Acro Color, am I too Impatient???

HotRocks · Sep 4, 2019

So many of you have contributed to my SPS nitrate thread, much appreciated, great discussion:

SPS and Nitrate! Where do you keep it?

I know this topic will bring answers all across the board. I have only been keeping SPS for a short while and just wondering as to where you all keep your nitrate? You read some people manage ULN or undetectable and others that keep them super high. I know the maturity of the Reef is a big...

www.reef2reef.com

I just wanted to start a discussion about coloring up Acropora or any SPS for that matter.

I know there is not a smoking gun for an answer here and obviously all of the key factors like stability, nutrient levels, lighting, flow, all have a heavy impact on coral health, coloration etc. I have about 50 different species of acropora and most of mine began to color up very nicely once I got my nutrients above zero. I am currently struggling with yellow. I have two different frags of pink Floyd one is on the bottom of my tank and one us up high. They are slowly starting to get some color back around the base. I have a BC Mr. Neutron that is up high (400+ Par range) that looks excellent. So I am just always puzzled at why some pieces look so great and others don't.

My nitrate was always undetectable up until a few weeks ago, do I just need to exercise more patience????

Looking forward to any insight anyone may have with the assumption that all parameters, nutrients, par, flow etc. are in check!

My current Parameters:
78F
1.026
N 5ppm
P .03ppm
C 435ppm
DKH 8.0ppm
M 1350ppm

All of my acros are in the 350-450 par range.

Billldg · Sep 4, 2019

I am still in the process of getting my nitrates down after using reef flux, at 30 ppm as of Sunday, I have my RR Pink Floyd in the front of my tank on a frag rack and it is almost a fluorescent yellow, maybe at 250 par, I use t5’s and radion xr15, cal is at 440, alk 8.2, constantly having to dos neophos to keep my phosphates to detectable levels because I am currently using nopox to help lower nitrates. Currently turning tank over at 40 times on avg.

HotRocks · Sep 4, 2019

Billldg said:
I am still in the process of getting my nitrates down after using reef flux, at 30 ppm as of Sunday, I have my RR Pink Floyd in the front of my tank on a frag rack and it is almost a fluorescent yellow, maybe at 250 par, I use t5’s and radion xr15, cal is at 440, alk 8.2, constantly having to dos neophos to keep my phosphates to detectable levels because I am currently using nopox to help lower nitrates. Currently turning tank over at 40 times on avg.

I use the same lights XR30pro4s on a hybrid LED fixture with four t5s. My turnover is around 35 times.

DivingTheWorld · Sep 4, 2019

Your levels all look fine, I'd say just patience. I've had corals color up in a week or two, others brown out after shipping and have taken me 6 months or more. I generally have more patience for expensive corals. I have a frag of Vivid Confetti which is finally getting it's red back after months of patience.

Billldg · Sep 4, 2019

Right now my frag sits in the front of my tank in about 250 par, wonder if it likes lower par?

Billldg · Sep 4, 2019

Also, I have been dealing with bryopsis issues and I received my frag from Brandon during this time, it has been it nitrates that have steadily been above 50 during this time.

Hemmdog · Sep 4, 2019

When’s the last time you sent out a triton test? Possibly a trace deficiency. But this is coming from a guy with a grey WD... lol

HotRocks · Sep 4, 2019

Hemmdog said:
When’s the last time you sent out a triton test? Possibly a trace decency. But this is coming from a guy with a grey WD... lol

LOL! My WD, HW, and MVRE all look great, that is why I am always banging my head against the wall. To answer your question I sent one out about 60 days ago, let me see if I can dig up the results.

HotRocks · Sep 4, 2019

Hemmdog said:
When’s the last time you sent out a triton test? Possibly a trace deficiency. But this is coming from a guy with a grey WD... lol

motortrendz · Sep 4, 2019

Weren't yellows brighter with the right potassium and iron levels in the water. Too much iron itll start to green out. But it needs that potassium level to be right to really shine. (I could totally be wrong though lol)

Hemmdog · Sep 4, 2019

HotRocks said:

Wow nice results! Have you been dosing iodine/iodide at all?

HotRocks · Sep 4, 2019

Hemmdog said:
Wow nice results! Have you been dosing iodine/iodide at all?

I have the Triton iodine supplement. As well as the red sea pro iodine test kit. I don't trust myself with the test kit completely. So I did dose the recommended amount after my test with no noticable change so I did not continue a maintenance dose after a few weeks as my level seemed to be increasing and I didn't want to overdo it.

W1ngz · Sep 4, 2019

If you trust Red Sea their Colours C (iron+) is supposed to enhance yellow, according to the info on the BRS product page.

ScottB · Sep 4, 2019

Yeah maybe you have already done this, but a drop of Lugols every week won't hurt. At some point you would want to test for that though. (I don't, but I know I should test, so...)

Not to hijack but curious about the aluminum result shown. Do you use ceramic block media? I use tons of the stuff personally and I love it, but there were rumors out there that some knock-off product made it out there that leached.

Hemmdog · Sep 4, 2019

ScottB said:
Yeah maybe you have already done this, but a drop of Lugols every week won't hurt. At some point you would want to test for that though. (I don't, but I know I should test, so...)

Not to hijack but curious about the aluminum result shown. Do you use ceramic block media? I use tons of the stuff personally and I love it, but there were rumors out there that some knock-off product made it out there that leached.

I was wondering the same thing lol.

HotRocks · Sep 4, 2019

ScottB said:
Yeah maybe you have already done this, but a drop of Lugols every week won't hurt. At some point you would want to test for that though. (I don't, but I know I should test, so...)

Not to hijack but curious about the aluminum result shown. Do you use ceramic block media? I use tons of the stuff personally and I love it, but there were rumors out there that some knock-off product made it out there that leached.

Thanks for the input, I'm not super familiar with lugols. I will look into it.

At the time of the test I was using phosphate remover in my sump hence the elevated aluminum reading. Seachem phosguard I think it was.

ScottB · Sep 4, 2019

HotRocks said:
Thanks for the input, I'm not super familiar with lugols. I will look into it.

At the time of the test I was using phosphate remover in my sump hence the elevated aluminum reading. Seachem phosguard I think it was.

Roger that. I've only ever heard that leathers are affected, so I doubt that is an issue for you. I use the iron based GFO very lightly. Good luck on the color up!