corals were doing better in my 5 gallon

no694terry · 01/30/2012, 03:35 PM

I can figure it out. My corals were growing and had great colors and were full bodied under 2x28 50/50 compacts in a homemade hood in my 5.5 gallon. now in the 15 gallon they are dieing back and losing color, 4x24 t5 with KZ bulbs. 2 blue 1 purple one AS 15k special. tried a couple different timer settings and no changes. Its a mix reef and the SPS seem to be doing the same as the mushrooms, although the sps still show good growth at the bases, the mushrooms are multiplying but never fully open and are not as dark colored, not really bleached but not as dark. the button polyps have all reduced in size but are still dividing. my blasto is dead and my lavender mushroom look on the way out.

weekly water changes, PH, temp, nitrates, nitrite and ammonia all good. using reef crystals, no other dosing beside a cap full of marine snow every now and then for the feather duster. fish are a small clown and a yellow watchmen.

any ideas, i was leaning towards too much light but didn't think 96 watts on a 15 could be "too much". i even tried running just one white and one blue for a few days and no change

OceanDweller · 01/30/2012, 04:43 PM

Its probably a lot more light with the t-5, they could be getting too much light. I mean 15 gallons and depending on how high the t-5 is with reflectors it could be overkill/shock from going pc to t-5. I would knock off a couple hours of the photo period possibly if its around 8-12 hours down to 6 and see if you see an improvement, assuming your running the lighting for a while.

It depends on the height of your 15 gallon as well. It could be 7" of water or 20".

I personally would guess its the move coupled with higher lighting, I have seen it happen numerous times "though usually back in the day with PC to halide".

no694terry · 01/30/2012, 05:41 PM

its been 4 months since the move. the only other thing is i kept to a one gallon a week water change, same as when in was in the 5, so in theory i'm changing 2/3rd's less water but still about 4 gallons a month. i baby this tank and its struggling.

my tank at home i top off with straight tap water under normal t5's, salinity varies from 1.023 to 1.029 weekly, has never had a water change and its thriving!!

01/30/2012, 03:35 PM	#1
no694terry Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 121	corals were doing better in my 5 gallon I can figure it out. My corals were growing and had great colors and were full bodied under 2x28 50/50 compacts in a homemade hood in my 5.5 gallon. now in the 15 gallon they are dieing back and losing color, 4x24 t5 with KZ bulbs. 2 blue 1 purple one AS 15k special. tried a couple different timer settings and no changes. Its a mix reef and the SPS seem to be doing the same as the mushrooms, although the sps still show good growth at the bases, the mushrooms are multiplying but never fully open and are not as dark colored, not really bleached but not as dark. the button polyps have all reduced in size but are still dividing. my blasto is dead and my lavender mushroom look on the way out. weekly water changes, PH, temp, nitrates, nitrite and ammonia all good. using reef crystals, no other dosing beside a cap full of marine snow every now and then for the feather duster. fish are a small clown and a yellow watchmen. any ideas, i was leaning towards too much light but didn't think 96 watts on a 15 could be "too much". i even tried running just one white and one blue for a few days and no change

01/30/2012, 04:43 PM	#2
OceanDweller Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Longview Texas Posts: 294	Its probably a lot more light with the t-5, they could be getting too much light. I mean 15 gallons and depending on how high the t-5 is with reflectors it could be overkill/shock from going pc to t-5. I would knock off a couple hours of the photo period possibly if its around 8-12 hours down to 6 and see if you see an improvement, assuming your running the lighting for a while. It depends on the height of your 15 gallon as well. It could be 7" of water or 20". I personally would guess its the move coupled with higher lighting, I have seen it happen numerous times "though usually back in the day with PC to halide". __________________ Brad

01/30/2012, 05:41 PM	#3
no694terry Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 121	its been 4 months since the move. the only other thing is i kept to a one gallon a week water change, same as when in was in the 5, so in theory i'm changing 2/3rd's less water but still about 4 gallons a month. i baby this tank and its struggling. my tank at home i top off with straight tap water under normal t5's, salinity varies from 1.023 to 1.029 weekly, has never had a water change and its thriving!!