How to get vivid colors from SPS corals

Bacon505 · Apr 18, 2017

Some of my acro with a very simple setup. You can find my main build and photos in the sps section. Filtration is only skimmer, only dose alk, cal,mg, pot via dosing pump. No other supplementation. I have not test anything since the initial setup 2 years ago other than alk and cal once a week.

Acrofiend · Apr 18, 2017

High import and high export.

Dilan Patel · Apr 18, 2017

awesome tank!

jimmy2times · Apr 18, 2017

Alk I think is one of best indicators for your reefs intake of mg ca and trace elements if u test your alk daily and see it dropping your probably using ca and mg as well, this is good just meaning that your corals are growing. I also use hw salt since it's loaded with lots of good trace minerals and super clean 100% synthetic salts medical grade. I also use the Red Sea 4 part trace mineral kit and I really like it I definitely see the difference in coloration and it's cheap to. Also have huge bioload, high nutrients in tank insane flow and high par average 250 some areas 450 par all doing just peachy

Velcro · Apr 18, 2017

Abhishek said:
On the contrary , many successful old timers had just radiums to color up acros .Till today , you cannot beat radiums for color and growth if system is stable enough .
Sometimes I feel , it's just better to leave the system alone and stick to basics of water change .
Acros take time to acclimate to tank and color will show up with time .
I have several acros that are fragsand hardly have any color beside brown . Tried many additives and it only makes things worse .
Currently just leaving things alone and sticking to basics .

Regards,
Abhishek

I was being sarcastic

Coronus · Apr 18, 2017

Some one asked for some pics. Here are some. These were taken with a Iphone 7 plus. No editing at all.

Coronus · Apr 18, 2017

Defender

Coronus · Apr 18, 2017

Few more

Coronus · Apr 18, 2017

Velcro · Apr 18, 2017

Bacon505 said:
Some of my acro with a very simple setup. You can find my main build and photos in the sps section. Filtration is only skimmer, only dose alk, cal,mg, pot via dosing pump. No other supplementation. I have not test anything since the initial setup 2 years ago other than alk and cal once a week.

Can I ask what bulbs you are running?

bluerexy · Apr 18, 2017

I found the most important thing for color and growth is stable parameters, flow and lighting. I used to use T5s and got great color and growth out of my SPS. I had to break down the tank and I'm now trying out LEDs. I like them so far but they are must harder to adjust than T5s as far as getting them in the right lighting spectrum. T5s were just plug and play it seems.

revhtree · Apr 18, 2017

Bacon505 said:
Some of my acro with a very simple setup. You can find my main build and photos in the sps section. Filtration is only skimmer, only dose alk, cal,mg, pot via dosing pump. No other supplementation. I have not test anything since the initial setup 2 years ago other than alk and cal once a week.

Beautiful!

Bacon505 · Apr 18, 2017

Velcro said:
Can I ask what bulbs you are running?

6 b+ 1 coral + and 1 fiji purple

Velcro · Apr 18, 2017

Bacon505 said:
6 b+ 1 coral + and 1 fiji purple

Wow that's a lot of blue. I'm running 4x coral + and 4x blue+ with reefbrites and still think it might be too blue!

reeferbuddy215 · Apr 18, 2017

I use 3 units of mars led aqua 165 watt full spectrum dimmable light unit. And my sps love it they color up within a week of getting them

Bacon505 · Apr 18, 2017

Velcro said:
Wow that's a lot of blue. I'm running 4x coral + and 4x blue+ with reefbrites and still think it might be too blue!

It actually not blue. Very crisp look around 18k. Used to have abs instead of another blue but then im getting too much growth with no dark color so i replace to what i have now.