Toxic green torch not so green anymore

[Bars]

Alright, I have no idea what's going on with this one. All my corals are doing great and this torch especially has fantastic PE. Every thread about such issues usually comes down to low or zero nutrients, but mine have never even been close to what is considered low.

In just a month, it has changed from a nice bright green to a very dull, almost translucent color. I also feel like it has grown quite a bit in the same time. Haven't changed lighting or flow. I did increase the temperature from 75.5 to 79 over the course of 2 months and have started dosing phytoplankton a month ago as well. Had to do some unplanned major rescaping a week ago, but other than that no major changes for the last month or so.

Funnily, a brown/purple dragonsoul torch I bought about a month ago has steadily been gaining color.

Parameters:
Alk: 10
Calc: 455
Mag: 1500
Salinity 1.024
Temp. 78.8

Prepare yourselves...
Nitrates 30 - 40
Phosphates 0.5
I have neglected my nutrients quite a bit the last month and a half. Usually nitrates are around 20 - 25 and phosphates 0.1. Coincidentally I haven't tested nitrates and phosphates during the time this torch has lost its color... I assume they've been like this for a few weeks already, because I had/have some problems with my nutrient export.

Took a few pics. First one on the left is exactly a month ago, on the right is just now. FTS and a few zoomed in pics to show the rest of the tank.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Wow that's a very nice tank! It sounds like your rising nutrients are the only recent changes so that is what I would assume has affected the torch

 

[tnewell]

Okay, I have the SAME exact problem, but mine has not gotten that transparent. I assumed it was a lighting problem, but I’m clueless.

 

[Bars]

Wow that's a very nice tank! It sounds like your rising nutrients are the only recent changes so that is what I would assume has affected the torch

Thanks

After speaking with a few people with related issues, I think so too. Ordered 2 LED growth lights and I'll be DIYing an algae scrubber this week to finally deal with those nutrients. Hopefully it is indeed the high nutrients causing problems.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Sounds like a plan. Where did you find plans for the scrubber? I've always wanted to diy one

 

[Bars]

Sounds like a plan. Where did you find plans for the scrubber? I've always wanted to diy one

I'm not necessarily going to follow a specific build, rather made up my own idea by looking at different DIY scrubbers. It's extremely simple, probably not as effective as some other scrubbers, but this one costs next to nothing. From what I read it's still extremely effective.

Basically it consists of a 6x6'' mesh screen (I believe that's what it's called), a small return pump and some pvc tubing to make a frame and spray bar. Should look something like this:

Going to place it above/in the refugium compartment, submerse it slightly to eliminate waterfall noises. I ordered a LED growth light with 2 goose necks and spots. 1 For the scrubber, 1 for the chaeto. Or I might eventually use both lights on the scrubber and get rid of the refugium. Mainly want to keep the refugium for the small critters that hang around in there.

Again, there's probably more effective ways, but with a cost price of only $10 (only had to buy the mesh screens) it's worth a try