SPS loosing color

[SCReef'n]

My new SPS are not coloring up like I’d like. Thinking about lowering a couple of the worst ones in the tank. About how long do you wait before making a change. They have been in my system for about a month and have lost color since arriving. Thoughts?

 

[SeaDweller]

Nutrient levels and lighting type? PAR?

 

[Chessmanmark]

You will need more patience, and possibly a carbon source once it has acclimated to get better colors.

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

We can’t help without knowing more details. Parameters, nutrient export methods, lighting, par (if possible), no3/po4 and pics would be helpful

 

[Phildago]

You will need more patience, and possibly a carbon source once it has acclimated to get better colors.

Carbon source starved mine of nutrients and caused bleaching, it may not be a good option for sps

 

[AdamB]

Yes agree 100 % . I lost hundreds of dollars due to carbon and 00 on po3/no3 . Finally I have nutrients where sps are looking great!

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

Yes agree 100 % . I lost hundreds of dollars due to carbon and 00 on po3/no3 . Finally I have nutrients where sps are looking great!

Lucky you. I lost thousands from carbon dosing, gfo etc

 

[SeaDweller]

Lucky you. I lost thousands from carbon dosing, gfo etc

Lucky you, I lost a mermaid carbon dosing. Vodka.

 

[Perry]

Lucky you, I lost a mermaid carbon dosing. Vodka.

Lol

 

[SCReef'n]

Ok so lighting is provided by a kessil 360x ( 60 gal cube) parameters:
Cal: 380
Alk: 8.0
Mag: 1420
No3: 5
Po4: 0.1

I’m not sure about par as I don’t have a meter. Planning on renting one along with an upgrade to T5 hybrid. Nutrient export is a 15-20% WC every other week and GFO in a reactor. Carbon in a sump baffle.

 

[SCReef'n]

Particular corals I question are a fox flame and a “Purple Acro” they sit about 10-15” below the light

 

[SCReef'n]

Here’s a pic of the flame. You can see that the well lit side is much whiter than the side that does not face the light.

 

[SCReef'n]

They seem to grow well and are encrusting rapidly but losing color just as fast.

 

[SeaDweller]

Honestly, could just be the fact they're frags and adjusting to your tank. You could be hitting them with too much light too, although I'm not familiar with Kessil. I can tell you I had to get a par meter a second time to re-evaluate my lights and I had to cut them quite a bit to get to lower par values.

 

[Perry]

60 standard cube? Peak intensity and color spectrum would help. Based on my use of Kessil a360we and 21" deep tank, I was not satisfied with sps, others did very well. All things considered, it was probably me not being patient, but never saw colors pop like with other lighting, again, probably just me, par meter would save you a ton of time

 

[SCReef'n]

Yeah I’m planning on adding T5 to my set up. At the same time renting a meter. It just seems telling to me that one side of the frag is bleaching while the other is still retaining some color. Think I’ll move it down a bit and see what happens.

other sps in the tanks seem to be ok with good color and polyp extension. Im just hesitant to start changing things for no reason.

 

[SCReef'n]

60 standard cube? Peak intensity and color spectrum would help. Based on my use of Kessil a360we and 21" deep tank, I was not satisfied with sps, others did very well. All things considered, it was probably me not being patient, but never saw colors pop like with other lighting, again, probably just me, par meter would save you a ton of time

peak intensity is from 11am to 5pm, the light ramps from 80-90% at 2pm and back to 80% by 5 pm. Running about 25% white, 80% violet, 10% red and green

 

[Perry]

peak intensity is from 11am to 5pm, the light ramps from 80-90% at 2pm and back to 80% by 5 pm. Running about 25% white, 80% violet, 10% red and green

How high off water line, assuming sps are within 12" from surface, you should be good, but depends on height, imo. You could lower it .5 inch, then observe for a couple of weeks... just a thought good choice adding t5

 

[SCReef'n]

How high off water line, assuming sps are within 12" from surface, you should be good, but depends on height, imo. You could lower it .5 inch, then observe for a couple of weeks... just a thought good choice adding t5

Fixture is about 6-8” off the water. Corals in question are about 10-12” below the water

 

[Perry]

Fixture is about 6-8” off the water. Corals in question are about 10-12” below the water

Sounds good to me But ZERO experience with this light.
Cheers