Red colors in sps

[dk638]

Wanted to start a thread about reds. My tank is doing well, growth has been fantastic. Every color is great except reds. Some are more pink, some orange and som pale. Just can't get that deep red color I see in some tanks. My red planet is somewhere between red and purple.
No3 = .5-2
Po4= .03-.08
Alk= 7.5
Also running ati sunpower 8x54w with Reefbrite blue
I dose small amount of acropower and run biopellets.
Just wondering what any one else has done or dosed to get they're reds colored. Elements? Lighting? Nutrients?
Post it here.
Thanks

 

[plyle02]

I have had some serious luck with reds in my tank, I remember in the zeovit lineup that B Strong was intended to help in coloring reds and pinks, I think the main element was Boron, I have since switched to Brighwell's version. I dose about 5ml per week on my 200 gallon total volume, which is a light dose. I also use Salifert's Hard Trace and their aminos too. As far as bulbs go, I think the coral+ and or purple+ seem to help reds.

 

[dk638]

I run
2 coral +
4 blue +
Purple and
Actinic
Thanks for your input. Keep em coming

 

[plyle02]

That combo should light up reds really well...

 

[dk638]

That's what i thought. I've been raising my light to see if I'm hitting them with too much. Or I'm missing some element

 

[vuqchu]

How deep is the tank and where are these corals placed? Usually higher they are or the more light they get, the more red they get. At least this has been the case for me. Sounds to me like it could be a nutrients thing with your tank. Perhaps the pellets are doing too good of a job.

 

[Coelli]

That's what i thought. I've been raising my light to see if I'm hitting them with too much. Or I'm missing some element

The red planet is a good guinea pig. The less light it gets the more green it will get, not red. Mine's at the bottom of my tank (about 20" down) and it's a light green.

 

[dk638]

My red planet is somewhere between red and purple. Not deep red like it should be. No green at all. I do have measurable nutrients though. Kinda low but that's why I dose acropower.

 

[dk638]

Some pics, full light. Some taken with a filter

 

[dk638]

Any other Sps experts out there?

 

[dk638]

Bump this topic

 

[GSMclowns]

I too have the same issue. I just can't get the red color at all. My red planet looks like your. it is red but not that bright, refreshing red. Its more dull/pale red. I have been looking for a way to improve it but so far, no luck at all.

 

[dk638]

I too have the same issue. I just can't get the red color at all. My red planet looks like your. it is red but not that bright, refreshing red. Its more dull/pale red. I have been looking for a way to improve it but so far, no luck at all.

Hopefully we can get some more experiences on here from other sps keepers.

 

[plyle02]

How close is your light to the water? How often do you change water, and with what salt? How many fish do you have and how often do you feed them? Perhaps maybe a combo of trace minerals, too much light, and too little nutrients, one of these would be my guess... Here are a couple of my favorites, both happen to be red

Red Robin:

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Red Planet:

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[skp]

Red Planet:

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Very nice. Do you have a side shot of your red planet?

 

[dk638]

I've checked my par it's around 350-400 on the red planet. My fuego is my only piece holding red but never checked the par on it. Light is 8" over the water. Water changes usually every 2 weeks. 10-15%. Auto feed pellets 2 times a day and frozen I feed usually once a day. Dose acropower.

 

[plyle02]

I've checked my par it's around 350-400 on the red planet. My fuego is my only piece holding red but never checked the par on it. Light is 8" over the water. Water changes usually every 2 weeks. 10-15%. Auto feed pellets 2 times a day and frozen I feed usually once a day. Dose acropower.

Maybe raise the lights to 10" off the water, and increase frozen feedings to twice per day, see if you get a color change after a couple of weeks. That is a lot of light and PAR, that would be my first guess...

 

[Johnyman]

Test for potassium.

 

[gdemos]

+1 on trying potassium. 380-400 is norm range but many have gone as much as twice that. I also notice that stirring the sand bed can deepen the Reds as if certain elements (and slight nutrient surge) are released in the shake up. The monti would be a good barometer to watch impact. I've got a Bloody Mary palwenesiss that reds deepened dramatically when dosing potassium. Iron may also be beneficial. All said these elements should be replenished in your water changes but won't hurt to try slow ramp up dosing up to 3x week and observing. I use brightwells

I also run BIOPELLET and same bulb combo you have on ATI 8x54 sunpower plus reefbrite.

 

[Gmerek2]

Aquarians showing off and SPS retailers adjusting colors with photo shop give most people false expectations. I struggled with this for years until I visited many tanks. Got a better feel for real life color expectations on the common pieces.