Is lighting the problem?

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d00dy

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First off lets start with details / parameters.


Tank Details:
40 Breeder /w 20 Long sump
Bubble magus 3.5 Cone skimmer
EcoPlus Eco 633 Submersible Return Pump 594GPH (doesn't add much flow since it has to travel ~4 ft up)
2 Koralia 1050gph Powerheads on the left and right back ends
Bubble Magus BM-T01 dosing B-ionic 2 part
Dual PhosBan Reactor 150 running Carbon (1/2 Cup) and GFO (1/4 Cup) - I unhooked carbon a month ago to see if that could be the problem
LED's from another reefer (not sure if DIY) that are listed 120W (30 White, 25 Blue @ 2W each) about 11" above the water level
I make my own RO/DI water (5 Gallon water changes every week)
I feed about every other day (about 1/4 -1/3 cube of Mysis shrimp)
Only 3 fish: yellow tail damsel, melanurus wrasse, splendid dottyback


Parameters:
Calcium - 420
dKH - 10
Mag - 1450
Alk - 9
Salinity - 1.025
Everything else is where it should be


This picture is from April when I had small algae problems. Cyano/GHA



Corals in my tank that never done well (either turn brown or never grow): Purple stylo, Green stylo, Kelly Green Psammocora, Chalice, Acropora.
Corals in my tank that have done well:Torch, GSP, Candy Canes, Birds nest, Digitata, Zoas, Toadstool, Frogspawn, Monticaps, Duncans.


I really want to get into SPS, but it seems like they never do well in my tank and I have tried almost everything I have read on forums except change my lights out. I have recently put in a lot of work to get my phosphates down and my algae problems are under control (water changes, manual cleaning of rocks, siphoning, GFO). However since then, my LPS are starting to not look as healthy. My frogspawn is turning brown in spots and fading, one head of my torch is fading and not as full, some heads of my duncans don't open. At the same time, my SPS are still brown and not coloring up. The only good thing is I don't see any algae anywhere. I have read that LPS like "dirtier" water, so could this be why they are starting to fade? I should be able to borrow a par meter soon, and I will be able to see what my levels are at to really know if the lights could be the problem. My main question is, are 2W LED's too weak for sps coral?
 
You do need to check your par rating. Your lighting mat not be enough for sps. What is your photoperiod? Do you feed corals? Seems as though your water parameters are okay.
 
The lights are on for about 8 hours a day, and yes I typically feed the corals.
 
Haha thanks, I have been here for a while...just never post. Mainly search and read through forums.

I use API Reef Master Test Kit (KH, Phosphate, Calcium, Nitrate), API Saltwater Master Test Kit (pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate), BUT I also have Red Sea Phosphate test, and Salifert Nitrate test.
 
You should test your phos. level with your makeup water and your tank also. I also don't know if you have enough lighting for sps. Also i would like to see your powerheads facing each other from side to side Sps enjoy lots of flow.
 
Last edited:
I will test my makeup water this weekend when I do my water change.

The reason I don't have powerheads facing each other from side to side is my overflow in the back middle. I shouldn't direct the SPS in front of the powerhead should I? The location of the two stylos are where the powerheads clash off the glass and they are constantly moving. Does it require more than that?
 
Tested both the makeup water and the tank water with Red Sea Phosphate Test... both reading 0.
 

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