sps color ?

[fishpimp69]

For some reason or another I have some sps that show great color and a hand full of sps that are all browned out. I have cut my lights back to 5-6 hours a day mh that is. My water paraments are as follows;

Calc- 450
mag-1450
kh- 10
ammon-0
nitrate-0
phos- 0
salin- 1.025
ph- 8.1
water temp. 79-81

I can't think of why this could be occuring but it's really making me mad. My water flow seems to be fine. What else could be causing this. I have never tested for stront. and never add it to my tank. I do bi-weekily water changes and always thought that was enough to replenish it. Am I wrong? Could that cause browing?

Please Advise..

 

[JB NY]

This thread should help

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=380913

 

[fishpimp69]

Yeah i've read that thread thanks...

 

[gregr]

It sounds like you have a great set-up. How is the flow around the brown corals?

 

[slojmn]

I had a few corals color up with the addition of a potassium supplement. There is no way to test for this so it is kind of a watch and wait while you dose to find the right amount. I still have a couple of corals that are primarily brown, or at least the hairy polyps are really brown so it covers up the color. Are your corals that are browned out frags or colonies? I have found that some corals color up way more once they become a colony. I had this milli in my old tank, totally brown and then after a year or so once it became a nice colony it morphed into a teal blue. Just a thought for you. How do you test for phosphates?

 

[JB NY]

What were the color of the corals before they were in your tank?

Flow and low nutrients are the next things to look at. Also are the brown corals next to the corals that have shown good coloration, or they in another section of the tank?

 

[fishpimp69]

all the sps in my tank have been in there for around 6 or more months. The flow is nice not great though with some of them. I have heard about the potassium idea. Where do i get it and what is it called? When I bought the frags they where greens and blues, and tri colors. Most have been brown ever since they hit my tank. except for monti's.

 

[JB NY]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7198743#post7198743 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fishpimp69
I have heard about the potassium idea. Where do i get it and what is it called?

Never read that I need to even look at potassium. I would not pay that much attention. I've used a bunch of different salts and almost always had the same results with coloration. Can you even test for potassium?

Browning colros is really normally a matter of too high nutrients.

 

[fishpimp69]

how long does it take to lower nutrients and how long does it take to get good color back?

 

[JB NY]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7199458#post7199458 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fishpimp69
how long does it take to lower nutrients and how long does it take to get good color back?

Nutrients can be lowered pretty fast, a few weeks.

Color can take 6-8 weeks to fully come back.

 

[Kip]

I've had some luck with K as well, but there is no test for it (that i know of) and therein lies the gamble.

It is said that when dosing K, if your colors begin to darken too much, then back off or stop. I saw that happen, stopped, and did a water change. I believe there is some work to be done on the importance of K in a reef tank, but without a K test kit... its shooting in the dark.

Somewhere or another I read that most synthetic salts are low in K compared to nature.

I am not saying this is the OP's problem, but thought I'd throw my .02c in about K.

To the OP i'd say, go after the more founded method of providing adequate flow and a low nutrient environment. But, dont sterilize your tank too much... I have been down that road as well.