The Mystery I can't figure out!

[P3FE]

So, I've been battling with SPS color issues for the last few months, they are just pale and won't color up, healthy and growing but the color is just not there. I have tried rising nitrates, with little success. I broke down and feed the tank every day, no change. I have try different alkalinity levels and nothing. Finally broke down and send my water to be tested by Triton, got my results today, and after looking at what it seems good water quality I don't know what else to do, Maybe you guys can help me figure this out. According to the ICP I need to raise my PO4, I don't feel comfortable doing that, but it seems like is the only thing I have not done. At this time my Alk is 9.4 and NO3 is .05 Temp79.4 , all the other levels still the same as the ICP shows below. Any suggestions will be appreciated!

 

[Reefing Madness]

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/phoenix-metal-halide-14k-double-end-bulb.html

 

[P3FE]

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/phoenix-metal-halide-14k-double-end-bulb.html

I'm running Radions in my tank, and they are set to the 14,000 setting for four hours of the day. I don't think lighting is an issue.

 

[Z-man]

Only 4 hours? I run my blues for 12 hours and halides for 6 split into 2 - 3 hour segments. Blues alone for 2, then halides and blue for 3, only blues for 2, both for 3 and blues only for 2. Seems to work very well.

 

[Reefing Madness]

4 hours. Thought they should be on at least 6 hours minimum. Whats the rest of your schedule look like?

 

[P3FE]

Only 4 hours? I run my blues for 12 hours and halides for 6 split into 2 - 3 hour segments. Blues alone for 2, then halides and blue for 3, only blues for 2, both for 3 and blues only for 2. Seems to work very well.

My lights run for 11 hours from blues to 20k to 14k back to 20k back to blues. What i meant was that they stay at 14k for four hours of my schedule

 

[Reefing Madness]

Got ya. Ive no ideas.

 

[Triggreef]

Po4

 

[P3FE]

Po4

Undetectable

 

[hinovak]

How long does it take before algae grows on your glass?

 

[P3FE]

How long does it take before algae grows on your glass?

I would say about three days. I do my five gallon water change every Sunday, and clean the glass every Wednesday and Saturday.

 

[hinovak]

Are you dosing anything? And what size tank do you have? And flow? This is a tough one. Algae growth seems perfect.

 

[P3FE]

Are you dosing anything? And what size tank do you have? And flow? This is a tough one. Algae growth seems perfect.

I only dose Alk and Calcium. It's a 60 cube with a single MP40 for flow, it does the job at 80%. It's driving me crazy that I can't figure out why the SPS are so pale. All my LPS are happy, the fish are happy, don't know what else to try

 

[hinovak]

Ok, I by no means do not know of this is an answer to your problems. But you might try this. Dose amino acids, sometimes it will make acros turn fuzzy. And maybe try knocking flow up a bit. I have a 78 gal. Half circle. I run two mp10s at a 100% and coralvue gyre at 60 percent. And who knows if this will help, but everytime I have and acro that seems off, if I increase flow to him, he will get happy. Do you dose mag? Acros eat up mag. Like crazy. I dose 50ml daily. And it could be that you are doing nothing wrong, but at some point you ticked them off unknowingly, and it is just taking a longtime for them to get happy. I had a similar problem to yours, and after sometime, they got happy again. Just do not do anything fast. Experiment slowly.

 

[P3FE]

Ok, I by no means do not know of this is an answer to your problems. But you might try this. Dose amino acids, sometimes it will make acros turn fuzzy. And maybe try knocking flow up a bit. I have a 78 gal. Half circle. I run two mp10s at a 100% and coralvue gyre at 60 percent. And who knows if this will help, but everytime I have and acro that seems off, if I increase flow to him, he will get happy. Do you dose mag? Acros eat up mag. Like crazy. I dose 50ml daily. And it could be that you are doing nothing wrong, but at some point you ****** them off unknowingly, and it is just taking a longtime for them to get happy. I had a similar problem to yours, and after sometime, they got happy again. Just do not do anything fast. Experiment slowly.

I'm going to let them be for now and see what happens, going to lower Alk slowly closer to the 8 range and see what that do

 

[naso tang]

What two part are you using? And are the corals growing just not good color? If you use randy's two part its good to add some strontium on top of that. I dont know that this would affect color but is important for skeleton.

I agree with trying aminos and more flow, can't hurt. How long have the corals been in your system? If they've been moved within the last 6 months or so, might just be adapting...

 

[mic209]

IMO, stop trying to change things. Don't tinker with the light schedule, feed heavy and do weekly water changes. Keep ALK at whatever your new saltwater mixes up to and keep it as consistent as possible at that level.

 

[Elegance Coral]

I agree with mic209. I would just add, be patient. These things aren't going to change color over night.

 

[MontiFanatic402]

Since your PO4 is so low, doesnt that cause corals to become pale and starve? I would say keep everything the same, except... try feeding more. I think your water may be too clean, thus starving your sps. dont dump a whole bottle of anything in, but start with aminos...that should trigger a feeding response, then try target feeding some reef chili, or reef roids. And dont blast the corals with the food, that causes them to retract, gently blow a cloud of mixed food in their direction. Hope you get it figured out!

 

[pciscott]

I agree p04 is low, I get my best colors above .05 and target .08 to .1

If you are running gfo I would take off line, your water is stripped. I also run my Nitrates no less than 5.