red monti cap color

[loganlemaster]

Hey guys i have a question about red monti cap coloration. Im running a maxspect razor 160 watt 16k fixture over my shallow reef. Ive got all my corals coloring up nicely except my red cap and a red digi. The cap is faded to pink same with the digi. Im running about 50% on whites 80% on blues. This setting seems to make my zoas the most happy in the tank. When i try to slowly raise the whited the zoas seem to respond negatively. I would like to get the reds back to a dark red on the sps. I have a green slimmer that is neon green and some green cap thats lighter than when i bought it. Im trying to figure out if this is a lighting issue or a water issue. My phosphates are .03 on a hanna meter im running gfo and carbon. I do have nitrates 10- 20ppm between weekly water changes. I plan on placing some pond matrix in the sump in an effort to reduce nitrates. Just wondering what others think i could do to improve my red colors. Thanks

 

[likefish]

i am anxious to hear the replies to this. I have a very similar situation. Is your growth good? Has this been an ongoing issue or is this something new? Are you carbon dosing.

 

[Peter Eichler]

What is your photoperiod?

 

[loganlemaster]

i am anxious to hear the replies to this. I have a very similar situation. Is your growth good? Has this been an ongoing issue or is this something new? Are you carbon dosing.

It has been an ongoing situation. Ihave a nice white rim of new growth and red polyps extended but faded overall color. No carbon dosing, yet. Im considering that as an option to reduce nitrates if the seachem pond matrix dosent work.

 

[loganlemaster]

What is your photoperiod?

My photo period is 12 hours. Blues ramp up from 0 to 80% over the first two hours then whites up to 50% the next hour till the 9th hour whites back down to 0 then blues ramp down over the next two hours.

 

[dadummy]

how long has the monti been under LED, I noticed when I switched from T5 to LED monti would bleach or become pale

 

[loganlemaster]

how long has the monti been under LED, I noticed when I switched from T5 to LED monti would bleach or become pale

5 months

 

[dadummy]

don't know for sure, if they are high up in the tank and getting blasted with light could try moving one to a lower light, or shaded area and see if it colors up

If it was a nutrient issue the coral would brown out or become darker

 

[loganlemaster]

don't know for sure, if they are high up in the tank and getting blasted with light could try moving one to a lower light, or shaded area and see if it colors up

If it was a nutrient issue the coral would brown out or become darker

The tank is twelve inches deep so they are getting a good amount of light. I tried moving towards the edge of tank with no changes in color. The caps about an inch off of the sand bed. When i first got these caps and a bali slimer and red digi my lights were set at lower percentages and the slimer started to brown out. I slowly raised my light %'s and got the slimer looking great. The caps faded when the slimer browned out, and i cant seem to get there colors back. Heres my tank

 

[Peter Eichler]

My photo period is 12 hours. Blues ramp up from 0 to 80% over the first two hours then whites up to 50% the next hour till the 9th hour whites back down to 0 then blues ramp down over the next two hours.

I would shorten that by at least a couple hours and maybe even go closer to 8.

 

[loganlemaster]

I would shorten that by at least a couple hours and maybe even go closer to 8.

With the shorter photo period should i up the percentages or go with my current settings just shorter time? Thanks to all for the replys!

 

[dadummy]

nice tank

current setting shorter time

not familiar with the razor, is there a way you can shorten the photoperiod on the whites alone?

 

[loganlemaster]

nice tank

current setting shorter time

not familiar with the razor, is there a way you can shorten the photoperiod on the whites alone?

Thanks, i went ahead and shortened my photoperiod to eight hours total. Im going to watch for good or bad effects and adjust intensity as needed. Hopefuly my montis color up

 

[Peter Eichler]

Thanks, i went ahead and shortened my photoperiod to eight hours total. Im going to watch for good or bad effects and adjust intensity as needed. Hopefuly my montis color up

It can take svereal weeks for corals to recover from photo-inhibition, so give it a little time. I suspect you'll be able to turn up the intensity, but I would just make this one change for now and see if things improve.

 

[toothman]

I would take any gfo and carbon out. If now no gfo or carbon, it must need more feeding or like you said weaker light.
Leds can be strong, they are hard to dial in for the entire tank area.

 

[loganlemaster]

It can take svereal weeks for corals to recover from photo-inhibition, so give it a little time. I suspect you'll be able to turn up the intensity, but I would just make this one change for now and see if things improve.

I agree

 

[loganlemaster]

I would take any gfo and carbon out. If now no gfo or carbon, it must need more feeding or like you said weaker light.
Leds can be strong, they are hard to dial in for the entire tank area.

Im finding that out

 

[GreenSaltyOne]

Any updates?? I recently moved my tank to a shallow one, similar to yours in size. I have the same problem with my red cap. I remember carbon dosing hard before I switched to the new shallow tank, and I remember the red cap being the darkest red its ever been when I did that. So that is my plan right now,....but i'd like to know the results from yours given its been over a month.

 

[kissman]

Sorry to bring up an old thread but I am having a similar problem and was wondering if you ever found out anything? I have great colors on all my corals but Red