Coral discoloration due to parameters?

[Saltwatertaylor]

I know one reason corals lose color from the LFS to your home tank can be because they are introduced to a new environment with much higher lighting. I learned today that my salt level is low (1.021) and my ph is low (7.8). Could this cause my colors to lose discoloration as well?
I cant believe these levels are so far off. I am currently adding much more salt to top off water and on water changes. I also bought something to raise the PH. These things take time, but it is very stressful as a reefer to just sit and watch your tank knowing that your levels are off (I am sure many of you have had this feeling before).

Really glad I got into reefing, but afraid it might turn my hair grey!

 

[Troylee]

It's possible... I had lots of trouble with my Sps one time losing color and no
Polyp exstension... Tested for days before finding out my refracto was off and my salinity was down to 1.021... Back to a plastic hydrometer for me...

 

[Saltwatertaylor]

It just seems like every coral I get isnt as bright as it was in the LFS. I know my parameters are currently off where they should be, so that is my main guess as to why I am losing my colors. Also the corals went from t5 to my MH. I have started everything at the bottom. My mushroom corals are really bleached now. Im just hoping in around 2 weeks they will get used to the light and bring back some color!

 

[Troylee]

What kind of mh bulbs do you use??? It's normal for things to lose color like you said its "shock" then rebounding... They should color up better in your tank than a lfs if lighting and nutrient issues are taken care of at home... I know most lfs use cheap bulbs way past there life expectancy and there tanks are normally pretty dirty from hands in and out all day... Not to mention most are plumbed together with hundreds of fish...

 

[Saltwatertaylor]

Yeah thats true. I bought my corals around 1 week ago. I have had an anemone for around 3 weeks, and I dont see the green color coming back. The zoas are a little darker than normal and the mushroom are totally bleached. I have 10k MH. I know the nutrient levels need to be taken care of so thats my number one priority right now.

 

[Pkunk35]

Definitely think your parameters could be causing stress which would probably mess with coloration. Get that salinity back up slowly but surely, it is too low for coral. Also, top off water is supposed to be pure water not salty, adjust your salinity with water changes and keep them stable with top offs (at least thats how I learned to do). I think with a good salt mix + water changes and getting your salinity back up will cure your PH problems most likely.

Troylee brings up a good point about defective equipment...I'd say bring your water to the LFS for a complete testing to ensure your test kits/testers are all accurate. I went weeks pulling my hair out with a faulty Ca test.

 

[Saltwatertaylor]

Yeah, I have also been taught that but I feel like by adding salt to the tap water it will help it increase. Once I maintain a stable salt level, I will go back to using regular top off water to keep it where its at. I checked it at the LFS and they also got a 1.021 reading on it. Keeping stable parameters is alot harder than it seems lol.

 

[Troylee]

Add salt to your top off water is the smart thing to do... It raises the levels slowly over a couple days not in a single water change... 10k bulbs are another problem there high in par and will brown and bleach corals all day... Great growth but crappy color.. Try a 14k or 20k bulb you will be amazed...

 

[Saltwatertaylor]

Ive been meaning to ask everyone what is par? Is it some sort of light output? Hmm, I never knew that. I may have to put that on my wishlist.

 

[Troylee]

Par means photosynthetically active radiation-and that is . In essence, the PAR value is a rating for the amount of usable light that a bulb can emit.

 

[CJO]

Another thing that affects the color is flow. If you don't have enough, your corals will get dull.

I saw that you were adding something to raise the pH.. what? Do you know what your other parameters are (alkalinity, calcium, magnesium)?

CJ

 

[Pkunk35]

Add salt to your top off water is the smart thing to do... It raises the levels slowly over a couple days not in a single water change... 10k bulbs are another problem there high in par and will brown and bleach corals all day... Great growth but crappy color.. Try a 14k or 20k bulb you will be amazed...

I have a question then since it seems to be needing to be made clear, how does one raise salinity properly?

When i need to raise salinity I do it over the course of several water changes which will probably take me more than a week or two to accomplish. My reasoning is that once animals are acclimated to a certain salinity any change in salinity would require some acclimation, so I keep them at the new salinity for at least a couple days. With more livestock living together I would think this to be even more true. Am i doing it wrong or taking too much time?

How long would the OP need to take with raising his salinity from 1.021 to say 1.026?

 

[Troylee]

I have a question then since it seems to be needing to be made clear, how does one raise salinity properly?

When i need to raise salinity I do it over the course of several water changes which will probably take me more than a week or two to accomplish. My reasoning is that once animals are acclimated to a certain salinity any change in salinity would require some acclimation, so I keep them at the new salinity for at least a couple days. With more livestock living together I would think this to be even more true. Am i doing it wrong or taking too much time?

How long would the OP need to take with raising his salinity from 1.021 to say 1.026?

I don't think there is a wrong way honestly besides dumping salt in your sump "which I have seen". I personally add a gallon of saltwater to my ato that holds 5 gallons and run it that way till I get the numbers I want... As long as its not a over night thing anything will work IMHO...

 

[Dog Boy Dave]

All you need to do to raise salinity is to replace your evap with salt water. Your salinity will creep up. To drop do water changes with lower salinity water. I dont worry too much about droping salinity. Ever seen a reef during a rain storm?
On the question of color changes due to chemistry. Anything that stresses your corals will cause a color shift. Temp, alkalinity, calcium, inadequate flow, salinity shifts. All of these affect color a lot more than your choice of lights. Any light will develop good colors with good water quality as long as the intensity is adequate. All the great light in the world wont help your corals if the chemistry is unstable.

 

[Pkunk35]

Got it, thanks for clearing up guys.

 

[Saltwatertaylor]

Thanks a lot everyone! All my other parameters are spot on. The flow is also good. It must be the ph and salinity which I am currently boosting
Over a period of time.Thanks for everyone's help!