SPS Color bleh...

[Rxfoote]

I'm real unhappy with the color of most of my SPS, their polyp extension is great but color is not real vibrant and browned out in some.

About my tank;

60G Cube

Vertex Illumina LED lighting - think I have more than adequate lighting.

1 MP40 on one side of the tank and a MP10 on the opposite.

Reef Octopus skimmer - skims like crazy

9w UV Sterilizer

I dose Vinegar, and BRS Calcium and Alk mixtures automated with a Bubble-Magus Doser.

All tank parameters are where they should be and stay very steady.

I do run Ecobak pellets(maybe I'll pull them?..)

I feed regularly and a constant variety, from Rod's Fish food, to Reef Nutrition pods, mysis, phyto, zeovit coral vitalizer, sponge power, pohls extra, amino acid concentrate.

Any thoughts or ideas? I'd take pics, but have absolutely no skill taking pictures of the tank. Thanks!

 

[smokenax]

Sounds like your system is starving,also if you plan on pulling
The biopellets take out a small amount at a time don't take them out
All at once.

 

[karsseboom]

I doubt he needs to feed more if his corals are looking brown. He sps might be adjusting to the LEDs, a lot of times they brown out before they get better.

 

[Rxfoote]

Thanks for the replies. Some of the corals have been under the same LED's now for over 4 months. I would think that would be adequate adjustment period?

I think I feed adequately, maybe over feed. However, P04 and N03 both at 0. I have no nuisance algae at all in the tank.

 

[sahin]

Sounds like your system is starving,also if you plan on pulling
The biopellets take out a small amount at a time don't take them out
All at once.

I would also say that IMO I feel that the reef is too clean and that is the cause.

You can try feeding a bit more, or add a few more fishes. Or maybe add a bit of Amino Acids for a month and see if it makes any difference.

My current tank is the same as the details in my signature. I just restarted this system due to Dinos. When I was combatting the Dinos, I dosed and cleaned the cr@p out of my tank so much that my corals either browned out in an effort to supply the coral with more nutrients (from extra zooxanthellae) or the corals lightened up and became real pale as they werent able to sustain the zooxanthellae even because really low nutrients. Thats the scenario I had: some corals were severely pale, whilst others just browned out.

During that time, I bought more fishes and began to feed the tank more. Within a month or so, many of the corals really coloured up. The Dinos never went ago and I restarted the tank about 3 months ago.

 

[daveonbass]

How many fish do you have, also what is your specific gravity?

 

[Rxfoote]

Only 3 fish right now. Keep it between 1.024 and 1.025.

 

[daveonbass]

More fish or more feeding...especially with biopellets.

 

[Rxfoote]

Thanks for the input. I've wanted to add a few new fish, so that it is for now!

 

[Paulca916]

From what I understand dosing to much Amino's will brown out your corals also Im not sure if dosing Vinegar and running pellets is a great idea.

 

[96p993]

From my experience I would pull the bio pellets...My system seemed to be much happier and color came back when I got rid of them...I dose vinegar now

 

[wrestle1952]

I had the same problems. I removed the biopellets and replaced them with a canister filter filled with Chemipure Elite. Problem solved and SPS are back to coloring up and growth.