SPS Losing Color

[jayare]

Hello all,
I've noticed that my sps are statring to lose their intensity in color. Frags that I purchased a few weeks ago are going from blues and purples to more of a duller color. What could be causing this?

Here are some specs:

Tank - 18 gallon cube
Lighting - 150 DE MH
Bulb - 14k Phoenix
Turnover - 25x
Calcium - 400 - 425
Alk - 7 - 8
Temp - 78-79
Salinity - 1.0026
Ph - 8 - 8.2

Maintnance - 2 gallon water change a week
- Add teaspoon of A and B calcium, alk every day
- Run carbon 24/7 (changed monthly)
- Run Rowaphose (just started this week to help control macro algea growth)

One other thing, I did reverse the direction of one of my cooling fans to have it blowing into the hood, and it does blow on the light, could this be causing a shift in the color of the MH? Also, I do have to clean my glass every 2 days or so due to diatom build up.

Growth on frags that I purchased a few months ago has been good. Monti caps and green slimer have grown considerably. The green slimer and caps have grown onto the rock.

Any and all help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Jesse

 

[jmcmahon66]

Jesse,

Since your parameters look good ( I'm assuming your salinity is 1.026 ), the common answer is the frags are acclimating to your environment, and the colors may come back. I have had this happen with blue acros before. They seem to dull and brown slightly, and will regain their color in a few weeks. I have read of a color shift with MH lights but haven't seen it personally as I have the same airflow as you. It wouldn't hurt to have a bit more water flow if that is possible. HTH.

 

[madmac]

Sorry, but + nutrients would be my guess. BTW, I've always have trouble keeping blues and purples, but greens just thrive.

 

[jayare]

I really can't fit any more flow in the tank. Another thing, I may have too high of a bioload. I currently have 4 fish in the 18 gallon: true percula, royal gramma, yellowheaded jawfish, and lawnmower blenny (he was just recently added to help consume macro). Should I remove one?

Should I even consider running a skimmer on this small of a tank since I do weekly water changes?

Also, should I increase the amount of water changed?

Thanks,
Jesse

 

[RichConley]

You have SPS and no skimmer? Get a skimmer on there. Nanos need skimmers more than big tanks as far as I'm concerned.

 

[jayare]

?????? really? As far as any reaserch I've done, keeping up on the weekly water changes on a small tank should be fine without a skimmer.

 

[ahchung]

I am quite sure you have a nutrition problem. Get the best hangon skimmer you can affort and install it asap. You have no sump, right?

 

[jayare]

There is a small internal/false wall sump. This where I store the pumps, heater, ph meter probe, etc. I may be able to fit a fission or piccolo skimmer in there.

 

[ahchung]

Unfortunately, your research does not apply to keeping SPS with nice color.

In your system, water change can only keep nitrate and phosphate to a controllable level. To keep nice SPS, your nitrate and phosphate must be very close to zero though.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6639794#post6639794 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jayare
?????? really? As far as any reaserch I've done, keeping up on the weekly water changes on a small tank should be fine without a skimmer.

 

[ahchung]

Trust me, Piccolo skimmer is definitely not sufficient. I don't know the fission skimmer so I won't comment on this. My best guess is that you need a stronger skimmer.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6639845#post6639845 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jayare
There is a small internal/false wall sump. This where I store the pumps, heater, ph meter probe, etc. I may be able to fit a fission or piccolo skimmer in there.

 

[idua]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6639767#post6639767 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RichConley
You have SPS and no skimmer? Get a skimmer on there. Nanos need skimmers more than big tanks as far as I'm concerned.

Absolutely. With your bio load skimmer is a must and even than you may have nutrient problem.

 

[acro bat]

To keep nice SPS, your nitrate and phosphate must be very close to zero

I agree with that and lets not forget it.

Vina.