Where's the glowing going? :/

Blackice615 · Mar 11, 2019

Since Dec. I've noticed this milli(?) and a few others losing their pop or fluorescence. Only change has been a slight increase to phosphates, upwards of 1 while I was away for work. I performed a 45 gallon WC.

Tank is 125 gallons and set up for 2 years. All other levels are standard. Running Radion AB+ at 85% and white channel levels of 70% during the day. Purchased these corals in Oct that were previously under T5's.

How can I regain that fluorescence back? Should I increase my light intensity? Should I reduce white levels?

Top pic is current. Bottom is 12/31/18

View attachment 20190311_201427.jpg

Big G · Mar 11, 2019

Have you seen Dana Riddle's speech at MACNA on PAR & corals? If not, this may help you solve your situation. It's kinda long and while the whole speech is good the great stuff happens at around 22 minutes into the video: https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/vide...light-water-motion-by-dana-riddle-macna-2016/

Blackice615 · Mar 12, 2019

I haven't, thanks. I'll look at it today.

hanas · Mar 12, 2019

I would definitely rent a PAR meter and check your levels. I’m using Hydra 52’s, have great color and growth but would fry everything with whites at 70% so they may be too high but each tank is different. Do you dose amino acids at all? This helped pop the colors a little bit more for me, but I wouldn’t just use them without correctly or adjusting your lighting or other water parameters first.

Blackice615 · Mar 12, 2019

Thanks, I've been considering turning them down. Prior to me leaving, I began dosing acropower slowly.

So far my lighting schedule is 12pm to 10pm. 12-1pm all blues, 8 to 10pm all blues.

Blackice615 · Mar 12, 2019

@Big G thanks for the video. Very informative watching it from start to finish. Have me questioning my habits now. I've experienced alot of success but have me thinking how much better my tank would be if I focused more.

While it may not seem like much, I used Red Sea Coral salt between Aug til Dec and switched back to Reef Crystals

Big G · Mar 12, 2019

Blackice615 said:
@Big G thanks for the video. Very informative watching it from start to finish. Have me questioning my habits now. I've experienced alot of success but have me thinking how much better my tank would be if I focused more.

While it may not seem like much, I used Red Sea Coral salt between Aug til Dec and switched back to Reef Crystals

Which RS salt were you using Blue bucket or Black?

Blackice615 · Mar 12, 2019

Black, coral pro

Big G · Mar 12, 2019

Blackice615 said:
Black, coral pro

That's all I use in my DT.

I like not having to dose micros.

MrObscura · Mar 12, 2019

I switched from rscp to blue bucket because Alk is way to high with pro imo.

Anyway with any decent salt you should have to dose micros unless you never do waterchanges, and in that case you'll still need to with any salt.

Back to the topic at hand, after researching and comparing tanks, I belive a short full spectrum period with a long blue/violet period results in best colors.

Blackice615 · Mar 12, 2019

Thank you and I agree. Itll be best to increase my alk as well and possibly shorten the white/green/red channels also

Charlie’s Frags · Mar 13, 2019

hanas said:
I would definitely rent a PAR meter and check your levels. I’m using Hydra 52’s, have great color and growth but would fry everything with whites at 70% so they may be too high but each tank is different. Do you dose amino acids at all? This helped pop the colors a little bit more for me, but I wouldn’t just use them without correctly or adjusting your lighting or other water parameters first.

Agreed.
I use hydra 52 HD’s as well and my whites don’t go higher than 20% and my colors are awesome