SPS dull in color and slow growth

[Grabloids]

10/4/2014 Update

Seems like I'm chasing numbers here. Still got the same results basically. Test results today

Cal is the same at 432
Mag is slowly going up and is now at 1200
PH is down to 7.9
DKH is the same @ 6.1
ALK is the same @ 2.16
Phosphate is up to .07 from turning the reactor down
Ammonia 0.0
Nitrite 0.0
Nitrate still 0.0

So with all of this I've completely shut off the phosban reactor and left the carbon running.
On the safe side dropped the lighting intensity down
I have been feeding the fish / coral food heavily.
My question for today is how do I really get the Nitrates moving? I would like to get it to the 5 ppm range.. Should I keep up feeding heavily?
Also would adding Kalk (Mrs Wages Pickling Lime) to my top off water help me out in this situation?
Thanks

 

[Bilk]

Your parameters, though a little askew, aren't way off. You can easily fix them. Lot's of info on how to do that on RC and other places.

As others said in so many words, your corals are starving. It's not the lights, though you should be certain they aren't too low to the water surface and not too intense. Also be sure you have enough flow. You will obviously have to be the judge on the lights and flow.

Feed your fish more and get some coral specific food. Put it in a cup of tank water and dump it in the tank after lights out. It will take some time, like all good things in this hobby, but you should see them start to perk up in a few weeks.

Keep tabs on nutrients and skim if you have one. Carbon dose if you think you can manage that too. Again lots of info here on how to do that.

 

[Grabloids]

Your parameters, though a little askew, aren't way off. You can easily fix them. Lot's of info on how to do that on RC and other places.

As others said in so many words, your corals are starving. It's not the lights, though you should be certain they aren't too low to the water surface and not too intense. Also be sure you have enough flow. You will obviously have to be the judge on the lights and flow.

Feed your fish more and get some coral specific food. Put it in a cup of tank water and dump it in the tank after lights out. It will take some time, like all good things in this hobby, but you should see them start to perk up in a few weeks.

Keep tabs on nutrients and skim if you have one. Carbon dose if you think you can manage that too. Again lots of info here on how to do that.

Thanks for the piece of mind. I've been stressing about the parameters, like trying to catch a unicorn. I'm definitely going to up the food sources

 

[Av8bluewater]

Most of those corals actually look pretty good to me. Maybe I see some white on the red planet but I also see color so it must not be too bad.

These params seem to hold true for me:

Enhanced Coloration or Accelerated Growth
Enhanced coloration and accelerated growth require different water conditions. It is relatively easy to maintain the conditions for accelerated coral growth. Maintaining the conditions for enhanced coloration is more demanding in that it requires a higher level of attention to the water parameters. It is theoretically possible but not recommended to achieve both accelerated growth and advanced coloration simultaneously as the system will always be on the edge of instability.
Accelerated coral growth
To achieve accelerated coral growth set the algae nutrient levels to maintain a relatively high population of Zooxanthellae that will provide enough energy to the corals for growth. For this to work properly it is necessary to ensure:
• Algae nutrient levels of 1 – 2 ppm nitrate and 0.1 ppm phosphate
• Boosted and balanced levels of the Foundation Elements [Alkalinity 12.6dKH / 4.5meq/L, Ca 465ppm, Mg 1390ppm] to properly utilize all of the extra energy


Enhanced coral coloration
To achieve enhanced coloration set the algae nutrient levels to maintain a reduced level of Zooxanthellae, reducing the brownish tint of the corals and inducing the protection response of enhanced coloration. For this to work properly it is necessary to ensure:
• Algae nutrient levels of 0.25 ppm nitrate and 0.02 ppm phosphate
• Reduced levels of the Foundation Elements [Alkalinity 8.2dKH / 2.9meq/L, Ca 430ppm, Mg 1310ppm] to lower the energy demand from coral growth

That would take care of the water part. For the lighting you are using... I'm not too sure about. I'm no LED expert.

 

[Av8bluewater]

Most of those corals actually look pretty good to me. Maybe I see some white on the red planet but I also see color so it must not be too bad.

These params seem to hold true for me:

Enhanced Coloration or Accelerated Growth
Enhanced coloration and accelerated growth require different water conditions. It is relatively easy to maintain the conditions for accelerated coral growth. Maintaining the conditions for enhanced coloration is more demanding in that it requires a higher level of attention to the water parameters. It is theoretically possible but not recommended to achieve both accelerated growth and advanced coloration simultaneously as the system will always be on the edge of instability.
Accelerated coral growth
To achieve accelerated coral growth set the algae nutrient levels to maintain a relatively high population of Zooxanthellae that will provide enough energy to the corals for growth. For this to work properly it is necessary to ensure:
"¢ Algae nutrient levels of 1 "“ 2 ppm nitrate and 0.1 ppm phosphate
"¢ Boosted and balanced levels of the Foundation Elements [Alkalinity 12.6dKH / 4.5meq/L, Ca 465ppm, Mg 1390ppm] to properly utilize all of the extra energy


Enhanced coral coloration
To achieve enhanced coloration set the algae nutrient levels to maintain a reduced level of Zooxanthellae, reducing the brownish tint of the corals and inducing the protection response of enhanced coloration. For this to work properly it is necessary to ensure:
"¢ Algae nutrient levels of 0.25 ppm nitrate and 0.02 ppm phosphate
"¢ Reduced levels of the Foundation Elements [Alkalinity 8.2dKH / 2.9meq/L, Ca 430ppm, Mg 1310ppm] to lower the energy demand from coral growth

That would take care of the water part. For the lighting you are using... I'm not too sure about. I'm no LED expert.

 

[Grabloids]

Most of those corals actually look pretty good to me. Maybe I see some white on the red planet but I also see color so it must not be too bad.

These params seem to hold true for me:

Enhanced Coloration or Accelerated Growth
Enhanced coloration and accelerated growth require different water conditions. It is relatively easy to maintain the conditions for accelerated coral growth. Maintaining the conditions for enhanced coloration is more demanding in that it requires a higher level of attention to the water parameters. It is theoretically possible but not recommended to achieve both accelerated growth and advanced coloration simultaneously as the system will always be on the edge of instability.
Accelerated coral growth
To achieve accelerated coral growth set the algae nutrient levels to maintain a relatively high population of Zooxanthellae that will provide enough energy to the corals for growth. For this to work properly it is necessary to ensure:
"¢ Algae nutrient levels of 1 "“ 2 ppm nitrate and 0.1 ppm phosphate
"¢ Boosted and balanced levels of the Foundation Elements [Alkalinity 12.6dKH / 4.5meq/L, Ca 465ppm, Mg 1390ppm] to properly utilize all of the extra energy


Enhanced coral coloration
To achieve enhanced coloration set the algae nutrient levels to maintain a reduced level of Zooxanthellae, reducing the brownish tint of the corals and inducing the protection response of enhanced coloration. For this to work properly it is necessary to ensure:
"¢ Algae nutrient levels of 0.25 ppm nitrate and 0.02 ppm phosphate
"¢ Reduced levels of the Foundation Elements [Alkalinity 8.2dKH / 2.9meq/L, Ca 430ppm, Mg 1310ppm] to lower the energy demand from coral growth

That would take care of the water part. For the lighting you are using... I'm not too sure about. I'm no LED expert.

Great info, thanks! As for the white on the red planet, that was the light from the LED. I have since bumped the intensity down a little. I have increased the feeding and continue to dose the necessary elements for parameters. Today I will post about borrowing a par meter in my local club to try and get these lights right for piece of mind

 

[basser1]

Not to get off topic, but your MOP doesn't look like a MOP to me....

 

[plyle02]

Seems to be a trend with number chasing vs. observance. Many, including myself, have become so obsessed with numbers to the point of starving their tank and creatures residing there within. Like mentioned above, keep it simple. If you test for low nitrates and low po4, it seems a waste to run gfo. Your corals will show you if your nutrients get too high, usually darker tissue and browning occur. Otherwise run gfo and carbon, and bump your fish load and feedings up, your fish and corals will thank you. Bet of Luck

 

[swk]

I'll share my experience in regards to leds. I was running reef radiance lumentek leds over my 75 gal. My sps struggled heavily. ZERO growth and poor color throughout.

I switched to a 6 bulb ATI fixture and after 2-3 weeks my alk and calcium demand more than DOUBLED!

I know for a fact that my struggles were not strictly lighting related. I'm not arrogant enough to think I was perfect in every other regard.

BUT - the simple fact is that nothing else in my routine changed over that period of time besides the lights.

If I was using a better led I'm sure my story might be different, but what I was using was not working for me.

Just my unsolicited experience