Montipora color fade

[patwillman]

I purchased a beautiful green apple montipora frag a couple of months ago. It is growing, but I have noticed the color has slowly changed to a pale green. It was a beautiful flourescent green when I put it in. Any ideas what it is missing to green it up again?

 

[italia]

From what I know, could be a couple of things? the water parameters of the tank it was originally in compared to what it's in now. not saying your water isn't good, it's just probably not adjusted yet. Could be alk. what do u keep ur alk at?

the again, could be lighting. what kind of lights was it under before u bought it and what is it in now? did you start the peice low in your tank and then slowly bring it up higher and higher?

 

[patwillman]

Well, things are off in the aquarium as far a normal. About a week or so ago, I noticed the ph started dropping. Everything looked fine, nothing seemed wrong corals or fish.

The Mag was low, I have added mag to raise it up. Calcium is high, alk was a little low for the tank, but I had deliberately tried to let that drop, as it usually runs high.

the ph is still low, in fact I haven't seen it that low 7.8 and 7.9. That was a real worry, so I hooked up the Calcium reactor yesterday. I took it off because a brand new one I purchased malfunctioned a couple of months ago( I woke up to CO2 bubling like crazy, in fact it woke me up in the next room, and caused caos. I got the new calcium reactor in, but a little of the fear was still left, so I have it off, and went back to liquid dosing.

I was hoping the calcium reactor would help with the ph, but so far it hasn't. I spent most of the night up and down checking the bubble rate every hour or so. It did finally settle in around 4:00am

Suggestions on the ph?

 

[kayne_21]

Granted, I'm still pretty new, but don't calcium reactors usually lower the pH due to addition of CO2 to the water? You could drip kalk to try to stabilize your pH some.

 

[Poorcollegereef]

What are your water parameters exactly? (readings and test kit)

The CO2 will decrease pH but I would advise adding anything to try and "fix" things.

I would back off with the reactor. My guess is that your parameters have been going back and forth enough to stress the corals. pH and Alk swings will create havok... the other thing would be you lights. If your monti gradually lost color then the coral is not recieving the light it needs and the alga within the tissue is no longer as dense and or the coral is not producing as much "sunblock" pigment (loss of color). Either you need to place the coral higher up in the tank or upgrade your lighting. Finally, I noticed a fair number of softies in your tank (in your photo gallery) and they might be releasing a toxin that just further stress the monti... just a guess.

If the issue is with the water, then a water change might be best. If the issue is with the light, then it is just an excuse to upgrade

 

[patwillman]

I have two 175 watt metal halides, two 55 watt pc, and one 65 watt 50/50 actinic and day, one 65 watt daylight. My lights are 12" off the water, and no heat problems (4 fans). Maybe I could lower them 4".

My ph is up to 8.1 tonight.

I took pictures after 7:30pm. Sorry the corals are receding, but check the last 2 or 3 pictures.

 

[Poorcollegereef]

well your lights are fine, it must be the parameters...

Check your pH in the mornings and/or right before the lights turn on so see what the lowest swing is. I am doubting there is one cause to the color loss. It might be a combo of pH, Alk, NO3, and anything the softies put into the water, or that the frags just did not ajust well.

I guess try a series of small water changes over the next couple of days and see if you get a change.

 

[patwillman]

thank you so much. I will keep working on it.

 

[CyanoMagnet]

Just make sure your light cover isnt so stacked with salt that light isnt getting through.

 

[tmz]

Low ph can inhibit calcification as can high phosphate. Have you checked your phosphate? You may wan't to pair off some kalk dosing with your calcium reactor. This combination works very well for me.

 

[DaveJ]

my guess would be low mag... needs to be over 1350... 1350-1500 is where i keep mine... high flow will do it... low potassium has been reported to cause it... and of course, lack of food.

 

[JAHGYDI]

i have a bright green cap that grew next to a leather and half the monti turned really pale and the other half is bright green. it was fine until it got to close.