SPS corals pale

[Anemone0524]

Generally, what does it mean when my sps corals are very pale? Insufficient nutrients, too much lighting, or both?

Should I just make an incremental increase in nutrients?
Thanks

 

[scottwhitson]

Check for red bugs and AEFW.

 

[smokenax]

keeping your water parameters stable could also be key ,mine are alk 9.0 dkh,ca 420 ppm,mg 1300,salinity at 0.025,temp 78 to 81 and of course keep nitrates and phosphates in check.

 

[curlykid]

alot of nutrients will actually cause browning out, or paling of the tissue. You may want to decrease feedings, and maybe even get a really big skimmer (rated 250-400 gallons). Also, how old are your lights?

 

[Anemone0524]

Lights are only 4 months old. Skimmer seems to pull good skimmate, but I could be wrong. Nitrates consistently show zero, PO4 comes in at 0.06 on a hanna.

I feed once a day, about a dime size chunk of Rods food for 6 fish, two of which are tangs.

 

[Anemone0524]

is .06 too much?

 

[curlykid]

yeah, it will cause browning. I would run some phosban pellets in your sump or a reactor if you want to get them back to normal.

 

[jfingers8]

i could be wrong but i don't think 0.06 is really all that high and i wouldn't think it would cause browning. i have 2 tanks that my phosphates run about .05 and i've never had a coral come close to browning everything has great color. pale, i would probably say to low of nutrients.

 

[rhinonm]

I used to run MH's in an enclosed hood and my temp would peak at 84-85. My sps where always very pale.I tried aminos, feeding, adding nitrate you name it. I now changed out my hood to a mount on top light and my tank peaks at 80 and my corals color looks damn good. Finally and after all that loot:rolleye1: