my corals look drab

[saltykelly]

I don't understand how everyones corals are so bright. I have all softies, zoos, and lps, but thay look drab. I got a zoo colony that was purple skirts with green centers and now the purple is brown. I don't know what I'm doing wrong. Ph is 8.3-8.4, calcium ranges from 380- 450 and dkh ranges from 9-12. I just got a new MH light and I'm hoping that'll do it. If anyone knows some secrets let me know.

 

[robertloop]

What is the colore temp of the new MH and what is the color temp(s) that you are currently running? How long has the tank been running?

 

[pepe.king.prawn]

I've also seen colorful zoos turn brown under too bright of lamps, so don't automatically assume that bright lights = bright colors. While I'm not a strong believer in additives, I am a strong believer in water changes, RO water, and good salt mix. If things aren't working the way you'd like, change something! Move your corals around, try a different salt, anything.

 

[FunGuy]

What kind of lights did you have before? My experience has been that too much light for zoanthids generally won't turn my zoanthids brown... that has happened when I don't have enough light.

The other thing that seems to impact zoanthid colors the most are actinics. The more blue, the more colorful in a lot of cases... browns start looking more blue and purple...

 

[Reefugee]

I may be wrong - but your pH seems a little high. I thought most people shoot for 8.0 - 8.2.

 

[saltykelly]

I have a 30 gal cube and it's been set-up for 2 years. I had 185 watts of power compacts and the color was kinda yellow. My new MH is 250 wattt 15k with dual 65 watt actinics. But the 15k bulb is too yellow to be 15k, more like 8k. the tank is definately more blue with the new light.

 

[pepe.king.prawn]

(250+130)/30 = ~13 ... woah... anyone else think that's a LOT of light??

 

[Justin74]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9211747#post9211747 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reefugee
I may be wrong - but your pH seems a little high. I thought most people shoot for 8.0 - 8.2.

Actually Minh that pH he listed is optimal, and usually doesnt stay that way and will eventually drop down to the range you mention. But this leads me to my next observation. Everything that was mentioned is ideally optimal. In otherwords a very generic reading, which I take it as 'I think my water is fine please help me look else where'. For your cA to range from 380-450 would not make sense to see your pH so consistantly high between 8.3-8.4.

So anway, 4 possibilities come to mind when I hear brown. High nitrate, high phosphate, low light and or not enough flow.Test for the first two first. If there is detectable levels focus your suspicions there, if not think about the last two.

-Justin

 

[saltykelly]

Thanks for all the info. I think it might be a combo of things. I think the more blue lighting might help a little. Though I don't check it regularly my ph seems to be spot on every time. The ph and dkh seem to flux quite a bit though. I admit I should do water changes more often, but being a new father it's hard to find the time. All these ideas are great and really appreciated. If you have anymore keep them coming. What do you guys keep your salinity at?

 

[mpoletti]

I am not a pro here, but you talk about a range of 380- 450 for your salinity. That seems like a big range to me.
Also, I hope that you are acclimating your tanks photo time to the new lights. This will help not kill your corals as well as help fight unwanted algae outbreaks.

 

[saltykelly]

380-450 is my calcium range. Good idea on the lighting. Does anyone know of a cheap hqi bulb that wil be a crisp white to blue bulb.

 

[Nu2SW]

Kelly, do you use a skimmer at all.

I have mainly zoa's and I can say that with low light they loose color. So the MH will help bring up the color. JUst make sure they are not close to the light so they wont burn. If needed move them down in the tank.

How high is the lamp off the tank?

 

[saltykelly]

The new MH is 4 inches off the tank. I have a prizm skimmer, but I don't use it much cause I heard certain corals like xenia suffer with skimming or heavy carbon doses. Do you think I should use it more.

 

[Justin74]

Please tell me your using a splash guard

-Justin

 

[saltykelly]

yeah the light came with a splash guard.

 

[mpoletti]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9214724#post9214724 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by saltykelly
The new MH is 4 inches off the tank. I have a prizm skimmer, but I don't use it much cause I heard certain corals like xenia suffer with skimming or heavy carbon doses. Do you think I should use it more.

What types of corals do you want to have and what is you bioload?
I use my euroreef skimmer all the time and I have never had a problem with xenia not growing. Xenia is a lot like a weed. Once it gets established in your tank, you better make sure there is nothing to close because it grows fast and it moves just as fast.