Help with pale Acropora color loss for a year

[ninjamyst]

Switch to esv bionic. Has trace elements in it. Slowly ramp up light. 350 is ok but acros can handle more.

 

[bumpyj38]

Switch to esv bionic. Has trace elements in it. Slowly ramp up light. 350 is ok but acros can handle more.

You think they need more light?

 

[ryshark]

Oh and supplements I just started dosing Brightwell Coral Aminos a month ago. I add a little iodine daily.

Be careful with the iodine dosing, since there isn’t a good way to test for it aside from ICP.
I accidentally got mine up to 535, by dosing like 25% of the recommended directions on the bottle.

 

[bumpyj38]

Be careful with the iodine dosing, since there isn’t a good way to test for it aside from ICP.
I accidentally got mine up to 535, by dosing like 25% of the recommended directions on the bottle.

Thanks. I dose iodide (supposedly safer) and only as a result of what ICP tells me. I would’ve stopped but I noticed a positive reaction from some LPS and softies.

 

[ninjamyst]

You think they need more light?

I think 350 at the top isn't too much. I don't think that's your primary issue but I also know SPS can take a lot of light once acclimated to it.

I had brown, dull acros when I had low nutrients. I increased fish feeding, dosed np plus, feed benepets and easysps. Now my acros are loving it. I also run my Radion xr30 at 100% intensity and 100% schedule. I do use diffusers which cuts off 20% of the light.

My walt Disney is directly under the Radion and it is still growing upwards like it wants more light.

And my purple Stylo lower in the tank but still getting strong light and crazy flow

 

[bumpyj38]

I think 350 at the top isn't too much. I don't think that's your primary issue but I also know SPS can take a lot of light once acclimated to it.

I had brown, dull acros when I had low nutrients. I increased fish feeding, dosed np plus, feed benepets and easysps. Now my acros are loving it. I also run my Radion xr30 at 100% intensity and 100% schedule. I do use diffusers which cuts off 20% of the light.

My walt Disney is directly under the Radion and it is still growing upwards like it wants more light.

And my purple Stylo lower in the tank but still getting strong light and crazy flow

Could improper flow make these acros become pale? I think I have enough overall tank flow but I wonder if these corals are getting enough direct flow.

 

[ninjamyst]

Could improper flow make these acros become pale? I think I have enough overall tank flow but I wonder if these corals are getting enough direct flow.

Flow is important but light is more light IMO. You sound like you have enough flow already. Just look at the PE and see if they are getting blown around. With T5 and XR30, I would think you would be pushing 400-500 par on top...

 

[Perry]

Check with a magnifying glass and see if you have any bugs, specifically red bugs, they tend to irritate corals to the point of not coloring, or dying.

 

[DaveWrasse]

These types of coral growths are vermetidae snails that are within the coralite. They maybe harmless, but I usually remove them as a precaution. It has a small hole at the end and not a polyp.

Iodine should be used cautiously; it can poison your acros if overdosed.

 

[bumpyj38]

These types of coral growths are vermetidae snails that are within the coralite. They maybe harmless, but I usually remove them as a precaution. It has a small hole at the end and not a polyp.

Iodine should be used cautiously; it can poison your acros if overdosed.

Ya I’ve got plenty of those. I was going to wait until I saw the coral actually start growing before I mess with it (damage it’s base by removing/gluing the tubes)

 

[acrojunkie]

Hello,

I need help specifically with my Acropora. I have a mixed reef that is coming up on 2 years old. Most of the corals look great. However I have many SPS Acropora (and 1 or 2 LPS) that are almost colorless or barely colored. These Acropora have been in my tank for almost a year now. When placed in then tank they had a very good amount of color. I have tried different parameters very slowly with no success. Here are my current parameters now:
Salinity - 1.026
Temp - 78.5
Nitrate 12.6
Phosphate - .10
Alkalinity 8.3
Calcium - 440
Mag - 1370
These parameters have been very consistent for the last year. I have tried small adjustments to include (6 months at phos - .05, Nitrate 5ppm/ 3 months at phos .08, nitrate - 10ppm/ and also 6 months of Alkalinity at 9. I decided to try and run a lower amount of Alk only in the last few months. My lighting hasn’t changed and I have happy Stylophora, Monti Cap, Montipora Digitata, Anacropora, euphylia and other LPS. Here is a pic of my whole tank as well as pics of problem corals.

Following, I have very similar parameters and am experiencing some of the same issues as well.

 

[Pod_01]

I had similar experience, here is before pictures

Here is now picture, same coral:

I suspect you have some type of starvation. At least that was my issue.
What helped me was
1) I started dosing NP Bacto Balance (1/4 recommended dose)
2) I also started dosing A and K element. I now use All for Reef that has both.
3) I also use coral food daily.
4) Feed fish a lot, they are little pigs.

Anyways just an observation. Good luck.