Improving my color

[Badspstank]

Ok guys and gals. Here is my issue corals not getting there color back like it was in the past just 5 months ago. Current tank is my 240 cube 3 250xm, 3 LED strips 40 gal sump RO XP 5000 skimmer no refugium at this time. Nothing has changes much. No cal reactor (I hand dose daily yes it is difficult but I manage). I do have phospan reactor going. Phosphate not an issue at this time( alk 8.5,mag 1400, Cal 450, salinity 1.025, Temp 79, no nitrites, nitrates or ammonia detected. What I suspect is the problem is the fish and this is were I need you advice. Fish 6 inch emperor angel, 6 inch annularis,5 inch blue face, purple tang, yellow tang, tomini tang. pair choati wrasses, noakao wrasse, red head wrasse, koi wrasse, multi color angel, hybrid lemon peel angel , gold flake angel, 5 dispar anthias, pencil wrasse, pair leopard wrasses and melanarius wrasse. Most of these fish has been in my tank for over 5 years, all the larger angels 7 years. I no its difficult to have the best of both worlds with this many fish. Do I need to export more nutrients out of the system, what do you suggest?

 

[Badspstank]

45 views no feed back

 

[ReefMadScientist]

I am using AcroPower and like it so far

 

[StikHedRon]

You have nutrient problems plain and simple. That many fish and you believe there are no nitrates or phosphates?? Step up your game on Nutrient control and you will see your color come back! I use to think the same way about phosphates, oh... I don't have a problem.... Then I got a hanna test kit and a bottle of Brightwell phosphate-e and slowly started taking my tank back and my colors are starting to come back after a stretch of Blah coral color. I have just recently began vinegar dosing to take control of my nitrates to also have more control over my tank. This is just my .02 and don't mean to offend you!

 

[zebe00]

When in doubt, up the water change schedule! It seems that a tank can sometimes "mask" PO4 and nitrates, where they are being consumed rather than exported, thus testing 0 even though your tank isn't looking that way. If you get aggressive with water changes and skimming, you should start to see a result in a few weeks.

 

[watchguy123]

Wow, you have an awesome collection of fish and some of my very favorites. I am not sure how you are exporting all your excess nutrients, nitrates in particular with the amount of food required for all those fish.

You have a very good skimmer which is great for removing all kinds of stuff. The phosphate remover certainly can and does control phosphates. If you are hand dosing then I assume you are meticulous and watch your tank closely. So if your parameter tests are accurate, then I also assume you must be doing large and regular water changes. Otherwise, I don't know how you could be exporting your nitrates

It seems most people either utilize chaeto via a refugium, an Algae turf scrubber, bio pellets or carbon dosing to deal with nitrates and also help with phosphates

 

[Badspstank]

I do dose vsv and funny I test with all hanna test kits. I will make mire water changes bi weekly

 

[trido]

I agree with more nutrient export. A 40G sump is small IMO for that size of display. Can you add a 40G refugium with a DSB? You might also consider Ozone if you have a good controller.

I have also been dosing Acro Power with positive results.

 

[uhupong]

Nutrients and alk swing from manual dose.

 

[spsfrag]

could be too little nutrients too even with all the fish it is possible i went through a too clean period where all colors were washed out.

 

[Badspstank]

Tank been up 7yrs I have considered a bigger sump and I will go a refug for sure

 

[Badspstank]

Tank been up 7yrs I have considered a bigger sump and I will go to a refug for sure