SPS lightening / low nutrient

A

alazo1

Premium Member
Hello,
I've been in the reef keeping hobby for years. I've had what I would call limited success. On numerous occasions I've had corals that have lightened up and slowly die. Not on all occasions but at least once it appears that I was basically starving the system. For some reason I've never struggled with high nitrates and DETECTABLE phosphates. But yes, I've had my share of problem algea. In particular dyno's. My systems have varied from DSB to BB. For years I've had a small refugium that dumps to the main tank with about 3" oolitic sand and as of about 1 year has 10lb of Miracle mud.

I think we all try for a low nutrient system and may achive it to the point that the scale tips the other way (lack of nutrient). These are observations that I could very well be wrong.

So it seems that there is a point when you achive low nutrients that unless something gets added there will be starvation of corals. Corals will loose some brown colors to let way into other colors. At this lightening stage it appears that they need something to compensate.

I see alot of posts regarding coral lightening and wonder if this is the same type of issue.

I really don't have a question but would be nice to hear people's feedback and observations.

BTW: this is the best hobby and I will never give it up. Just seeing pictures of some of you folk's tank is motivtation enough to keep me going.

thanks for listening,
Albert
 
Albert,

I think that you are right on. What you are talking about is the basic premise of the zeo method as I understand it. Starve the tank of nutrients so that the coral has a low level of zoox and then supplement the corals diet with amino acids and bacteria plankton to give it the nutrition necessary and certain necessary trace elements to support stronger pigmentation.

Best Wishes,
Barry
 
I agree completely. Yes we want our tanks to be nutrient poor just as the reefs are in nature. The difference IMO is that reefs in nature are nutrient poor and also have an abundance of food. In our closed systems, we try to keep our tanks nutrient poor by feeding less and this compromises things. I have been thinking about this and agree with what RC member "Jackson" has been promoting. Feed heavily with very agressive nutrient control via oversized quality skimming and high flow etc. I would like to hear other responses to this as well.
 
Hey Albert,

Seems like you have been doing your reading. Your first step is having a reef that is capable of "starving". So far a BB tank with a HUGE skimmer has been the easiest way for me to "starve" a tank. If you are extremely nutrient poor, you will see a bunch of very light colored acros + montis....you're on the right track. Now here comes the fun part :D Add a butt-load of fish to your tank :D and feed them HEAVILY. Make sure they're all really fat.
This alone should darken up colors on your SPS. Later on you can try shortening the photoperiod to make the colors even more deep.

FWIW, the tanks with the best colors that I have seen have high nitrates (like 20ppm+) and low phosphates (usually phosban is used) The color on tanks like this are super deep!


MOST IMPORTANTLY!!!!

Get your hands on some Tropic Marin Pro Cure and dip EVERYTHING that goes into your tank. Many hobbyists and online vendors have them and dont even know.
 
Last edited:
Good stuff guys.


Get your hands on some Tropic Marin Pro Cure and dip EVERYTHING that goes into your tank. Many hobbyists and online vendors have them and dont even know.
Click to expand...

Can you elaborate on this Jackson?. I use tm pro but what is this dip cure thing?.

In line with your statement about nitrates, a local LFS with a show tank of sps (deep colors and great growth). I bought a frag from this tank and water tests for nitrate was around 10ppm. The frags from this tank have lightened up on me. My nitrates are 0 salifert so you have a point.

PS: see what you did, now I gotta go buy some more fish...LOL.

thanks,
Albert
 
Oops,
Just found it. http://www.tropic-marin.com/web/english/produkte/pro-coral-cure.htm

A question. We know that we have to replace calcium, mag and some type of buffer. Trace elements may be replaced with water changes but what about other elements such as iodine and strontium?. Would the supply of regular WC's take care of this or is the depletion at a faster rate?. I guess the feeding of our fish MAY take care of this but what do you guys think?.

thanks,
Albert
 
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