SPS Changing Colors

[AquaBogie]

Hey All,

I have done as much research online as I can about this and I can't find any real answers. I have a problem where a lot of my SPS have been changing to a neon green. I am just not sure why I can't get them to hold their colors, the green SPS do really well. They aren't dying, but just aren't staying red /blue etc.

I just added a phosban reactor because my phosphate was too high. Any ideas would be helpful, it's just been baffling as to why I can't keep those nice reds and pink's etc.

SPS Affected:
German Blue Digitata
Red Staghorn
Red Planet
Fire and Ice Tort
Shades of Fall

Lighting: AI Hydra 26 HD
Lighting Schedule: 12pm-10:30pm
Cool Whites: 45% for 4 hours
UV: 80% Full Time
Violet, Royal Blue, Deep Blue: 100% Full Time
Red/Green: 0%
Tank: Red Sea Reefer 170
Sump: Red Sea Reefer 250 (Upgrade of sorts)
Skimmer: Bubble Magus Curve 5
Algea Scrubber: Santa Monica Filtration Drop Box 1.4x
Reactor: Two Little Fishies Phosban Reactor 150

Parameters:
Nitrate: 1.5ppm
Phosphate: .02 ppm
Calcium: 431
Alk: 7.77
Salinity: 1.025

 

[AquaBogie]

No one else ever run into this?

 

[Geeray]

How long have you had them?

 

[AquaBogie]

6 months I believe? I upgraded the tank and lost some in the switch, the blue digi is rather new though.

 

[lewig]

Do you dose any supplements? I have similar experience when started red sea coral colors program.

 

[Hentz]

Just a random thought... I hope someone more knowledgeable can chime in.. But would high amounts of Iron cause this?

Although, I run ZEOvit method. I have noticed, however, when I ran Hydra 26 HD's a lot of my blue corals went green. Even my Hyacinth went green (usually a red/pink coral).

Maybe it's something in the lighting?

 

[w3bbo]

Iron will promote green coloration. It could also be mild stress/recovery from a stressful event. I normally find that I get green coloration after brown before it gets its true color, especially with blues.

 

[tamama]

Using different lighting does change the coral colors. Eg. I run ATI with my main tank and Mh for my frag tank. The very yellow colour sps will turn greenish in my frag tank. Both tanks are connected.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

 

[Denadai]

My Observation in my tanks , especially in table red

more light = red

less light = green

Best Regards

 

[AquaBogie]

Fantastic! Thanks everyone for the advice. I can pump up the lighting and move it closer to the tank it's hanging. I was also considering running a retro fit T5 with coral pro's for a few hours a day.

 

[AquaBogie]

Do you dose any supplements? I have similar experience when started red sea coral colors program.

I do dose, Potassium, Amino Acids, Iodide, and Strontium. I am just starting to get a lot more Coralline Algea. so I may need to get a doser soon. Testing every day lately.

 

[AquaBogie]

My Observation in my tanks , especially in table red

more light = red

less light = green

Best Regards

To elaborate, when you say "more light" do you think any particular spectrum is more important than another such as should I turn my whites up?

 

[AquaBogie]

Just a random thought... I hope someone more knowledgeable can chime in.. But would high amounts of Iron cause this?

Although, I run ZEOvit method. I have noticed, however, when I ran Hydra 26 HD's a lot of my blue corals went green. Even my Hyacinth went green (usually a red/pink coral).

Maybe it's something in the lighting?

Interesting that the Hydra has caused the same issue. I can't find the sweet spot, my Cali Tort is doing great still has some deep blue but is mostly neon green. I may have to check for iron, I use RO/DI water. I hope that's not the issue. but worth checking out.

 

[Hentz]

Interesting that the Hydra has caused the same issue. I can't find the sweet spot, my Cali Tort is doing great still has some deep blue but is mostly neon green. I may have to check for iron, I use RO/DI water. I hope that's not the issue. but worth checking out.

Denadai has a great point as well.

When I ran my Hydras, my Hyacinth was green (low light most likely).
After I switched to ATI 6x39, it has turned red and keeps getting more red. Also developing some neon green polyps, looks really neat. Maybe bump up your intensity, slowly!?

 

[AquaBogie]

Denadai has a great point as well.

When I ran my Hydras, my Hyacinth was green (low light most likely).
After I switched to ATI 6x39, it has turned red and keeps getting more red. Also developing some neon green polyps, looks really neat. Maybe bump up your intensity, slowly!?

I had the light 22 inches off the top of the tank, instead of increasing intensity. I was thinking of lowering the light a few inches each week until I find that sweet spot. What do you think?

 

[zsuman101]

I run a zeo reef you are most likely over dosing something, stick with the basic 4 for atleast a year. ime running zeo many corals will morph to different coloration more than once, montipora seems to be one of the finniky species using other than the basic 4 (zeolites, zeobak, zeostart, spongepower) I have all there products and the key to there system is testing alkalinity and potassium quite critical until you get the "feel" for your reef keep a close eye on those two. once you are stable and your corals are growingthen you can experiment with other additives. try to limit using only 1 at a time so you can log the changes (color growth or no change...) then you can paint your zeo tank how you want good luck zsu

 

[zsuman101]

I run a zeo reef you are most likely over dosing something, stick with the basic 4 for atleast a year. ime running zeo many corals will morph to different coloration more than once, montipora seems to be one of the finniky species using other than the basic 4 (zeolites, zeobak, zeostart, spongepower) I have all there products and the key to there system is testing alkalinity and potassium quite critical until you get the "feel" for your reef keep a close eye on those two. once you are stable and your corals are growingthen you can experiment with other additives. try to limit using only 1 at a time so you can log the changes (color growth or no change...) then you can paint your zeo tank how you want good luck zsu

sorry lack of punctuation above .... just worked 14 hr day blah

 

[zsuman101]

try turning your whites down, I use radions but I get better results with less white

 

[AquaBogie]

I run a zeo reef you are most likely over dosing something, stick with the basic 4 for atleast a year. ime running zeo many corals will morph to different coloration more than once, montipora seems to be one of the finniky species using other than the basic 4 (zeolites, zeobak, zeostart, spongepower) I have all there products and the key to there system is testing alkalinity and potassium quite critical until you get the "feel" for your reef keep a close eye on those two. once you are stable and your corals are growingthen you can experiment with other additives. try to limit using only 1 at a time so you can log the changes (color growth or no change...) then you can paint your zeo tank how you want good luck zsu

Awesome! I will cut it down to just potassium for now than. Amino's I was only doing once a week but I can cut back on it I get good polyp extension regardless. It's good to know they can change colors more than once. I really appreciate the info!

 

[AquaBogie]

try turning your whites down, I use radions but I get better results with less white

Will do! Thanks for the suggestion!