SPS Color Issues

[madweazl]

Best results I've had with SPS is 7 dKh and nitrates below 3ppm; nothing else seems to make much of a difference for me. I've had phosphates from .01ppm and the current level of about .2ppm and everything looks the same (didn't mean for them to be this high but I've been out of town for about a month and the Mrs. likes to keep the fish, plump we'll say).

 

[mshonk]

i have it on my dosing pump started with 1ml every few days
then got it up to 4ml every other day
took it down to 3ml every other day but coral colors and growth are amazing right now. all sps

Let me rephrase what supplement are you using to dose nitrate?

 

[madweazl]

Let me rephrase what supplement are you using to dose nitrate?

Sodium nitrate or potassium nitrate (Spectracide Stump Remover).

 

[Graffiti Spot]

Wait to get a better test kit before dosing any nitrates. Api might be zero and a salifert or red Sea will show it as low but good.

 

[mshonk]

Wait to get a better test kit before dosing any nitrates. Api might be zero and a salifert or red Sea will show it as low but good.

That was my plan just getting my ducks in a row.

 

[mshonk]

Pics

 

[Scorpius]

I see no algae. Your tank is starving. Start feeding more asap.

 

[jda]

Everything looks on track to me. Do not sweat the nitrates of phosphates, it appears that you have enough.

The tank just looks young. When the coralline starts to grow like crazy and the tank gets to about a year old, then the acropora will start to color and grow better. Until then, just keep all of the parameters stable and in check.

 

[mshonk]

Everything looks on track to me. Do not sweat the nitrates of phosphates, it appears that you have enough.

The tank just looks young. When the coralline starts to grow like crazy and the tank gets to about a year old, then the acropora will start to color and grow better. Until then, just keep all of the parameters stable and in check.

Kinda the game plan and it still is under a year but had originally it was a 29g with about 40g total and then I found an great deal on a breeder/skimmer/media reactor/stand/pumps and plumbing. The skimmer was worth what I paid for all of it. Its been up and running in total since last march but in the 40g for about 2.5 months.

I added a fish. I figured adding waste as naturally as possible was the best bet for now plus I only had two fish and a cleaner shrimp in the tank. My clean up crew will benefit as well as the corals from the extra waste. There is a midas blenny now in the tank. I made sure that its the largest fish in the tank to limit any territorial issues, though I wish I keep him in a separate container but in sight of his new tank mates longer. Its eating, just hiding out a bit more than I would hope.

 

[mshonk]

Just wanna say thanks for all the support and info. You guys definitely helped me come up with a game plan.

Everything looks on track to me. Do not sweat the nitrates of phosphates, it appears that you have enough.

The tank just looks young. When the coralline starts to grow like crazy and the tank gets to about a year old, then the acropora will start to color and grow better. Until then, just keep all of the parameters stable and in check.

I forgot to say I am too much of a control freak to not monitor everything. I am figuring after all the Christmas shopping I am going to pick up a bunch of trace element tests. I am not particularly proud of myself for dosing the lugol's but not testing for it.

 

[mshonk]

Since I posted this thread I have gently ramped up to double the amount i feedings, added a midas blenny, started target feeding the sps, and bought a better nitrate test kit. Nitrates are still 0 with the red sea pro. My hanna phosphorus checker give me nothing but l.lo after 4 different batteries. So I dont know where its at for now. But i have noticed some of the color on the garf bonsai seems to be coming back already. Its crazy my critters were definitely fat and happy before.
I doubled feedings though the midas blenny is full grown. On another note tha calcium and alk absobtion rates have changed. Which makes sense. But the alk is stil 10.9 and I dialed my dosing pumps down 5ml for alk and bumped my calcium up 5ml and the calcium is dropping. I will get it sorted out and have been testing like crazy.

 

[Lunger50]

If your looking for your alk to come down, just shut down the dosing pumps and let it fall naturally. Once at or near your target level measure for a couple days to see how much it's dropping. Bring your doser back online dosing the appropriate amount to keep it where you want.

 

[mshonk]

If your looking for your alk to come down, just shut down the dosing pumps and let it fall naturally. Once at or near your target level measure for a couple days to see how much it's dropping. Bring your doser back online dosing the appropriate amount to keep it where you want.

That was my initial thought but I didnt want it to drop to quickly. So I have been gently dialing it back and testing daily.

 

[mshonk]

I see no algae. Your tank is starving. Start feeding more asap.

I think you nailed it!

 

[Scorpius]

I think you nailed it!

I just started nitrate dosing myself. Feeding wasn't enough for my system!!!

 

[mshonk]

I just started nitrate dosing myself. Feeding wasn't enough for my system!!!

I may have to go that route but I am pretty sure I am starting to get results after a weekish of changing my feeding routine. I will likely wait 3 weeks to a month before I consider dosing nitrates.

 

[xabo]

This may help: https://reefbuilders.com/2008/09/03...il&utm_term=0_023ca91d64-34b70ce5cb-462455457

 

[mshonk]

This may help: https://reefbuilders.com/2008/09/03...il&utm_term=0_023ca91d64-34b70ce5cb-462455457

That article is why I picked up lugols solution.

 

[Flippers4pups]

I would warn about dosing elements that you can't test for.

Using redsea color program is preferred by many hobbyist, but also reported that if you stop dosing it, colors may fade. Food for thought. I haven't used it personally.

For systems that are under a year, having N03 and P04 lower is desirable do to the chances of fueling nuisance pest algae. 5 ppm N03 and 0.02 P04 is best for these systems overall.

For systems at a year or over, higher N03 and P04 can be done, with a caveat. Having more coral allows for higher nutrients.

I can say that's my current situation. My tank has grown out and can handle 20-40 ppm N03 and P04 at.1. with no pest algaes. I don't dose anything except kalkwasser through my ATO and occasionally some sodium bicarbonate to boost my alkalinity.

Can everyone do this? I'd say it depends on age of the system and how many corals you have.

One thing is certain, having little to no N03 and P04 will make it hard to keep corals healthy.

 

[mshonk]

Time for an update. I lost the midas blenny. Not sure why. It was eating well. Didn't see it for the first feeding and found that it tucked itself into the rock. params were stale. I have been trying to get the alk to drop.I used to dose 18ml for the day I cut it back to 11ml and I am still locked in at 10.9dkh. I let it stay there for a 5 days and just monitored. I am likely going to reduce it a bit more. I did a fresh batch of alk[Randy's Recipe 1] and I am attributing the change to that. Next batch the baking soda will be measured out in grams and recorded to ensue consistency.

I almost have .25 ppm NO3. I have been feeding the tank well. I only do a 2 gallon water change. It is a very clean running system. Still have no PO4 from a faulty Hanna checker. I had to mail it back to them.

Over all not much more color but I did notice a difference. But polyp extension is much better. on acro started stn'ing but i think that was from to much flow and a slight alk jump from 10.7 to 11.2. It actually appears to be recovering.

My params:
cal 420
ph 8.3
salinity 1.026
alk 10.9
no3 .25
mag 1400
temp 79.5

last fluctuation was 19th thats when tha alk jumped and the no3 finally came up as a reading on the 23rd.

Oh and I raised my lights about 2". being that they are black box leds. Beacuse of that I watched the BRS video on them with their par readings and there is a thread on here about the lights. I did notice a difference in my lights specs verses the mars and others. I have remote . No but really The bloomspect one I have seems to have a better blue range and a less yellow white channel. The color in the tank looks great.
The lights are:
Channel 1: 18 x Cool white(10000-16000K), 6 x Neutral whites(6500-7500K), 2 x Green 520nm and 2 x Deep red 660nm
Channel 2: 14 x Royal Blue 450nm, 9 x Blue 470nm, 2 x Violet 420nm and 2 x UV 400nm
My unit's lenses are 90 degree rather than lights that have 60 degree. I would have liked to see 120 but I will take the 90 over 60. At the current height over the tank the center lights definitely spread over the tanks footprint.

I will put some pics up on the weekend.