sps going pale need some nitrate . suggest a product

chicago · Oct 18, 2019

Ok.. so my frags that i got are in my QT... they had some great color and almost at 30 day mark for QT. Ready to go into the DT. I believe the going pale is due to lack of nitrate... The frag QT has not fish as this is to insure no ick or pests on frags..

Can you suggest a product to bring up the nitrate. Thanks

jda · Oct 18, 2019

It is more likely light, unless you are stripping N too low with organic carbon or a sulphur denitrator or something artificial. Click on this photo below and check out the album... my tank has N of about .1, which is not detectable with a hobby grade test kit.

Sodium Nitrate can work, but chasing N or P is usually a disaster. Ammonia/ammonium is better for most corals to get their nitrogen.

chicago · Oct 19, 2019

So unsure if it is the light.. the Neptune par meter on the QT frag tank only shows like 98 par. But the radion 4gen that lights the 30 gallon long frag QT tank is only like 24 inches above. I run a light spectrum daily program similar to the ones that WWC and other growers use.. now as a right this I wonder if the par meter accurately reads blue light at like 14k.

smartwater101 · Oct 19, 2019

What are your nitrates, what are you testing with, and have you confirmed the results with a different brand kit?

As for dosing, LOUDWOLF is well liked.

chicago · Oct 19, 2019

ok.. read up on this.. not going to chase the devil... my readings are zero.. under deep blues frags look ok and good.. its when i turn on the light to the room or go to 18k on the radion gen4 that the frags look pale.

TheHarold · Oct 19, 2019

Why are you overcomplicating it so much?

Feed the tank. Mysis, flakes, pellets, coral food, really doesn’t matter. No need for chemicals lol

TheHarold · Oct 19, 2019

chicago said:
ok.. read up on this.. not going to chase the devil... my readings are zero.. under deep blues frags look ok and good.. its when i turn on the light to the room or go to 18k on the radion gen4 that the frags look pale.

0.00 = no nutrients available for corals. You wouldn’t be happy in that environment either. Feed the tank and you’ll see coloration improvements within a couple weeks

chicago · Oct 19, 2019

Frag QT tank has no fish in it.. I am going to start feed Reef Roids ect.. see if that helps. Thanks all

Softhammer · Oct 19, 2019

I use fish poo. Best product on the market.

Graffiti Spot · Oct 19, 2019

I think people these days are scared of low nutrients. I would love to see some pictures of what your saying is pale. Otherwise it’s all just guessing. I am leaning towards the light as well since you say your only getting a very low par number. If you want some good help, post some pics.

chicago · Oct 19, 2019

will do... trying to get photos is not that easy with these blue lights ect.. need to find my poly lens... under deep blue or blues.. they look ok.. as one might expect.. not as great as weeks ago.. but when i go to 18k or even the 20k setting on the gen4 radion... they look pale.. I should be posting pics.. i agree kinda a shot in the dark without me posting them.

Graffiti Spot · Oct 19, 2019

Yea I have seen a few tanks that look great with all blues then when the whites kick on stuff looks kind of pale. Most of them were under lit and used mostly blue light all day. The one I helped just had to turn the lights up and run the whites for a decent period and the corals looked much better. But each tank is a little different.