T5's Bleaching Frags???

[stricknine]

First off, I am new to SPS keeping! (never had the lights for it previous, ironic.)

I have an Aquactinics TX5 ans seem to be bleaching a few frags (acro and poci), and if they arent bleaching they are browning out. Poci looked to be bleaching on the bottom of the 2' tank, so I bought the 2" riser brackets. Didnt help. Changed out a 75/25 and an aquasun with a pair of fiji purples, no help again. Also cutting back my photo period now.

Should this be a problem? I am now running 2xblue plus, an aqua blue, and a pair of fiji purples. Blue plus for 10 hrs, rest for 6 hrs. Is this a good run time?

Should I be having a hard time with my light, or am I totally missing something? Is there something else that would cause bleaching?

Thanks.

 

[Kellsindell]

You're probable stressing them out with too much light. You need to decrease the photo period more-so. I'd change it to 3-4hrs and actinics for 4-5hrs. then increase slowly every 3days. If the corals aren't use to the light it'll cause this (too much light)

Also, what are you parameters? NO3, PO4, alk, SG, Ca, and Mg? It's a bit odd that they are RTN'n from the bottom up with leads me to belive that it may be more then just lights.

 

[Emster]

I'm starting to find out t-5 can be too powerful and bleach corals, not on my tank but with a person I'm working with. So far they are more then MH.

 

[Kellsindell]

Could be depending on the # of bulbs, reflectors and the origional MH the corals where under it very well could be. Always be careful when getting new lights and reduce your photo period.

 

[austin93]

I don't think its the lighting causing the problem. If the frags are going from brown to bleach, its too much variation in the system. The lighting is fine, just pick something you like the color of and stick with it. Check that your parameters stay consistent and things will improve. JMO

 

[austin93]

I don't think its the lighting causing the problem. If the frags are going from brown to bleach, its too much variation in the system. The lighting is fine, just pick something you like the color of and stick with it. Check that your parameters stay consistent and things will improve. JMO

 

[Kellsindell]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14908798#post14908798 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by austin93
I don't think its the lighting causing the problem. If the frags are going from brown to bleach, its too much variation in the system. The lighting is fine, just pick something you like the color of and stick with it. Check that your parameters stay consistent and things will improve. JMO

I was thinking the same thing, i'm still waiting for the parameters.

 

[rutz81]

I changed from MH to T5 last Thursday, my parameters stayed the same, and I am defintely starting to bleach some corals. I went from a 250W MH and 2 T5 Actinics to a 6 bulb 24 W T5 fixture(ATI Sunpower). The fixture is a good 20" from the bottom of my tank, and my tank is only 16" deep, so the fixture is about 4-5" from the water surface. I am running a Fiji Purple and a Actinic from 9am-7pm and a 3 Blue+, and a Aquablue Special from 10-6. Is my photoperiod too long? I raised my lights about an inch last night, but, am not sure if I should lower the amount of time.

Dave

 

[Reefun]

I would run 8hr and 5hr
If you think your coral needs more light then run them a little longer for a few weeks and see if that is what you want.

 

[stricknine]

They are not browning then bleaching, I have 2 frags browning, and 2 bleaching.
Params are as follows: NH3/NO3/NO2 - 0. PO4 Undetectable. dKH is 8.4. Ca at 380 (I am in the process of raising them) and Mg at 1350. SG is a steady 1.0245.
Maybe I will cut the run time a bit more?

Thanks all!

 

[austin93]

You really just need to keep very stable parameters, all the parameters look good. T5 will definitely bleach corals, but I don't think this is the cause in this situation. Be patient, it is just a slow process. I am no expert, so forgive my vague responses, but I have been having more success lately. You will probably have to kill some stuff on the road to a great sps tank. I run my lights (6xt5) for 10 hrs w/ 2 blue + and 8 hrs w 4 other bulbs. No problem bleaching and I don't do any light acclimation after I bring them from the lfs. By bleaching, do you mean they are just getting really light colored? It could be a terminology thing, basically if they are just getting really light colored they aren't getting enough food (fish poop). Good luck.

 

[stricknine]

Thanks austin93.

What kind of light do you have and how far from the water surface is it? Im trying to get a light comparison so I dont have to buy a PAR meter.

 

[A.VOID]

Come on guys, you all know that you can't grow SPS with T5's.
Let alone bleach them

 

[stricknine]

Dont laugh, I read that more than a few times researching the light I have! "MH or nothing!". Went for the best T5 I could get and now Im killing (expensive) frags!

 

[ngn8dogg]

whts your temp at? I bleached a bunch of sps because of a bad thermometer. I would put screen over your tank for a week or 2. when I upgraded to my aquactinics tx5 I was super scared to bleach so I put 2 layers of screen on for 1 week then 1 for one week. All the sps I started with came from halides also

 

[Toddrtrex]

IMO, using window screening as shading works a lot better then cutting the photo-period. I have always used 3 layers, and remove one layer each week.

Think of it this way; if you are pasty white like me, and go out in the strong sun, will still get sun burned (( bleaching )) in a short amount of time. But, if I put on sunscreen, I won't get burnt.

 

[stricknine]

Great tips, I will definately give it a try. Im not a fan of the 8 and 5 hour photoperiod I am doing now.

And temp is alright as well (80-81). I didnt trust the three dollar thermoneters either so I have 1 in the dt, 1 in the sump, and 1 in the return section of the sump to make sure they all jive.

thanks!

 

[austin93]

I have IC reflectors retrofitted and use a normal ballast. No experience with light acclimation, so these guys are probably the ones to listen to (use window screening).