my corals are losing colors

[andiruleu]

is it because it has too much light that its losing its colors? or is it because it doesnt have enough light? im using power compact 48'' and they've been running for about 8 months with the same bulbs and i have them set middle to high.

 

[SteveOhh]

How long do you run the lights daily? Reason I'm asking is the bulbs might be past thier prime & need replacement.

Steve

 

[andiruleu]

8 hours

 

[andiruleu]

sometimes more

 

[SteveOhh]

It may be time to replace the bulbs...................but I'll let the experts chime in

 

[Yinger]

need some basic information first

1. what kind of corals?
2. Water Param
3. how much lighting do you have?
4. How much circulation?

 

[andiruleu]

some zoa's and ricordia mushrooms. water paramaters should be good. i have other zoas and mushrooms that are alive. not much circulation towards it. 4x55w 50/50 lighting

 

[Yinger]

what do you mean by loosing color? Is it bleaching out or just changing colors? because corals can change colors under different lighting.

 

[Animation]

16 yellow cards and 4 red cards during Holland and Portugal were playing.

 

[riotj]

If water temp gets too high this can make them "lose color" or kill off the zoozanthellae. It got pretty hot this weekend - what is your water temp?

 

[Bebo77]

phosphates make corals lose color aka brown out... do you have a test kit.. what are your phosphates?

 

[andiruleu]

i dont know what my phosphates are... but yeh the water is pretty cold. it doesnt get brown it just turns white.. well the mushroom turns white, but the zoo looses its green.. here are some pics:

 

[andiruleu]

im guessing that i bought the corals that way?

 

[Yinger]

looks like they're bleaching out... what temp is the water? and what's ur water parameters? I'd double check those again.

 

[Bebo77]

you need to get the test kits and test you water...

what do you mean "pretty cold" please tell me you have thermometer on the tank....

 

[andiruleu]

well right now its 76.5

i ment pretty warm.. before, i didnt know the temp because the temp would go beyond the temp strip i have.. now i have digital , and its reading 76.5

 

[andiruleu]

i have the mardel test strip.. and here are the readings im getting

nitrate 20 ppm
nitrite 0
ph 8.0-8.4

 

[Bebo77]

76 is a little low but not really a problem... just dont let it get lower than that...
get a phosphate test kit... salifert makes one... if your phosphates are high bring them down with cheato or phosban....

 

[Yinger]

how about ammonia? Nitrate is a little high... water change can help with that.

 

[818]

What color are those rics suppose to be normally?

Agree^^ Nitrates are high....Cheato and phosban will keep that in check