SPS Corals Losing Color

[meshwheel]

I would opt to say its not the lights. Corals NEED Phos. and nitrates to have the energy to produce pigmentation. Aim for phosphates of 0.02(at least) and nitrates of 1.0-1.5.
Then you will start to see coloration develop. Stripping everything out of the water is very bad.
All the food your adding is being stripped right back out from the reactors....

 

[meshwheel]

both reactors!

 

[A.G]

i would opt to say its not the lights. Corals need phos. And nitrates to have the energy to produce pigmentation. Aim for phosphates of 0.02(at least) and nitrates of 1.0-1.5.
Then you will start to see coloration develop. Stripping everything out of the water is very bad.
All the food your adding is being stripped right back out from the reactors....

+1

 

[epicurus84]

My first guess would be too low nutrients.

i've had it as wel running really low biopellets, and sometimes adding (just a little bit) of GFO. I've stopped refreshing the later since i see negative reaction almost right after i change it.

 

[dtum]

But if I turn off my GFO, would not my phosphates climb significantly?

 

[meshwheel]

Please re-read previous posts:deadhorse:

 

[d2mini]

And again, why are there so many SPS tank profiles (or TOTMs) where nitrates are undetectable?

I may be totally off base because I don't run an ultra low nutrient system, but don't those guys add other sources of food like carbon dosing or something like that?

 

[dtum]

I may be totally off base because I don't run an ultra low nutrient system, but don't those guys add other sources of food like carbon dosing or something like that?

I thought that carbon dosing in that case was a food for bacteria, not nutrients for corals.

 

[d2mini]

No idea. Just throwing it out there. :lol:
But I did think there was another way that coral were getting the nutrients they needed.
Like with Zeovit and all those blue bottles.

 

[dtum]

Ok, after tons of thread reading and agonizing thinking I'm pulling the plug... on both reactors. Let this experience be a lesson to other reefers, whatever happens happens.

I turned both of them off and will check back in a week with an update.

Should I increase the 8-bulb lighting from 4 hours to 6? My 2 bulbs are on for 12.

I have chaeto in my refugium.

Finally, do I feed my fish and corals less or keep doing what I'm doing?

Cheers!

 

[dtum]

One other thing that I've realized is that I'm running chaeto for about 19 hours a day, and I have a pretty decent chunk of it in my sump. Perhaps that's where all the nitrates are going?

 

[dankreef]

One other thing that I've realized is that I'm running chaeto for about 19 hours a day, and I have a pretty decent chunk of it in my sump. Perhaps that's where all the nitrates are going?

Funny you mention this. I too have been feeding like a beast lately trying to raise nitrates but have been getting low results but my chaeto is been growing like CRAZY I have been ripping tons of it out and I have a big sump. So about an hour ago I took mine out. Seeing if it makes a difference I think it should. I tossed about a trashbag full.

Also if you have the 8x80w you might be blasting too much light, unless you have been using that for a long time with success.

 

[fishguy597]

There are a few threads about this. The conclusion usually ends up being cut back on the gfo/carbon and feed your fish.I like feeding mysis and brine to my fish and phyto and oyster eggs. I usually run half the rec dose for carbon and gfo( or a 1/3 for rox.8) . Measurable nitrates aren't bad I run about 5. Check out dogboy dave he has a fantastic tank with measurable nitrates. I might get crucified for saying this but you could maybe streach out the frequency of water changes. Just keep an eye on nitrites and ammonia.

 

[dtum]

Another interesting observation. Some of the SPS are actually doing pretty well (greens mostly), but the ones that are purple, tricolour, etc - are definitely washed out.

Here's a photo of my tank for everyone's reference:

I've also changed chaeto cycle from 21 hours to 16 hours.
Both GFO and GAC are now offline.

 

[NarnyTheGreat]

How is your polyp extension? If your flow is to high and they wont come out maybe that could be the cause of starvation... Just an idea.

 

[dtum]

How is your polyp extension? If your flow is to high and they wont come out maybe that could be the cause of starvation... Just an idea.

Some of the corals that are doing well have crazy polyp extension, especially the big red milli and a few acros.

 

[ganjero]

are the corals washed out? or browned?

 

[likefish]

I hate to be the one to suggest this but i chased coloration on my SPS for months before discovering that I had AEFW! I pulled a colony from the tank and swished it around in a bowl of tank water. A snowstorm of these guys fell off. Now the battle begins. You might want to check. I hope its not!!!

 

[kevin_e]

First off, your colors look top notch to me.

I did have a "nutrient" problem where my corals were pale. I added more fish and fed more. To me, having detectable nitrates and phosphates is unnecessary; that just means you have excess nutrients. Keep your equipment running, just feed more an add more fish, if need be. On your typical reef, nitrates and phosphates are nearly undetectable, but that's because they are consumed immediately, not because they are non existent. This is the balance you want to achieve. You want to make more nutrients available more often, but still have nutrient export through filtration as to prevent excess nutrients from building up and creating an issue.

Adding more TOCs to the tank is beneficial.

 

[dtum]

are the corals washed out? or browned?

I think they are mostly washed out. Even my red plating montipora that's a light rose colour and not a rich red.