Coral color is diminishing

[domination2580]

I have a green monti and a sunset monti that are losing their color. Everything checks out. 7.8 alk, 420 cal, around 1350 mag. Just recently started happening. Nothing added in the past 4 months or so. Sbreeflights. Any idea? I did stop waste changes for about 1 to 2 months in order to figure out mag issues but that's it

 

[Reefer1978]

Check your nutrients. My monties lost color when I let phosphate and nitrate get too low.

 

[ngoodermuth]

Check your nutrients. My monties lost color when I let phosphate and nitrate get too low.

+1

 

[domination2580]

My nitrates are 50 and 0hosphates 0

 

[Reefer1978]

What kit was used for phosphates, how precise is it?

 

[Reefer1978]

Just some thoughts from my personal experience, but 2 things I noticed right off the bat:

• Phosphates are probably not 0, but if they are undetectable they are probably too low. Need to be in a balance with Nitrates.
• With nitrates at 50, you probably want to run higher Alk, closer to 10 - that I could be wrong on.

 

[domination2580]

I think it's higher than 0 but on salifert phosphate says 0.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

My red and green Montipora start fading when there is too much light. Make sure you're not blasting them with too much PAR.

 

[reeferfoxx]

Are they browning or bleaching?

 

[Mattrg02]

50 nitrates is really really high. I'm suprised they've not gone brown first.

Hmm, wouldn't a coral bleach when it has too much zooxanthelae? Did the corals brown out first?

 

[domination2580]

Corals have been the same up until I stopped water changes...

 

[Mattrg02]

Corals have been the same up until I stopped water changes...

What were you're parameters before? Did they swing much?

 

[domination2580]

What were you're parameters before? Did they swing much?

No not really at all...params have been the same for the most part.

 

[domination2580]

I dosed alk and cal during the time of no water changes.

 

[Reefer1978]

Do you know your nutrients before and after?

 

[domination2580]

Do you know your nutrients before and after?

I know nitrates have never been different the entire time the tank has officially had life in it.

 

[enveetie]

I think it's higher than 0 but on salifert phosphate says 0.

oh man, that salifert phosphate kit is tough. i cant identify the color result in any kind of lighting, and ive got a background in the sciences.

 

[domination2580]

oh man, that salifert phosphate kit is tough. i cant identify the color result in any kind of lighting, and ive got a background in the sciences.

I agree it is a tough one. What do you gifs recommend besides the Hannah? They are a bit out of my budget at the time

 

[Best Fish-Jake]

50 ppm for nitrate is fairly high... you'll definetly want to do a series of small water changes to bring those down. (Do something like a 15% WC every 4 days until you get below 30 ppm)

As for coral coloration, I highly reccomend using 'Coral Vitalizer'. It promotes coral coloration by allowing your coral to rely less on zooxanthellae which has a brown coloration. Pairing this with products similar to 'fuel' or 'reef roids' provides optimal coral coloration

 

[markalot]

Be very careful with the potions, especially ones with copper in them.

Is it possible that the restart of water changes caused the loss of color? Did you notice color loss before restarting water changes? Monti's don't do well with very low PO4. Double up the salifert kit (per instructions) and see if you get any hint of blue in the water.