Alk Drop or Nutrients Leading to Coloration Issues

[marlinmon]

I introduced some colorful acro frags into my 90 gal about the same time the alk had dropped to about 5. I got it back up to 8 over several days. That was about a week and half ago. Anyway, I noticed some of the frags discoloring. The frags are clearly growing but have lost their hue. Was curious if it was more likely the drop in alk caused this or because I have been running very low nutrients (essentially 0, 0). I have a couple of fish and they only eat a cube a day. The coral gets amino and reefroids twice a week. Unless someone recommends otherwise I was just going to continue as is a few more weeks and see if they pick up color again. If they don't I was going to start tackling the nutrients.

 

[jda]

Here is my standard checklist of poor colored, but actively growing acropora... growing is a good sign.

1). Moved Tanks
2). System changes and inconsistent parameters
3). Lighting - quality moreso than quantity
4). Time and patience - both after new addition and with new tanks
5). Building blocks - N and P

If your building blocks are low artificially using GFO, Organic Carbon, etc. then you could legit be growth limiting and I would stop any of this. If you are just at 0 and 0 naturally or because your test kit does not accurately read low values (like most of them), then you are nearly certainly OK.

If you have a high quality true full spectrum light source, then you are fine here.

In all likelihood, you probably just need more time after a move. I would just keep on keeping on but keep a keen eye for signs that things are getting worse.

 

[Dana Riddle]

Are the Acro frags fluorescent or non-fluorescent?

 

[marlinmon]

Here is my standard checklist of poor colored, but actively growing acropora... growing is a good sign.

1). Moved Tanks
2). System changes and inconsistent parameters
3). Lighting - quality moreso than quantity
4). Time and patience - both after new addition and with new tanks
5). Building blocks - N and P

If your building blocks are low artificially using GFO, Organic Carbon, etc. then you could legit be growth limiting and I would stop any of this. If you are just at 0 and 0 naturally or because your test kit does not accurately read low values (like most of them), then you are nearly certainly OK.

If you have a high quality true full spectrum light source, then you are fine here.

In all likelihood, you probably just need more time after a move. I would just keep on keeping on but keep a keen eye for signs that things are getting worse.

I can check all the boxes but number 5. Tank is 8 months, consistent parameters, Radion G4's with T5 blue+ supplement, waiting and will continue lol. I've just weened my tank off GFO. Should've never used that stuff from the start. Lot of misinformation about GFO out there... I'm hoping that the root cause. Every other measurable parameter checks out.

 

[marlinmon]

Are the Acro frags fluorescent or non-fluorescent?

I'm not familiar with what distinguishes a fluorescent acro from a non-fluorescent acro. I'm leaning towards fluorescent. Hopefully the pic helps answer the question. And for example, the frag in the front left has faded a lot but is still growing.

 

[jda]

Where did you get the corals from? What lights were they using?

 

[markalot]

Good polyp extension, stable Alk, loss of color normal after a move IMO. You could dose some magic potions (various vitamins and foods) to try and increase color but it will probably come back on its own in a few months. Personally low Alk has never hurt colors for me, just growth. I like to run between 6.5 and 7. Any parameter changes, regardless if it causes coral health issues, is going to mute colors in my experience.

 

[marlinmon]

Where did you get the corals from? What lights were they using?

WWC (Radions with T5 supplement) and LRO (all T5). Both have responded to my tank the same. That's why I've ruled out it being a potential lighting issue.

 

[marlinmon]

Good polyp extension, stable Alk, loss of color normal after a move IMO. You could dose some magic potions (various vitamins and foods) to try and increase color but it will probably come back on its own in a few months. Personally low Alk has never hurt colors for me, just growth. I like to run between 6.5 and 7. Any parameter changes, regardless if it causes coral health issues, is going to mute colors in my experience.

That was on day two or three. Polyp extension looks phenomenal now. I've been feeding amino and reef roids. Thanks for the advice, hopefully time returns the color!

 

[Dana Riddle]

It appears as if the coral colors are fluorescent, and they look pretty good in the photo (I'm assuming this is an 'after' photo showing color loss.) Matz did a study and found the half life of some fluorescent proteins is around 30 days, so give them some time. If they're growing and polyp expansion is good, I tend to think you don't have anything to worry about.

 

[marlinmon]

It appears as if the coral colors are fluorescent, and they look pretty good in the photo (I'm assuming this is an 'after' photo showing color loss.) Matz did a study and found the half life of some fluorescent proteins is around 30 days, so give them some time. If they're growing and polyp expansion is good, I tend to think you don't have anything to worry about.

Well that's actually a before lol. The pinkish tips on the front frag are now grayish looking. I think I'm seeing coloration on a couple other corals coming back. This is good info though! I'll give it a couple more weeks and report back

 

[Scorpius]

GFO has sucked my tank dry of many a phosphate to the detriment of my Acropora. Bury your gfo in the backyard and thank me later.

 

[Dana Riddle]

Well that's actually a before lol. The pinkish tips on the front frag are now grayish looking. I think I'm seeing coloration on a couple other corals coming back. This is good info though! I'll give it a couple more weeks and report back

Did you notice a pH drop that might be associated with the low alkalinity? Some fluorescent proteins are sensitive to pH. Acroporas are not known to be among them and, in addition, those corals that are sensitive to pH are known to increase fluorescence with lower pH. But there is so little known about how corals respond to some environmental changes that any new data point could be a valuable insight.