improving sps color

[mrtian97]

my sps are growing fast but colors are not as intense as I originally purchased. the sps are: red dragon, blue stag, birds nest.

I use Radion lights, using salifert, my phosphate and Nitrate are not detectable. Alk 7-8 , Ca 425, Mag 1400, pH 8.2-8.4. I feed Red sea Energy A and B twice a wk and feed reef chili once a wk. I use GFO and carbon in media reactor, replace every 2 months.
Tank has been setup for 1.5 yrs and the sps and LPS grow in good rate (I get to sell quiet a bit frags). My hammer, candy cane and duncan grow fron 2 heads to 20 to 30+

Any suggestion either:
1. Just stay as is since the corals are growing

2. feed more reef energy like 3x or 4x a wk instead of. twice a wk

3. others?

Thanks

 

[Jason mack]

Well I’ve been told dosing iron can help with red and green colors .. i am at present doing the same thing . Although I must stress don’t do it till you’ve first tested for iron .. I dose 1ml on a 90g mixed reef every 3-4 days ..

 

[Flippers4pups]

Good read:

https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/tank-parameters-of-some-masters.263/

Most likely your too “clean”. You need some No3 and a trace of P04.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Well I’ve been told dosing iron can help with red and green colors .. i am at present doing the same thing . Although I must stress don’t do it till you’ve first tested for iron .. I dose 1ml on a 90g mixed reef every 3-4 days ..

Unless you are very highly dosing iron, you cannot detect it. Even a Triton test cannot detect anywhere close to surface NSW iron levels.

IMO, most folks who want to dose iron can and should dose it without measuring, since you cannot detect low enough to control it.

 

[Jason mack]

Good read:

https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/tank-parameters-of-some-masters.263/

Most likely your too “clean”. You need some No3 and a trace of P04.

I noticed on this that in all the test results for each one mentioned that they list strontium SR as well ..

 

[Jason mack]

Unless you are very highly dosing iron, you cannot detect it. Even a Triton test cannot detect anywhere close to surface NSW iron levels.

IMO, most folks who want to dose iron can and should dose it without measuring, since you cannot detect low enough to control it.

Then I stand corrected !

 

[mrtian97]

Thanks for the article, I am reading it and watching football game and typing this (multi tasker ).
I also have Hawkin that is growing in slow pace, maybe I should maintain status quo?