Pink birds nest brown help

[amnbowser]

I have 3 250 mh 14 k. I can't get my birds nest to lighten up. I am running them for 5 hours a day is this long enough? How long do you guys run your for?

 

[krzyphsygy]

I run lighting 10 hrs total. Actinics for 1 hr and then halides come on for 8, then another hr on the actinics. Then lights out.

Based on your water quality being perfect (not sure if it is), if its browning it is probably because it wants more light. That is usually a symptom of the brown color. If it was bleaching (turning white) usually a symptom of too much light.
Try increasing your lighting time to 8 hrs, but do it slowly over the coarse of a week or so. See if it starts to color up. Wont happen over night.

 

[redliner]

Also be the case of poor water nutrient. Check your water parameters and make sure they are within acceptable levels.

 

[amnbowser]

It's not the water. I think it must be the lights. I will increase lights thanks for the help.

 

[jbanks]

You definitely need longer hours of lighting.. Even more so unless you're running your tank bare bottom and undetecatable on all N & P.

 

[amnbowser]

There goes the electric bill

 

[allsps40]

It wont increase that much. I did a calculation and my 75g with 2 250w MH and all pumps only adds $16 to the bill.