Why are my Corals fading?

[reefrf]

Hello,

I'm not new to having a reef tank but I am new to the Metal Halide lighting. My question is, my tank has been set-up for about 8 weeks now and I've noticed my two green caps seem to be fading from the original color. I have them positioned about half way up in the aquarium. Could the lights be too bright for them? I have a 130g with 2x150w 10k halides with 2x96w actinics.

My parameters are listed below.
Alk-9
Calc-420
PH-8.1
Mag-1250
Salinity-1.024

Thanks for your help.

 

[reefrf]

BUMP...Any thoughts anyone?

Thanks in advance for your comments.

Ron

 

[kau_cinta_ku]

150's on a 130 gal. tank shouldn't be to bright. what are the rest of your parameters? the main causes are phosphate, nitrate, and low alk. your alk. looks fine though. do you have any alage in the tank? what do you have for flow?

 

[reefrf]

For flow I use 3 Koralias (2x#2's & 1x#3). My return pump returns about 800 gph. I don't have too much algea. Tank is still new & there is Diatoms on the sand & rock, but nothing I would consider unsual. I tested my nitrates about 10 days ago, they were around 5ppt.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12375507#post12375507 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kau_cinta_ku
150's on a 130 gal. tank shouldn't be to bright. what are the rest of your parameters? the main causes are phosphate, nitrate, and low alk. your alk. looks fine though. do you have any alage in the tank? what do you have for flow?

 

[reefrf]

One thing I would add is that my Alk has been dropping like a rock. I have been adding buffer almost every other day to keep it above 8. If the parameters are affecting the color of the caps, will it eventually come back if the tank improves?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12375507#post12375507 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kau_cinta_ku
150's on a 130 gal. tank shouldn't be to bright. what are the rest of your parameters? the main causes are phosphate, nitrate, and low alk. your alk. looks fine though. do you have any alage in the tank? what do you have for flow?

 

[kau_cinta_ku]

nitrates around 5 isn't a prob. my guess would be either you have phosphates or they are to low in the tank. but remember it will take time for color to start comming back.

plus the tank being fairly new it prob. isn't as stable as it will be. and SPS corls like a tank that has been setup for a while and stays stable on all parameters.

 

[gulfstream]

corals fading

corals fading

hello.
Have you thought that you might be keeping your lights
ON for too long!! ,you have not mention the amount of light
your corals are getting daily or what type of lights you were using before........It might be your corals are not yet used to MH considering MH is new in your reef which you have mention being only 8 weeks..
Maybe cut down the amount of time your light are on.
IMO.
cheers.

 

[VINH_XUAN]

second to cut down duration time.

 

[DEEC77]

third

 

[reefrf]

Re: corals fading

Re: corals fading

My MH stays on for 10 hours & my actinics stay on for 12. These plates came out of another aqaurium, I think they were using T-5's and the corals were right at the top.

How is my lighting schedule? Too much? Do you still think the lights are on far to long?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12375724#post12375724 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gulfstream
hello.
Have you thought that you might be keeping your lights
ON for too long!! ,you have not mention the amount of light
your corals are getting daily or what type of lights you were using before........It might be your corals are not yet used to MH considering MH is new in your reef which you have mention being only 8 weeks..
Maybe cut down the amount of time your light are on.
IMO.
cheers.

 

[Aquarist007]

it also depends on how high you place the corals on the reef and how fast you acclimatize them to the lighting
Corals should be introduced low in your tank and gradually brought up so they can adjust

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12375540#post12375540 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefrf
One thing I would add is that my Alk has been dropping like a rock. I have been adding buffer almost every other day to keep it above 8. If the parameters are affecting the color of the caps, will it eventually come back if the tank improves?

I would not use buffers to bring up the alkalinity level. Quite often they contain boron. Boron is part of the alk equation but in a very small level. Corals utilize the carbonate part of the alkalinity.
You can raise your alk but it is not as useful to the corals
would suggest you use a two part system like b-ionics and randys formula
If you need to raise the alk immediately--but 8 is ok--use Kent super dkH
what are your calcium and magnesium levels

 

[reefrf]

Thanks. I do use Bionic. But sometimes my Calcium is good but my Alk is low, that is why I use the Seachem Alk buffer. My Magnesium has been low, around 1100. And I can't seem to get that any higher. I have been using Kent Magnesium product with not much success.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12376925#post12376925 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by capn_hylinur
I would not use buffers to bring up the alkalinity level. Quite often they contain boron. Boron is part of the alk equation but in a very small level. Corals utilize the carbonate part of the alkalinity.
You can raise your alk but it is not as useful to the corals
would suggest you use a two part system like b-ionics and randys formula
If you need to raise the alk immediately--but 8 is ok--use Kent super dkH
what are your calcium and magnesium levels