SPS Color Fading - running GFO

[phoenix001]

A few months ago I had a tank crash and lost most of my SPS. I salvaged what I could and started over. Because of the crash my phosphate level was very high, so I started running GFO in a BRS reactor. My tank although very empty looking is back to normal, but I noticed that my green monti color has faded to a lime green and my tri-color acro color is fading a bit. My phosphate level is .08 on the Hanna Colorimeter(sp), so I'm continuing to run GFO - what could be causing the color fade? I have 4 fish - juvenile yellow tang, xmas wrasse, Lawnmower blenny and a percula clown so bio-load is fairly low. I feed every day to every other day - mysis shrimp and reef plankton mostly. I also run a refugium with macro algae. Any advice is appreciated.

 

[jimrawr]

Aggressive gfo use can cause color loss on corals. Dont know why but happened to me also

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[acroholicreefer]

Yes, this is very common with heavy GFO use. I would cut it off and turn off your carbon reactor if you are running one. You will want to do some fresh water changes too in order to remove the gfo. From the water column.

 

[phoenix001]

So, I do have a bag of ROX carbon in the sump as well. Even with my phosphate level @ .08 with the Hanna colorimeter, would you still think its the GFO causing the fading? Do you think shutting off the GFO suddenly will cause other problems?

 

[acroholicreefer]

Do you think shutting off the GFO suddenly will cause other problems?

It can cause different problems but regular water changes and skimming well will help solve those problems.

 

[Asureef]

How is it tumbling? I adjust it where it only slightly boils on the surface, before I had it tumbling quite a bit and some of my sps faded.

 

[The Punisher]

I will disagree with the previous posts, only because you never said how much GFO you were running. If you added several cups to a10 gallon tank that might be your problem, but if you added a cup or so to a180 gallon then that is probably not your problem. If you recently had a crash, you should wait a while before you expect your track to to be back to normal.

 

[mc-cro]

Yes, this is very common with heavy GFO use. I would cut it off and turn off your carbon reactor if you are running one. You will want to do some fresh water changes too in order to remove the gfo. From the water column.

I am not following this logic. after the GFO reactor is turned off, there is not GFO still in the water.

 

[phoenix001]

The tank is a 90 gallon with a 32 gallon refugium. I change out about 16 tbs to the BRS reactor monthly - this is far less than BRS recommends. The tank crash occured over memorial day weekend, so its been some time and the tank is very stable -although I havent added anything significant to it as far as corals anyway. I do weekly water changes.

 

[acroholicreefer]

I am not following this logic. after the GFO reactor is turned off, there is not GFO still in the water.

With heavy GFO use and when the "dust" or other fine particles get released into the water column, residue builds up on the rock, tank wall, and equipment. If GFO is properly used, it shouldn't be into the system and should only be in the reactor. If you don't believe me, look at the inside of the tubing going from the reactor to the aquarium.

 

[phoenix001]

So, I just tested my phospahte level a few minutes ago with my Hanna colorimeter - result was .07ppm. Doesn't this mean, the GFO is not the cause of my faded colors?? Just tested my alk level with my hanna colorimeter and the result is 9.29dkh. My alk flucuates between 9-10dkh - not sure how much of a problem this is?? Salinity is stable at 1.025. I feed fairly light, so maybe I need to bump up the feeding and see if colors improve???

 

[phoenix001]

oh and lighting is 2x250W 20K Radiums with 2 110W VHO Super Actinics - light schedule is actinics on @ 9am, halides on @ 10am. halides off @ 6pm, actinics off @ 10pm.

 

[toothman]

as you lower phosphate your alkalinity needs to be lower also, high kh with low phosphate will burn the coral. alk: 7-8 is a better area.

 

[anthony27]

I have had this problem before, I have added more gfo in the tank and I have lost color in the sps.

I usually add 65 grams for a 75 gallon tank and I added 95 grams.

 

[phoenix001]

as you lower phosphate your alkalinity needs to be lower also, high kh with low phosphate will burn the coral. alk: 7-8 is a better area.

Never heard of that relationship before. I wouldn't consider 9-10 DKH as high, however, I'm curious as to how the 2 interact??

 

[Logzor]

So, I do have a bag of ROX carbon in the sump as well. Even with my phosphate level @ .08 with the Hanna colorimeter, would you still think its the GFO causing the fading? Do you think shutting off the GFO suddenly will cause other problems?

Pull the carbon and GFO until your corals color up.

Shutting off GFO will not cause problems.

 

[phoenix001]

Thanks for all the advice and discussion. I'm going to make 2 changes - 1. I'm going to pull out the carbon bag and 2. I'm going to feed 2x daily for this week. I will then see if my corals color up - if they do, then I guess I could conclude my water was to clean with both ROX carbon and GFO running. I don't want to stop the GFO only because I do see some bubble algae here and there and my phosphate test show .07ppm.

 

[acroholicreefer]

pull the carbon and gfo until your corals color up.

Shutting off gfo will not cause problems.

+1

 

[phoenix001]

Let me ask this - do I need to run GFO when I have a refugium and conduct weekly water changes?? I have already pulled the carbon. If I shut off the GFO, should I then be more carefull of how much I am feeding?? I could go back to feeding 1x day for example.

 

[acroholicreefer]

do I need to run GFO when I have a refugium and conduct weekly water changes??

Not really. I have not ran GFO or carbon since April. Keep up with the water changes and you should be fine.

If I shut off the GFO, should I then be more careful of how much I am feeding?? I could go back to feeding 1x day for example.

I feed about once a day but this all depends on your tank size, type of food, and skimmer size.

If anything, I would run some carbon before GFO.