you know whats cool?

[waverz]

I think i am finally doing something right!! Over the last couple of weeks i have been watching my SPS coral color up. Not only that but they are really growing fast. I'll take some pics later tonight so you can see what i mean. My stuff used to be all brown with very little poylp extension, now it seems like the polyps are bustin' out!

I'm a happy reefer.

 

[SnkyJake]

So what did you do differently? New food or new lights? I ask because my SPS grow like son of a guns but they slowly lose color and end up brown/tan... and I'M SICK OF IT!!!!:eek1:

 

[Coralfreak]

Hey Jeremy, thats good to hear, just keep it going.

 

[Double-J]

400w lighting! I noticed a huge difference in growth from going from 250w to t5's and finally 400w 20kxm

 

[Covey]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10669950#post10669950 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SnkyJake
So what did you do differently? New food or new lights? I ask because my SPS grow like son of a guns but they slowly lose color and end up brown/tan... and I'M SICK OF IT!!!!:eek1:

If I remember your setup correctly Jake yours is more a nutrient issue. The wet/dry, small less then powerful skimmers, and mature sandbeds(the black one in the fuge).

It takes alot of work to really color up SPS.

 

[waverz]

I think the trick is lots of light, lots of flow, low nutrients, and most importantly STABLE water parameters. I just got all of my levels in check including ALK, Mg, and Ca, i think that really helped alot, apparently having an ionic balance is very important.

 

[slovan]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10671472#post10671472 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by waverz
I think the trick is lots of light, lots of flow, low nutrients, and most importantly STABLE water parameters. I just got all of my levels in check including ALK, Mg, and Ca, i think that really helped alot, apparently having an ionic balance is very important.

And you've been in this hobby how long?? :lol: Just kidding J! Congrats on getting things turned around. I know you had a long streak of bad luck there for awhile so it's nice to see things starting to go your way. Oh and some pictures would be nice.

 

[waverz]

I've really only been reefing for like 3 years, i never really gave a crap about my parameters before because i was always fighting something whether it be caulerapa, heat, or floods, this time around i must be doing something right.

I'm having a hard time getting decent pics with these 20k XM's, and my MH's just turned off so no pics tonight. Tomorrow night I'm gonna give the glass a good scraping and tunr the pumps off for awhile to see if i can get some decent ones.

 

[leeweber85]

I can vouch for your polyp extension. Your Tort had polyps 1/4" long.

 

[glaspie69]

LOL what are you doing playing with his tort

 

[tibbs2]

Hey Baby. Nice Polyps. Come here often?

I wish someone would vouch for my polyp extension...

 

[SnkyJake]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10671353#post10671353 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Covey
If I remember your setup correctly Jake yours is more a nutrient issue. The wet/dry, small less then powerful skimmers, and mature sandbeds(the black one in the fuge).

It takes alot of work to really color up SPS.

Hey Covey - yeah after you told me about my sand (last month or 2 months ago?), I immediately vacuumed it out, and that helped immensely! So let me ask you this: What should I put a priority on... a big bad skimmer, or better lights? (Currently running 2-150 Watt Ushios with 2- actinics)

(I can't believe your picking on my Prism skimmer!? )

By the way, my purple locani is still doing good - spreading out, but not as colorful as it first was. (And the green thingy is shriveling up) How's your locani doing?

 

[waverz]

If it were me i would do skimmer first, get the water quality right, then worry about growth and color.

 

[Covey]

It would be good to check out the tank again but a healthy skimmer like a big octo is a huge help.

 

[waverz]

I really like my octopus skimmer, you cant beat it for the price.

 

[einsteins]

See I told you things would pop when everything was in balance...

The hard part is getting it balanced, now you just need to stay on top of keeping it there....

Congrats.....I am with you, my tank is finally fully recovered from its mishap 6 months ago.

ein