Why Does SPS Brown Out?

[a-T-m]

What are the main causes of SPS losing Colour?

I have a blue tort, green tort, and some turquoise sps (i forgot his name), that i got from a local reefer in full colour, but have all gradually turned brown.

I don't believe it is light, since i'm running a 150w, 14k HQI on my nano tank. And i've got good flow too.

I know i'm going to get water quality questions, but my kit's need replacing. I'll update tomorrow. But everything else in the tank is doing well, even two other sps frags.

Any information/help is much appreciated.

 

[ryanrid]

not enough light, how old are your globes?
not enough flow, define lots of flow should be 50x turnover min.
hgh nutrients - N03 and p04

 

[old_mr2]

Tank Parameters?

 

[juicesay]

What Ryan said, it's mainly poor parameters that cause it.

Just imagine yourself being in a room full of poo, I'm sure you'd turn brown too!

Need some fresh air once in a while!

 

[a-T-m]

not enough light, how old are your globes?
not enough flow, define lots of flow should be 50x turnover min.
hgh nutrients - N03 and p04

I'm going to the LFS to restock on my kits, i'll show parameters then.

It's a 14 gallon tank with a maxi 900, and a modded koralia nano.

I think a 150w 14k HQI is plenty of light on a 14, and the light is less than 2 months old.

 

[jefathome]

The other thing to look into is your Alk and Ca levels.

 

[Bigmike]

How do you top off evaporation?

 

[juicesay]

Definitely check on the parameters.

You don't want to run GFO on such a small tank, not worth the money or time.

A simple water change would be more than enough.

 

[Petar]

lighting .....

 

[ingtar_shinowa]

im gonna chime in on old bulbs. I have alot of nuisnece algae (hidden excess nutirients) and none of my montis or acros have browned and my tank is under lighted but with newish quality bulbs

 

[mutateddogbone]

i have read that spectrum will cause SPS to brown. the color in SPS is like sunscreen for our skin, it changes color to block certain spectrums of light penetrating to the zooxanthellae causing the color to change. might try changing color temps or adding more blue light, IE 14k or higher bulb.