Corals eventually lose any trace of green?

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Are there test kits for iron? I might try adding iron if I can identify the levels in my reef and see if it's something that might help.

None that can detect the low levels normally used.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

There's no downside to just putting iron dosing fluid into the tank? Might give it a shot then!

I'm not a believer that particular colors are typically associated with particular trace elements, but it is easy to add iron.

Here's a DIY:

http://www.cvs.com/drug/fergon/oral-tablet/27mg

Take 1 tablet and dissolve in 100 mL RO/DI (overnight soak). Let the solids settle out and use the liquid. Then I dose about 1-5 mL to my 200 gallons (dose is not critical) occasionally.

 

[rkpetersen]

None that can detect the low levels normally used.

Amen. I've not found the Red Sea, Hanna or even Hach iron test kits particularly useful. They generally read zero unless you're dosing continuously or at least every couple of days, and even then I don't trust the numbers they give. ;Shifty I don't routinely test for iron anymore. Reef Plus, which I use, has a bit of iron in it (so does Reef Fusion 1, actually).

 

[Hans-Werner]

I agree it may be iron deficit. Iron increases green fluorescent pigmentation very much.

 

[ArtsyAxolotl]

Ah ok, all that makes sense. I guess the fact that the kits can't detect small amounts is why I've never heard of an iron test kit.

A little update, I reduced the white lights by 10 and the time by an hour. The color has already improved. My trumpet coral is getting this really pretty turquoise color instead of being all yellow and the leather is getting it's green back. I'm going to keep an eye on it and see how the corals react to less light and if they seem unhappy, I'll adjust. I'm going to consider dosing iron but since the colors are improving just with the light shift, I'll wait and see what happens!

Thanks for the info and suggestions everyone