clean water but they also like food in the water. It's a tough combination that requires good exports to keep from ending up with bad water quality.

Thanks. But I'm well aware of basics. My pinks are on the bottom. And they've been there for a month.

 

[fasteddie222]

I have the same problem. My Red Planet doesn't even look red. It looks green like a pink lemonade SPS

 

[Zacktosterone]

I have the same problem. My Red Planet doesn't even look red. It looks green like a pink lemonade SPS

Red planet does that when its low in the tank. Or if there's not enough light. I could be wrong in your situation.

 

[Piper27]

Saliferts has a decent potassium test kit. What corals are pink that your having trouble getting the colors from? I have trouble keeping potassium above 380 even with dosing and weekly waterchanges. But my pink and red corals are doing fine. Even when it it around 350 to 360 they look fine.
Also pics would help.

 

[Zacktosterone]

That

Saliferts has a decent potassium test kit. What corals are pink that your having trouble getting the colors from? I have trouble keeping potassium above 380 even with dosing and weekly waterchanges. But my pink and red corals are doing fine. Even when it it around 350 to 360 they look fine.
Also pics would help.

I'll order some. Do you recomend a certain supplement to dose potasium? The corals I'm having trouble with are my pink millipora and red planet.

Is seachem flourish potassium good? My tank is 200 gallons so I don't want to spend a fortune

 

[Piper27]

I also agree red planet turns green in low light, intense pinks and reds will do better in higher light ime but again it depends on what coral it is.

This is one of mine I just took a pic of today.

 

[Zacktosterone]

Wow that's pink. What Is that? Nice bare bottom tank

 

[Piper27]

Start with a test kit if you want but if your doing regular waterchanges i doubt its your problem. I think a potassium issue will show on your blue corals before anything. I use brightwells but need to make a diy mix because its expensive and i use it up quick. How long have you had the corals and where did you get them?

 

[Zacktosterone]

Start with a test kit if you want but if your doing regular waterchanges i doubt its your problem. I think a potassium issue will show on your blue corals before anything. I use brightwells but need to make a diy mix because its expensive and i use it up quick. How long have you had the corals and where did you get them?

I got them from reef wholesale in Toronto. I've had them for a month maybe its my lighting? Should I add more red?

 

[Piper27]

Red bulbs will make corals appear red but not really help them in any way for their true color. Sounds like its a mariculture and if so may have looked pink when bought but will probly change colors dramatically. If its wild or mariculture time will tell along with high light and a stable system.