My SPS color is ...

[specialk]

...not good.

First some facts about my setup:

* 125 with some softies but mainly SPS frags, about 18 of them
* The SPS frags that I am questioning here are new ones, in which I have had for about 2 months now
* Running Ocean Revive S026's. Have the blues about 75% and the whites about 50%
* Frags placed all where they are said to be placed based on sites like ORA, etc. that have descriptions of the SPS
* 20% water changes every 2 weeks.
* Always testing my water to insure my parameters are where they should be -- or are recc. to be for all the frags I have in my tank (wanting accelerated growth)
* Parameters are around here: Calcium - 450 Alk - although it drops, I dose with Randy's #2 to keep it and TRY to maintain it around 12.6/4.5 Magnesium - hoping this is not a major problem but I have slacked in testing this consistently as the Seachem Reef Builder Calcium Dry I use says it will maintain a proper Magnesium level simultaneously as I am dosing

The problem: While I am getting great growth from the sticks and they are growing and encrusting, the color looks, well not as good as they should. Some look almost brown a bit in spots -- again even though they are encrusting and getting great growth.

I am wondering if there is some factor that I am missing here or if there is something that I should turn my attention to when the color is not up to how it should be. Supplement for this, another issue? Look forward to your expertise.

 

[Jakef150]

nitrate ?? Phosphate ??

Alk 12.5 ? thats high...

I kept my alk at around 8.6- 8.9

Jake

 

[Keithcorals]

^+1

Pics of the frags could help a lot as well

 

[specialk]

Nitrate is at 0. I am going to test for phosphate later as soon as I get done with this meeting. (**** work) ...However would high phosphate cause the corals to brown and loose color? Also would the high Alk cause that as well? THANKS amigos!!

 

[marke]

Like jake asked. How's the pollution or nutrient level in your system? Lack of color is typically due to nutrients. What are you doing to reduce nutrients? Suggestions. First test correctly. Phosphate need a Hanna checker or better to test. Do you run gfo? How many fish and how often due you feed? Reduce it. Big skimmer? Carbon dosing? Do more or larger water changes. Also your alk is tooooo high. High alk typically burns tips. So I question your test kit accuracy. Try a salifert alk test kit. But focus on reducing pollution!

 

[Jimbo662]

I've also heard many people say browning could be due to not enough light while too much light causes bleaching. Have you tried moving them to different spots around the tank?

 

[Keithcorals]

Alk swings = brown SPS
High alk low nutrients = brown SPS
High nutrients = brown SPS
Low light = brown SPS
These are the most common reasons for brown SPS (my opinion)

 

[StikHedRon]

^^^^ oh and don't forget their SPS and they just sometimes brown out. I love the challenge that sps bring to the table!

 

[specialk]

Like jake asked. How's the pollution or nutrient level in your system? Lack of color is typically due to nutrients. What are you doing to reduce nutrients? Suggestions. First test correctly. Phosphate need a Hanna checker or better to test. Do you run gfo?

I do not run a GFO.

* Fish -- Not many at all. some chromis, 2 clowns and a new PBT. Previous feeding was simple flakes once a day. Now that I have the PBT and I am introducing him to other foods as well, (only for the last 3 days) I am feeding a bit more, BUT the browning was happening before I was feeding more

* Skimmer is well equipped for a 125. And no carbon dosing.

* Good to know with the high Alk levels and being too high .. I will stop dosing to get it to those levels.

And phosphate is 0.25 -- Pics of the corals are coming shortly.

 

[specialk]

Alk swings = brown SPS
High alk low nutrients = brown SPS
High nutrients = brown SPS
Low light = brown SPS
These are the most common reasons for brown SPS (my opinion)

Very good stuff. There were alk swings that's for sure. I did just start spot feeding with Phytoplankton about 3 days ago as this was recommended.

 

[Rpujol85]

Alk swings = brown SPS
High alk low nutrients = brown SPS
High nutrients = brown SPS
Low light = brown SPS
These are the most common reasons for brown SPS (my opinion)

This sounds right to me. WHoa p04 is relatively high. I can almost guarantee this is your issue.

 

[jservedio]

I do not run a GFO.
And phosphate is 0.25

And.... there is your problem. You want to shoot for 1/10th of that if that is what you truly have, however I don't trust your test kits because you would have some serious algae with phosphates like that.

Let your alkalinity drop slowly to a more reasonable level and then maintain it as flat as you possibly can. You are going to need to run GFO or something to get those phosphates down or you will never get color.

Acros aren't easy to get colored up vibrantly and are always going to be a challenge. That's why everyone loves them.

 

[specialk]

Yah unfortunately the only test kit I have right now is the standard APi test kit and that is the reading I am getting. And yes, unfortunately I have had some algae issues in the past month , 2 months. SO I will then start looking into running an GFO but is there anything I can do in the meantime to get those phosphate levels down? I obviously am running a refugium, can I simply add alot more macroalgae to get those phosphate levels down? I most certainly could use some more macro in there thats for sure. oh:

 

[specialk]

 

[specialk]

The color looks a little bit better on some of those as the pics somewhat take a little of the color out .. but I am sure you can get the just of it by looking at them

 

[specialk]

Ok so Phosban Reactor is on it's way and I should have it by tomm. SO I will get this under control right away. I appreciate the help. Also, would you guys specifically reccomend GFO or will this stuff work as well? Amazon.com: Two Little Fishies ATLPB2 Phosban 150gm: Pet Supplies

 

[d2mini]

Same phosphate levels here and i don't think he has a problem with color.
Reefkeeping Magazine - May 2014 Tank of the Month

 

[specialk]

Also just checked my water parameters 1 day after a water change .. they are the following:

Calcium- 460
Magnesium - 1560
Alk -- 9.2

 

[marke]

Same phosphate levels here and i don't think he has a problem with color.
Reefkeeping Magazine - May 2014 Tank of the Month

That's a beautiful tank! I have a hard time believing po4 is at .21? I suspect he means .021? It would be nice if we can inquire?

 

[Pete polyp]

You said your nitrate is 0 correct? It is amazing what a little bit of nitrate will do.....

0 ppm nitrate

0.5-1ppm nitrate

I moved my tank and nitrate spiked to 1ppm from some die off. Its the only thing that changed with the tank. It actually took under 3 weeks for it to make this color transformation.