SPS Corals Look Pale.... Suggestions?

[deputydog95]

Recently swapped out all the bulbs due to an algae breakout. They were about a year old anyway.
10.5 dkh
430 Ca
Mg 1400
Phosphates and Nitrates very very low
Temp 79-80
Salinity 1.026

I have a Jason Fox Red Dragon that started out a light red and is now a pale pink, but still growing.

The rest of the SPS aren't popping anymore either. A lot of the acros are bright on top but very faded around the base.

There are 6 fish which are lightly fed.

I know this is a vague question, but is there something I else should be doing here?

 

[dieselkeeper]

New bulbs may be causing this. Cut back on lighting time. Gradually bring the time back up.

 

[Mock]

new bulbs may be causing this. Cut back on lighting time. Gradually bring the time back up.

+1

 

[toothman]

if your phos is .02 kind of low, you should not have you kh more than 8. +1 on bulbs also.

Unfortunately changing t5 bulbs more like every 3 months is better.

Would not hurt to add some aminos, or phol's extra.

 

[kevin_e]

Phosphates and Nitrates very very low

There are 6 fish which are lightly fed.

Could also be a reason. This was the reason for my pale Acropora spp. 2 years ago.

 

[AdamNC]

My acros had looked pale at one point also before I started heavy feeding and adding aminos.

 

[deputydog95]

I appreciate all the great feedback.

New bulbs may be causing this. Cut back on lighting time. Gradually bring the time back up.

I'm running them 6 hours a day initially to ease the transition to full duration of 10 hours.

Could also be a reason. This was the reason for my pale Acropora spp. 2 years ago.

Phos is around .06 ppm

Is there a targeted number which may be more appropriate? Never seems like much work to get phos up I've been battling some hair algae that came out of no where despite doing weekly 5 gallons water changes and running chemi-pure.

if your phos is .02 kind of low, you should not have you kh more than 8. +1 on bulbs also.

Unfortunately changing t5 bulbs more like every 3 months is better.

Would not hurt to add some aminos, or phol's extra.

I dose 5ml of "Fuel" daily which supposedly has aminos and trace elements.

http://www.aquavitro.com/products/fuel.html

What's phol's?

3 months on T5 bulbs? That seems rather brief, It was my understanding they're good for 8 months, possibly a year if you stretch them out.

 

[kevin_e]

I appreciate all the great feedback.




I'm running them 6 hours a day initially to ease the transition to full duration of 10 hours.



Phos is around .06 ppm

Is there a targeted number which may be more appropriate? Never seems like much work to get phos up I've been battling some hair algae that came out of no where despite doing weekly 5 gallons water changes and running chemi-pure.



I dose 5ml of "Fuel" daily which supposedly has aminos and trace elements.

http://www.aquavitro.com/products/fuel.html

What's phol's?

3 months on T5 bulbs? That seems rather brief, It was my understanding they're good for 8 months, possibly a year if you stretch them out.

I don't really shoot for a number. I rarely test for phosphate and I never test for nitrate, they just don't concern me too much. I don't find necessary to chase those numbers. I don't utilize GFO or biopellets (works for some, not for me). I do run a large skimmer and feed a decent bioload moderately to heavily. I'm not sure a specific number of either component improves color (can worsen it), but i have found that elevated organics (DOCs) improve SPS color and growth.