I need some help with light sps coloration

[Michael Mota]

I agree with you on many points. Lighting has been trouble some for a lot of people and that reflectors and ballasts and etc will all play a part in the par configuration. I was under the impression that this may turn out to be argumentative so I did not want to go there, lol but I too am glad that is has been a very reasonable discussion instead. I think the reason so many of us have problems with coral coloration is that we run our tanks too nutrient poor, clear water and etc. I too believe that too much light is not a good thing. But overall it really is about trying different things with your own tank and see what the results are. I did enjoy the chat but I will let the thread get back on point.
Take care
Michael

 

[King-Kong]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7735481#post7735481 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Michael Mota
... I think the reason so many of us have problems with coral coloration is that we run our tanks too nutrient poor, clear water and etc. ....
Michael

Yes! I think we're beginning to see a shift in the behavior/attitudes of having lots of fish and feeding lots of food in SPS tanks. Also not wanting to derail, but as our export techniques improve (and they have been) we'll continue to see more and more feeding of quality sources for our corals (be it the amonia production for bacteria growth from fish, or direct feedings from things like oyster eggs). The trick is getting out the unused food before it begins to rot...

 

[Michael Mota]

Totally in agreement. Thats why I feed different kinds of food to the tank everday in the hopes of getting a little bit of everything for all the animals.

 

[JW Jersey]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7733993#post7733993 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Joao Monteiro
What´s the effect of the Anthias ?

Anthias are beautiful fish imo and mainly add more nutrients through more feedings to the system.

I used to run pheonix 14k bulbs on a mag ballast then changed to the current ushios 14k whitch I think are a little yellow so I installed two T5 new uri super actinics to cover the yellowish look.

I do feed DT's oyster eggs a couple times a week. I feed the fish frozen mysis, cyclops, reef blend, soaked in selcon and garlic once or twice a day only as much as the fish consume while I feed them along with 3''x3'' piece of nori.

 

[concept3]

John, your system and problem with colors is soooooo similar to mine, it's scary. Your post looks like something I would write myself.

I've increased my bioload in the past few months, and am now seeing better deeper coloration from the heavier feedings. Only problem is the bubble algae seem to proliferate now :lol:


My bioload now includes:
7 anthias
2 japanese swallowtail angels
1 PJ Cardinal
1 Royal gramma
1 Blue tang
1 percula
2 sixlines
1 yellow tang

I also use 6500K's so that may be part of the problem.

 

[JW Jersey]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7737712#post7737712 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by concept3
John, your system and problem with colors is soooooo similar to mine, it's scary. Your post looks like something I would write myself.

I've increased my bioload in the past few months, and am now seeing better deeper coloration from the heavier feedings. Only problem is the bubble algae seem to proliferate now :lol:


My bioload now includes:
7 anthias
2 japanese swallowtail angels
1 PJ Cardinal
1 Royal gramma
1 Blue tang
1 percula
2 sixlines
1 yellow tang

I also use 6500K's so that may be part of the problem.

First thanks for the reply.

How many fish did you have in the system before you added more? Did you add one fish at a time over a course of a couple months, or multiple at once?

 

[concept3]

I got 4 purple anthias at once last month, the swallowtails this week, and the rest I added about 4 weeks apart (yellow tang, percula, 1 sixline).


I didn't have much of a bioload before that, and my skimmer stopped producing as much skimmate as it used to, I can't keep any kind of macro alive either. Hence my thought process of not enough fish poop (plus it was talked about before here as well)

 

[smcooler]

lots of fish and lots of food with a good skimmer, and a fuge would help. Thats what I do and I have great growth and deep color. I live in NJ too you can stop by and see for yourself.


stan

 

[JW Jersey]

thanks for the offer stan. I'll have to shoot you a pm.

An update, I added the four lyretails I had in Qt. on the 14 of july. I must say These fish are awesome and add a lot more color to the tank. I purchased an auto feeder for feeding in the morning and afternoon. I put a mixture of formula one flake, two small pellet, reef mix, and freeze dried cyclops. Then in the evening I will feed a mixture of frozen food.

I also changed my MH bulbs back to pheonix 14k and installed icecap electronic ballast's. I must say the pheonix look a lot better on the E/ballast imo.

I will take a picture every week to see if there is any difference.

 

[JW Jersey]

Here are the first set of pictures. My photo skills are not to good so bare with me.

 

[King-Kong]

Keep us posted, and try to log your major changes!

A lot of people are experiencing the same, so it would help.

 

[trueblackpercula]

after looking at the photos could you possible have Phosphates? and try checking the temp with a different thermometer. everything looks fine. I have been adding purple up and i will say that i have been getting lots of pink algea and my blue hoeki as really changed to a dark blue purple very nice. It could just be that you need to add some additives to the system to keep the corals happy. Also when was the last time you change out the actinics? They play a huge roll in Sps color ................
Michael

 

[trueblackpercula]

P.S I have no fish in the system

 

[javajaws]

Hey Jersey,

How goes the SPS?

I too have a similar problem as you....low fish load, no phosphate/nitrates, and slow SPS growth w/light colors. I've recently added more fish and started feeding daily (as opposed to every other day or so). Also added a couple more fans to keep my temp spike down (was spiking to 81...now tops at 79.8 or so). Hopefully my SPS will color up and grow faster over the next month or so.

Keep us posted with your progress.

 

[JW Jersey]

UPDATE, So far I haven't noticed any color change in corals I will post some pictures tomorrow. I have a red colored alga starting to grow more unfortunately I've had it for quite some time but now it has decided to grow more. I'm thinking my R.O membrane is exhausted and the TDS meter I am using doesn't read correctly.
looks like I will be making another order to Marine Depot . Another problem is starting my powder blue seems to be getting ick or some other kind of parasite. It looks like little pimples and a couple have tiny stringy things hanging off the pimple, not all of the bumps are white ether? Hopefully he will recover maybe stress from the new anthias. He swims and acts fine still eats like a pig I've been giving him garlic and selcon soaked foods daily. This is really disappointing as he is my most favorite fish.

 

[JW Jersey]

Well it's been a month and a half sense my last pictures were taken. so far the sps have colored up some and some nuisance algae has started to grow more with the increased feeding and fish. I blow the rocks of weekly with a power head doesn't seem to help. But back to the updated pictures...

 

[Horace]

I would like to add that I have had loss of color in some of my SPS as well, but at no time have they ever been as bad as your pictures show. Mine have only faded a bit, not turned brown. I have been working on returning my corals (especially greens) to thier original color for months upon months. I am coming to the conclusion that often the problem is we are running our tanks too nutrient poor w/out offering enough food for the corals. Now dont read what I just said and take it that I think we should allow elevated PO4 or NO3. We should still keep this levels undetectable, however, we should do so while feeding as much as possible. In the ocean the P04/No3 are much much lower than even the most nutrient poor fish tanks, however, on the reef there is a great abundance of food available at all times..THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE! The fact is that corals need more than just light, they do need to be supplemented with a good amount of food. Since doubling my feeding of fish food and reef chili I have recently noticed an upturn in my colors. Hopefully this will continue. I am also planning on adding some new fish to the mix as well to create a bit more poop (aka coral food) to the tank.....and hopefully I can still keep my nutrients low.

 

[Serioussnaps]

you should dose your top off kalkwater all day...slowly...i bet if you are dosing it one time a day you are causing swings in ALK and ph daily...this may not be much but over time and everyday swing could be an issue..

also your CA is way low....that explains the slow growth if any growth is even occuring...bring it up 10-15ppm per day till its at 400

are you acclimating the corals to your light??

I think people are paying way too much attention to the lighting aspect and causes them to overlook the real issues...just my 2 cents

 

[Serioussnaps]

put a cleaner shrimp in with the PBT and enrich his food and keep good water quality....no worries...off topic but dont go crazy it will pass

by the way...have you tested for phosphates(not that any test kits for phosphates are worth a dang) but give it a try and let me know what they are at...i suspect a little phosphate issue as well

by they way some of your corals do have great color so dont be discouraged!!!!

 

[Serioussnaps]

shoot us some updated parameters...comprehensive...we can see what has changed and what the improvements are