SPS Growing but color is washed out, Need help!

[GHill762]

I think this has been my issue the past few months as well, I have a nutrient sink in my tank. I've started feeding heavier and with better quality foods and I've noticed much more color returning to my corals.

gonna follow your progress, looks like you've already made some significant progress based on your last set of pics!

 

[P3FE]

I think this has been my issue the past few months as well, I have a nutrient sink in my tank. I've started feeding heavier and with better quality foods and I've noticed much more color returning to my corals.

gonna follow your progress, looks like you've already made some significant progress based on your last set of pics!

I think is working out so far, but like everyone says, patience is the key. I'm going to keep testing and looking at the tank, I'm not going to lie, it makes me incredible uncomfortable to have my skimmer off, but sometimes we get caught up in the "must things you have to do to be successful" that we forget to listen to our tanks!

 

[KoleTang]

Your alk is too high for the amount of food your coral is getting. Raise feeding to the fish or direct to the coral. If your system can't handle any more food then lower the alk.

More info here: the secret to colorful,healthy corals....obvious to some,elusive to many - Reef Central Online Community

 

[Keithcorals]

I agree I wouldn't run my alk over 8 with nutrients that low.

 

[P3FE]

It's been a while since my last update so I figure I let you guys know what has been going on with the cube. I first start by saying that everything is looking awesome and wanted to share the changes I did to the tank. I started by restating the skimmer and leaving the filter sock off. That seem to get the turn around started. After a lot of reading and some of you guys advice I decided to lower my ALK to 8.0. It took me about a week to get it there but as soon as I started I saw polyp extension start it to get better. Once I got to 8.0, I decided to up the nutrients in the tank, not by feeding anything but by adding more fish to the tank. A week after adding the new fish everything start it to color up, polyp extension went crazy and the tank started to brighten up. Then I decided to lower my photoperiod by an hour and up my flow 10%. After that change everything exploded, SPS are super happy, and slowly but surely getting their color back, polyp extension is crazy and even the LPS went to overdrive. I guess I found my tank happy place and I'm loving it!! Here's a few cellphone pics. Thanks to everyone for all the input and advice.

 

[P3FE]

 

[P3FE]

 

[P3FE]

 

[KoleTang]

This may help. the secret to colorful,healthy corals....obvious to some,elusive to many - Reef Central Online Community

 

[Chris155hp]

If it helps this is my t5 light tank but it's being blasted with light. I run my blues for 12hrs a day and all lights on in the middle of the day for 8. I hade the same problem before increasing nutrients

WOW whats your bulb combo and what channels are each on a(i.e. are blues just two bulbs)

 

[Keithcorals]

Chris155hp
I run 2 coral pluss for 8 hours a day 4 blue pluss for 10 hours in a ATi power module with two reef bright blue led strips for 12 hours

 

[peacepleasure]

When it comes to detectable nitrates, what is a good number to keep it at?

 

[unchin]

Wow what a fantastic difference in just one month. Thanks for the update!

 

[Anthony_MC67]

I get about 360par at the top of the aqua scape and around 100 at the sand bed, 250 at the middle of the tank. Didn't think it was to much light for SPS but I think I will lower them a bit and see what happens. I also order a Triton test to make sure there's not something I can't test that is causing this.

If you are getting 350 par on the top I wouldn't lower it. Just increase your nutrients. Your nitrogen should be at least 5ppm. I would aim for 10 and .03 for phosphates.