SPS Question

[kodiak23]

SPS Experts -
A couple of my SPS corals seem to have their underlying skin changing to a much lighter shade, almost white, although there polyps are still fully extended and colorful. This isnt just the tips or the base, but the entire coral skin seems to be very light and faded.

Any ideas if this is from too much light, too long a photo period, low nutirents, or need more feedings? Or all of the above?

Most all SPS corals are still colorful, its just a couple like Red Planet and a Pink Milli.

Also to note, Ive had a pink birdsnest for many months without any color at all, but over the last few weeks its become bright pink.

Calcium:440
Alk:8
Phosphates:0
Nitrates:0
Salinity: 1.025

thanks all

 

[Grant W]

Hey Cody, In your tank I would say feed them for a while and see if they color up and also shorten your full intensite photo period. Let us know how it goes.

 

[jkreefer]

Looks like you probably have perfect parameters, and too much light. What spectrum bulbs and what is your light cycle now?

 

[kodiak23]

I have a 6 bulb ATI fixture, 2 ATI Blue+ turn on at 9am, then 2 more Blue+, 1 Purple+ and 1 Aquablue turn on at noon, then those 4 turn off at 6pm and the 2 ATI Blue+ turn off at 9pm. So 12 hours for 2 Blue+ (Seems long now that I think about it) and the other 4 lights for 6 hours.

 

[kodiak23]

And I forgot to mention PH has been a bit of a challenge lately. Ive never had a problem keeping PH around 8.3, but over the last few weeks Ive seen it dip to 7.8 during the day. Ive been giving the tank lots of air with the windows open and the stand doors open and its now 8.0 during the day and very slowly rising each day. If anyone has a suggestion to raise PH without kalk or without running a air hose to my skimmer from outside, id be up for hearing ideas. Ive read about air stones but they dont seem very efficient. I doubt PH has anything to do with my orginal question though.

 

[northbay-reefer]

I think you got two things working aganst you. 1, You got a shallow of a tank, so maybe too much light. I would Raise your light and see. 2, T5s tend to turn sps into more of a pastel color so it will lighten up.

 

[zeroinverse]

Do you have a lot of fish in your tank generating too much CO2? PH seems low for a "balanced parameter" tank.

I've recently had some bleaching corals myself. Maybe due to my alkalinity downspike from 10dkh down to 7-8dkh. May also have excess phosphates. I need to check.

 

[kodiak23]

Thanks all, I raised my lights 2 inches and raised my PH and suprisingly the structure of my Red Planet is pink already instead of white!!! Cant beleive 1 week and already see a big change. thx