Corals Losing Colors

Brent Thomann · 07/24/2007, 03:10 PM

Hoping I could get some input.

I have a problem when ever adding beautiful corals/frags to my tank, mainly sps. After a couple weeks the turn from their bright beautiful colors to uglier non appealing colors like brown, etc. Not completely brown but definitely look different and not as nice. Seems to happen to at least 3/4 of my sps frags, not all but most. Some LPS corals too, one chalice turned from bright teal to brownish pink after a month or so.

I keep my water parameters pretty much perfect. Any ideas on how to get my corals to color up more?

I am using a 250w Aqua Medic AB MH 20k HQI's over my frag tank,where the effected corals are.

Last night I moved some of the brown effected sps frags to my display under different lighting, 250w Coralvue Reeflux 12k HQI bulbs to see if they color up at all. As of yesterday, I don't really have any sps in my display to compare only in my 75gal frag tank.

All input is greatly appreciated,

Brent

Harley420 · 07/24/2007, 04:18 PM

I'm sure it's just change in lighting conditions? Getting darker seems to me like it could be increased zooxanths...?
IIRC a lot of places keep frags under 400W (20ks?), the color temp of the lights could "relatively" change the color as well?
just some ideas, good luck
-Harley

leeweber85 · 07/24/2007, 07:20 PM

high phostphates/nutrients and low/unstable Ca and Alk can contribute... You also might want to try moving them up closer to the light... that helped me out with some millie frags that lost color.

Brent Thomann · 07/24/2007, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by leeweber85
high phostphates/nutrients and low/unstable Ca and Alk can contribute... You also might want to try moving them up closer to the light... that helped me out with some millie frags that lost color.

I have been for the past year trying to dia in my Schuran Jetstream 1 CA Reactor. So weekly my ALK/CA have been going up and down usually between 7.5 & 9, one week it goes up and then the next week it goes back down a little.

so you think that has something to do with it? The frags are all directly under the bulb's.

agent6473 · 07/25/2007, 01:46 AM

How often do you do water changes? Sometimes elements can become depleted or buildup to levels the corals don't like and we can't test for. Try changing some more water, this has worked for me before, even when the tank tested perfect.

Brent Thomann · 07/25/2007, 07:21 AM

I do a 20% water change about every 3 weeks. think its not enough?

07/24/2007, 03:10 PM	#1
Brent Thomann Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: T. Tonawanda, NY Posts: 1,825	Corals Losing Colors Hoping I could get some input. I have a problem when ever adding beautiful corals/frags to my tank, mainly sps. After a couple weeks the turn from their bright beautiful colors to uglier non appealing colors like brown, etc. Not completely brown but definitely look different and not as nice. Seems to happen to at least 3/4 of my sps frags, not all but most. Some LPS corals too, one chalice turned from bright teal to brownish pink after a month or so. I keep my water parameters pretty much perfect. Any ideas on how to get my corals to color up more? I am using a 250w Aqua Medic AB MH 20k HQI's over my frag tank,where the effected corals are. Last night I moved some of the brown effected sps frags to my display under different lighting, 250w Coralvue Reeflux 12k HQI bulbs to see if they color up at all. As of yesterday, I don't really have any sps in my display to compare only in my 75gal frag tank. All input is greatly appreciated, Brent

07/24/2007, 07:20 PM	#3
leeweber85 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Cedar Rapids, Iowa Posts: 2,482	high phostphates/nutrients and low/unstable Ca and Alk can contribute... You also might want to try moving them up closer to the light... that helped me out with some millie frags that lost color. __________________ -Lee Current Tank Info: 120g reef, 20g reef

07/24/2007, 04:18 PM	#2
Harley420 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Fremont/Seattle Posts: 35	I'm sure it's just change in lighting conditions? Getting darker seems to me like it could be increased zooxanths...? IIRC a lot of places keep frags under 400W (20ks?), the color temp of the lights could "relatively" change the color as well? just some ideas, good luck -Harley

07/25/2007, 01:46 AM	#5
agent6473 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 56	How often do you do water changes? Sometimes elements can become depleted or buildup to levels the corals don't like and we can't test for. Try changing some more water, this has worked for me before, even when the tank tested perfect.

07/25/2007, 07:21 AM	#6
Brent Thomann Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: T. Tonawanda, NY Posts: 1,825	I do a 20% water change about every 3 weeks. think its not enough?