Trying something new...SPS coloration

I've never used a DI, only RO and never had a problem with water that had 2-4 TDS. Then again, it depends on what's in that 2-4 ppm.
 
Hi Pascal and everyone, been a while ehh. I've noticed in the past few months my sps in my one system have looked the best I've ever seen them look over the years and I believe it has to to with dirty water.

Things I've done differently the past 6 months since my tanks haven't been a priority and since my tank crash over the summer. Only one water change (1/4 Oceanic 3/4 Instant Ocean), removed skimmer completely, no carbon or calcium reactor anymore, ONLY adding ALK once or twice a week, top off water, and pellets for fish. I haven't tested my water in months because my corals have been looking good. I know my parameters are all over the place, last I check my DKH was 5 which is why I dose ALK. I do get algae growing in my one tank with no tangs and in my big tank where the tangs can't reach so I just pull it out by hand as needed (once or twice a month), come out in big easy clumps.

Now I have another system thats a 30% bigger with the same parameters/maintenance and the corals don't look nearly as nice. I believe it has to with the water being cleaner. I only have one fish (tang) that I feed every couple days (pellets).

The one thing I do make sure to spend time with is replacing my DI Resin. This is what I believed cause my tank crash over the summer. I can tell a difference in my system/corals when my TDS starts raising to 1 or 2. I change my DI Resin bringing my TDS back to 0 and soon after my corals start smiling.

Once I do get back into the hobby full time I plan on setting up an dump bucket style Algal Turf Scrubber and strangely continue to NOT use a skimmer since I'm currently not using one and things are fine. My Skimmer is a beast (7 foot) and uses two 90 watt Recirculation pumps, so not running also helps a little on my electric bill.

Hope to see you all around soon some day.

Brent

good to hear from you! Hope all is well. so more fish-happy corals, less fish=less happy corals. telling you, I can't get this off my mind!

yeah, my TDS meter also went, just ordered a replacement. not sure what is in that couple TDS, seems very dependent on where your water comes from. possibly treatment plant use of chloramine?
 
Idk about Pascal but I haven't done any major water changes in about a month and colors are getting slowly more intense. I also have made my fish happier by feeding more now too including some night spot feeds
 
I'll take some pictures when the chaos goes away. no real changes for me, reduced feeding slightly due to algae. no water changes. continuing AA dosing. SPS look the same :(
 
Just curious, how much of the Rox 0.8 carbon are you using? How frequently do you change it?

I'm wondering if my mind is playing tricks on me but I recall a few threads recently where people were wondering if "too much" carbon was causing coral coloration issues. In fact I even remember saying in one of those threads that I used way less carbon than BRS suggest. Well, last week I changed my carbon and thought "I wonder if I'm missing something by using such a small amount of carbon?" so I upped the dose. Here I am a week later and several SPS are obviously less colorful. Not bleached, just less intense coloration.
 
Just curious, how much of the Rox 0.8 carbon are you using? How frequently do you change it?

I'm wondering if my mind is playing tricks on me but I recall a few threads recently where people were wondering if "too much" carbon was causing coral coloration issues. In fact I even remember saying in one of those threads that I used way less carbon than BRS suggest. Well, last week I changed my carbon and thought "I wonder if I'm missing something by using such a small amount of carbon?" so I upped the dose. Here I am a week later and several SPS are obviously less colorful. Not bleached, just less intense coloration.


I'm using 1/2 the BRS recommended with (supposed to be) every other week changes, which is a change I recently made based on similar reading. I believe you can run the full amount if you feed heavy and have a heavy bio load with it.
 
Are your polyps still extending the same, or are the out less than they were in the past on your SPS?
 
Sorry for the lack of updates, there were things that needed to be tended to.

what's happened:
  • I reduced the feedings a bit
  • continuing to dose AA, though I have missed quite a few days.
  • growth is great
  • color hasn't changed much
  • there is a bit of algae, though nothing major
  • only changed 20 gallons of water in the last month
  • dosing is stable on borrowed dosing pumps
  • bubble magus is not responding to my e-mails asking for a repair on my tripple doser.

The tank is doing well, though there has been no major color change. I will say that the SPS appear to be growing VERY quickly compared to before starting the increased feedings.

Now that the replacement computer is running I'll get back to taking pictures.
 

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