Need some advice from some SPS vets!

[vmacisback]

So heres the short version. I transferred tanks and corals have been in the new 190G for a month or so. Prior to the transfer my nitrates shot up and some corals lost their true color, ending up looking browned. After the last month ive gotten the corals adjusted to the lighting (ati led powermodule) and the water params stable. Currently thanks to bio pellets and a fallow tank there is 0 nitrate and 0 phos in the water. This is as of a couple nights ago.

So my question is, is there something I should be doing to help get these frags and mini colonies back on track to their true color? Some have great PE others are minimal and look very bland off color. Should mention there are no pieces that are light in color or pastel they are all deep and rich but not in a good way, like too dark or brownish. Most that look like this have little or no PE and dont show multiple colors just one bland turd color.

Anyway just looking for an imput for a newer tank, the recent frags ive added look good and keep their nice color its really just the corals that made the transfer that need some help. Thanks

 

[71xlch]

I had issues with colour from day 1 as I was always ducking around to get nitrates 0 and phosphates 0. Colours were turd brown or pale tan.The day I said screw it and just fed the fish and quit caring about those numbers things colored up. Nitrates 5-10 keeps my best colour.

I added 2 more fish and it helped even more. Just my .2 cents.

 

[ReefBum]

I always advocate having a "slightly" dirty tank with barely detectable nitrates and phosphates. I like having a lot of fish and feed heavily (fish poop is good for corals), skim heavily and do fairly large weekly water changes of about 15%.....like a high import/export system.

 

[vmacisback]

I agree that having a slightly dirty tank is the way to be but on the other hand after transferring corals from a high nutrient level tank to a low nutrient tank I just thought they may lighten and color back up. Am I on the right track or no? I dont like running my tank low on nutrients but with it being fallow that easy to have happen. I am still looking for the answer to the question that I originally posted.

" If i move brown and dark colored corals from a high level nutrient tank to a low level nutrient tank will they recover to their natural colors?

 

[vmacisback]

all the great minds out there and I can only get 2 responses?

 

[pstank1]

You moved from a high level tank to an undetectable level tank. It can take months for sps to regain their color. I would remove the bio pellets for now. You have nothing but coral in the tank, so there shouldn't be much waste to deal with.

You said the corals have been in the tank for about a month. Then later you said it took about a month to stabilize the parameters. Constant parameter changes can cause coloring issues. How long have they been stable? I'd give it a few more weeks to see if you start seeing the colors turn around. Remove the bio pellets, feed the corals a little food, but don't change anything else.

What are your current measurements(outside of nitrates and phosphates)? Are you seeing any growth? How are you dosing calc and alk? Dosing pumps are great for stability if you aren't using them already. What kind of lighting were you using in your old tank? Pictures.....this thread is lacking pictures. If you have some of your corals before and after the move, that's even better.

 

[ReefBum]

You moved from a high level tank to an undetectable level tank. It can take months for sps to regain their color. I would remove the bio pellets for now. You have nothing but coral in the tank, so there shouldn't be much waste to deal with.

You said the corals have been in the tank for about a month. Then later you said it took about a month to stabilize the parameters. Constant parameter changes can cause coloring issues. How long have they been stable? I'd give it a few more weeks to see if you start seeing the colors turn around. Remove the bio pellets, feed the corals a little food, but don't change anything else.

What are your current measurements(outside of nitrates and phosphates)? Are you seeing any growth? How are you dosing calc and alk? Dosing pumps are great for stability if you aren't using them already. What kind of lighting were you using in your old tank? Pictures.....this thread is lacking pictures. If you have some of your corals before and after the move, that's even better.

Agree, SPS need a stable environment, especially rock solid alkalinity. It is hard to predict what is going to happen since there are a lot of variables in play when it comes to SPS and color. Is everything essentially the same in terms of equipment and husbandry with the new tank vs. the old tank?

 

[vmacisback]

Ok sorry for the lack of details. The nutrients on the last tank were kept in check with vinegar dosing. I went on vacation and I think my buddy overfed the tank because nutrients were high when I returned home and the corals began to darken and look bad.

The new larger tank was up and running at this time with just some zoas and chalices. It had been running biopellets from the start and had pretty high nutrients after the cycle I believe the phos was at .24 and nitrate was above 45ppm. So a few water changes later and some prodibio I believe the pellets began to really work and got the levels to 0ppm. Once they were close to zero about a week prior I transferred my SPS over. Dosing of Alk/Cal have gone up since the addition of the SPS. I have a BM dosing pump and test daily in order to increase to keep them in check. Yes the corals are growing I can tell, broken branches are encrusting over and some pieces are starting to slowly encrust at their base. Also my alk is increased daily to keep it around 7.7-8ppm. Both new and old tank are under t5. That said I can add some new tank and old tank pics of the same corals. Thanks for the help guys, I know my answer is probably just time and good husbandry just wondering if this was the same for most and how to correct it.

 

[vmacisback]

bump

 

[sahin]

all the great minds out there and I can only get 2 responses?

You already have a very good answer from one of the best SPS keepers. :eek1: Reefbum is an SPS legend. I would trust his advice and look no further. :lolspin:

I always advocate having a "slightly" dirty tank with barely detectable nitrates and phosphates. I like having a lot of fish and feed heavily (fish poop is good for corals), skim heavily and do fairly large weekly water changes of about 15%.....like a high import/export system.

This is exactly what I'd do.

Agree, SPS need a stable environment, especially rock solid alkalinity. It is hard to predict what is going to happen since there are a lot of variables in play when it comes to SPS and color. Is everything essentially the same in terms of equipment and husbandry with the new tank vs. the old tank?

If everything is generally the same, I'd do as above.

 

[vmacisback]

Agree, SPS need a stable environment, especially rock solid alkalinity. It is hard to predict what is going to happen since there are a lot of variables in play when it comes to SPS and color. Is everything essentially the same in terms of equipment and husbandry with the new tank vs. the old tank?

Reefbum thanks for the reply. Yes the only real change was the addition of bio pellets in this new tank. The old tank I dosed vinegar. All major components are the same, lighting, flow, salt brand etc.

I know there are a lot of factors here, I guess im just wondering because it seems like I am only really having trouble with the SPS pieces that are being transferred over. All new frags that I acquire and put in the tank keep their color and look great, most are actually starting to encrust after a week or so. Just wondering whats up with my old pieces?

 

[vmacisback]

You already have a very good answer from one of the best SPS keepers. :eek1: Reefbum is an SPS legend. I would trust his advice and look no further. :lolspin:


This is exactly what I'd do.


If everything is generally the same, I'd do as above.

Thanks Sahin I am aware who he is, I guess I asked a tough question and got a general answer. I have provided more details in my later posts, just wondered how other people dealt with browned out corals after a tank transfer.

 

[Pife]

I have been dealing with it for over a month or two now. I just keep my tank stable. I have been adding fish to feed because I couldn't register any nutrients. Corals keep looking better daily. I started a thread to track my progress. Maybe you should too. Add pictures every couple days or weekly.

 

[sahin]

Reefbum thanks for the reply. Yes the only real change was the addition of bio pellets in this new tank. The old tank I dosed vinegar. All major components are the same, lighting, flow, salt brand etc.

I know there are a lot of factors here, I guess im just wondering because it seems like I am only really having trouble with the SPS pieces that are being transferred over. All new frags that I acquire and put in the tank keep their color and look great, most are actually starting to encrust after a week or so. Just wondering whats up with my old pieces?

Do you have a re-circulating biopellet reactor? Vinegar dosing seems a whole lot more controlled.

I am not the best at getting my corals to colour up, but I can certainly keep brown turds alive and happy with lots of PE. :spin2: I know PE isnt the best sign for health of an acro, but for me, a sustained lack of PE and general unhealthy look means I always cut back on the nutrient reduction. Hence why I ask if you have a re-circulating reactor.

I would cut back on the output just a tiny bit to get measureable PO4/NO3. Feed a touch more and maybe do a small mid week water change.

Other than that, I would give the corals more time. I bet even just changing from vinegar to biopellets changes a whole lot on a biological/microbial level but as hobbyists we cannot test for or see this happening.

 

[braaap]

I'd go with Reefbum's first answer. Show hardly any trates and phos and your corals should flourish. I feed VERY heavy and change 10% water volume every Saturday. I've taken browned SPS given to me into amazing color in weeks.

 

[Dugless]

I think some stability would go a long way to getting your corals headed in the right direction. From what I'm gathering, you've had a good list of changes, from parameters, lighting, placement, etc. On top of that, having NO3 of 45ppm and PO4 at .24 the symbiotic algae in your SPS most likely went through the roof and caused your browning. It will take some time with stable parameters for these populations to rebalance themselves. In my experience these pigments and algae can take many months or more to recover.

 

[vmacisback]

Do you have a re-circulating biopellet reactor? Vinegar dosing seems a whole lot more controlled.

I am not the best at getting my corals to colour up, but I can certainly keep brown turds alive and happy with lots of PE. :spin2: I know PE isnt the best sign for health of an acro, but for me, a sustained lack of PE and general unhealthy look means I always cut back on the nutrient reduction. Hence why I ask if you have a re-circulating reactor.

I would cut back on the output just a tiny bit to get measureable PO4/NO3. Feed a touch more and maybe do a small mid week water change.

Other than that, I would give the corals more time. I bet even just changing from vinegar to biopellets changes a whole lot on a biological/microbial level but as hobbyists we cannot test for or see this happening.

Yes Sahin I did go from Vinegar to biopellets in a re-circulating reactor. I recently dosed some nitrate and Phos in order to get my numbers up. They now read Phos: .06 and Nitrate is around 1ppm.

Some of the brown turds show PE some dont, it not that their brown its almost like a very deep purple...kind of strange. For whatever reason I feel like the ones with PE and the ones that dont show PE will maybe just take more time. Its interesting how some corals are thriving and some look like their never going to come back.