Lighting?

reefpeeper · Oct 11, 2015

I'm fairly new to sps. I would say about 1.5 yrs I have been keeping them. The frags and also small colonies in my tank all grow decent but do not have the color I would like. My question is how do I know if my sps are getting too much light or too little? Maybe the spectrum? I have a 120w chinese fixture about 10-12 inches from water and all sps are a few inches below surface. Any ideas?

reefpeeper · Oct 12, 2015

Anybody?

3425675765 · Oct 12, 2015

Sorry bro would've helped you if I had xp with it. You tried googling the species with light spectrum or something?

LILBUDDHA · Oct 12, 2015

Pics size tank would help as would h20 parameters.
EG> 120 watt led on a 20 gallon (not so good ) too much light . On a 60 cube might be perfect dependent on height .
EG>. Pic's as sold or grown by other hobbyists
Then your pic for comparison .
Phos , Nitrate DKH can affect coral coloration.
As far as leds spectrum does play a role as does intensity .
U kinda see where I am going here I hope .

LILBUDDHA · Oct 12, 2015

Did a lil digging on prior posts by u .
R u referring to the 34 rimless shallow tank u have ? Tank looks good .
Waiting on the rest of the info .

reefpeeper · Oct 12, 2015

Yes 34g. Phosphate is zero using hanna tester, but i do have some red slime that seems to be growing in a couple places. Do not know how accurate tester is. Nitrate is zero last time tested. Alk is at 7.6 Cal is 450
Do not have any pics of the corals as they were sold to me. I know that they can be colored better though. One i got was nicely colored and now is dull. U know what im saying. Maybe i just cant give the info u guys need.

LILBUDDHA · Oct 12, 2015

reefpeeper said:
Yes 34g. Phosphate is zero using hanna tester, but i do have some red slime that seems to be growing in a couple places. Do not know how accurate tester is. Nitrate is zero last time tested. Alk is at 7.6 Cal is 450
Do not have any pics of the corals as they were sold to me. I know that they can be colored better though. One i got was nicely colored and now is dull. U know what im saying. Maybe i just cant give the info u guys need.

Its not that . If u throw out a question for an assist sometimes good info is needed to assist . Just a generalized vague question is not going to get a valid resolution .
Phos should never be 0 , neither should nitrate . R the colors dull or pale ?
I would try feeding more n if you are doing a lot of water changes I would hold up .
I would shoot for phos 3-5 ppm n get to at least 5 to 10 ppm on no3 . Hows the fish bioload ? See knowing your phos n no3 gave u a direction already ?

reefpeeper · Oct 12, 2015

I have 4 fish. I will test phos and nitrate again today and get back with n7mbers. If phos and nitrate are low why is red slime looking stuff growing

LILBUDDHA · Oct 12, 2015

Not totally sure . I have a local reefer scratching her about the same thing (cyano) .
Does the light have red leds in it ?
R u using bio pellets?
Poss cause is water supply from the city .
BTW API is fine for nitrate testing as long as the directions r followed .
One more edit question is the coral in question n acro or monti ?

reefpeeper · Oct 12, 2015

the coral is an acro. My montis are spreading like crazy and the color of them is decent. I use ro di water and the tds is 0 using handheld meter. No red lights and no biopellets just phosphate remover in reactor

LILBUDDHA · Oct 12, 2015

If it were me . I would take any carbon or gfo offline for the moment . Keep in mind the goal is to have at least some nitrate n phos in the system with prior stated levels.
Feed more . Look into dosing amino's that includes some form of stabilized vitamin c . (EG .. I use Selcon ) . I highly recommend it .
These suggestions are not extreme and should not impact the tank in any negative fashion .

Colors can be a tricky thing. Different elements assist in different colors.

Here is a guide .

http://reefbuilders.com/2008/09/03/guide-of-sps-coral-coloration-make-them-more-vivid-bright/

If this doesn't get you the eye candy you are looking for then I would look at supplementing the current lighting .

HTH ..

reefpeeper · Oct 12, 2015

Thank u

LILBUDDHA · Oct 12, 2015

reefpeeper said:
Thank u

U r very welcome . Not sure where in Conn u are but there are some good ppl on CTARS .
I recently relocated back to NC from Springifield MA. Can't say I miss the weather