Newbie In SPS

[Luke Schnabel]

A few months back I took a shot at getting some SPS corals. I got a few Pocillopora and Stylopora frags. My stylo is growing, slow, the polyps are all nice and green but the tops of the branches are white. Not the tips, just the tops. It's par is around 170-200. My Pocillopora is growing nice but I think it's starting to lose some color as well. Sitting at about 170 par. Most of my top aquascape where my SPS will be is about 160-210 par.

Also im running three Hydra 26's... My Blues are 65% White is 20% Green/red is 30% and UV is 15%. 11hrs total light with 3hrs ramp up and down. Sunrise 9:45am/sunset 6:45pm

Testing with Red Sea...
Cal 360, Alk 8.5, Mg 1410, No-0, Po.02. SG .026

I also target feed SPS with reef Roids twice a week.

I'm wondering if I need to bring par Up/Down or adjust light period or even the % of each colors.

 

[G8trBait16]

I have 2 Hydra 52 HD's over my 75 on my SPS dominated tank. 99.9% of my SPS are frags. My light schedule is below.

8am-9am: Royal blue
9am-7pm 2hr ramp
9pm-10pm: royal blue

UV: 50
Violet: 55
Royal Blue: 80
Blue: 85
Green: 20
Red: 10
White: 35

 

[Luke Schnabel]

Looks good. I'm wondering why just the tops of them are turning white? I feel like it's to much light and looks bleached out. But then I see others with par levels in the 300-400 range for SPS and they are doing fine.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

yes you can prob safely go up in par IMO IME w the ones Im looking at right this second, but there is an interesting correlation between Ca alk nutrients and light levels.

Edit:
Yea did a quick search, low ("correct") ,nutrients high("correct") alk sometimes leads to burned tips esp in higher pars(250 is actually sort of high technically) creates bone faster than flesh in some cases. White tips.

 

[Vaughn17]

Your nutrients are low. SPS like to eat; that's why they have all those polyps. Try dosing NO3.

 

[MontiFanatic402]

Try feeding a little more, or dosing NO3. Your nitrates are too low! shoot for 2-5 nitrates

 

[Luke Schnabel]

Ok I'll try to raise them but I'm afraid of algae growing. Is it safe to shoot for 5ppm No and .02-.04 Po??
I'll try to reduce the Alk since its ultra low nutrients.

 

[Luke Schnabel]

Nitrates have been crazy low I guess because my caulerpa algae is starting to die off. So I will be feeding more. I appricate everything guys

 

[Vaughn17]

IMO, nasty algae blooms are caused when nutrients get out of balance. Nitrates should be significantly higher than phosphates. Google Redfield ratio. The numbers that you mentioned sound good to me, although I think I would aim for 2.5 ppm NO3 to start. Good Luck!

 

[Russ265]

@Vaughn17 @MontiFanatic402 are spot on.

i bomb my corals from 300 par at the sandbed to 1200 par at a few inches below the surface.

i keep nitrates above 5.

otherwise, pale, bleach, etc.

bump nitrates so zoox can thicken up. good luck!