sps losing color getting pale. bleaching or unhappy?

[Drae]

One sps in my tank seems to be losing color. And a long tentacle nem is turning green like crazy all of the sudden since switching to ati bulbs( awesome I might add). Bleaching or just unhappy? BTW, acans in the sand are getting dull also. What's the deal?

 

[Drae]

I was told on the lps forum to list parameters and such. Makes sense. Dkh @ 8.7 ( salifert) calcium @ 400( salifert) ph @ 7.90 in the morning, 8.10 by the evening ( rkl w/ph probe) everything else at 0 except phosphates(<.25) according to API test kit, but I just bought an elos kit so we'll see. And I have 8 t5 ATI bulbs on aquatic life fixtures. Plenty flow, etc...

 

[BillyC]

Which sps is it? Any chance of pests? What are your nitrates at?

 

[allsps40]

Well you need a better PO4 test for sure. I have the API and it is crap, hard to tell 0 from .25 and .25 as the lowest reading is useless to reef keeping. If you have .25 po4 that is a problem for sure. The bulb switch is a possibility as well. I always run GFO or a po4 remover 24/7 to remove any po4 that may be produced or introduced.

 

[Drae]

I just re tested phosphates with an elos kit and it read 0. But I did just add some chemi pure elite about 3 or 4 days ago. No algae problems really other then light dust on the glass. Tanks still young at about 4 mos, but I did wait 90 days after the cycle completed to add any sps. Also, most coral in the tank are small frags( entrusting on plug though) without random flow ( koralia evo x4) but I just got the new jbj ocean pulse do hickey today( thanks ups) ( and vendor) lol.

 

[Jeremy Blaze]

What bulbs did you have before? How old? How long are you running them?

Look real close for red bugs, I noticed sps turning pale when I had them.

 

[James983]

In my experience fading colors are caused by bugs or too much light. Being that you just changed bulbs that could be your problem. Try raising your lights and lower them a bit every few days.