Browned SPS, will they color back up?

SnapperSlapper · 01/31/2010, 02:35 PM

I have had my 54G corner tank up for almost two years, and it was originally moved and upgraded from another tank that was about three years old. Currently it has 2 MH, 1 @150w w/ 10,000k bulb, and 1 @70w w/ 20,000k bulb. as well as some led nightlights. Lights are on for 12 hours a day, and placed about 3" above the water. My flow is really good, with two tunze recirc. pumps plus the return from the tiny sump. I also plumbed in a refugium with a deep sand bed, chaeto, more live rock, and mangroves with lights on 24/7. In the sump I run a 100 micron pad, phosphate removing pad and a tunze doc skimmer (9015 i think). Only other filtration would be two reactors one with carbon and one with GFO always running. On to parameters: My water quality is really good. Nitrates always 0, same on phosphate, and have very little to no algae outbreaks. Only have three fish and feed them 3-5 times per week.
Maintenance: I change about 10 gallons of water three times per month. I usually miss one water change, every month. The only parameter I have to keep in check outside of the water changes is alk. My CA is always about 430, ph stays between 8.0-8.2, and mag rarely drops below 1350. My alk will drop as the week goes on, and I usually add 2-3 tsp of kent buffer/rodi water three times per week.
All of the SPS corals I added over the last year lost their color. Originally it was when I had an algea outbreak, so I thought it was a nutrient problem, even though nothing (Nitrates/Phosphates) ever showed on the salifert test kits. Now that the water is clean and has been I added a new millipora bright green, and in just a few days it is starting to look dull. Other sps all growing exceptionally fast, but very brown. I just ordered a new 150w 20,000k bulb to replace the 10,000k, and have been feeding more. Is there anything else I could try, or could it be that the colors just wont come back?

Thanks for reading my long winded post... Rob Carpenter

Reeferland · 02/01/2010, 05:06 AM

it sounds like you're back on the right track. I guess all you gotta do is just wait.

Reeferland · 02/01/2010, 05:07 AM

or maybe try some trace element or supplement. and feed your fishes a lil more lol

SnapperSlapper · 02/01/2010, 07:37 PM

I am going to try a few different things. I bought two 24" t5 ho super actinics to add to the halides. I also picked up some KORALLIN S-PLUS and ZEOVIT CORAL VITALIZER. I did a few big water changes this weekend and double checked all parameters/test kits. I am hoping the new lights alone will fix my problem, as I hate dosing stuff when I don't even know if it is the cure. I was also thinking of adding a few chromis to add to the bio load.
What I was wondering is if maybe a different lighting schedule would be better, ie: halides on less and T5 on a little before and a little after the halides, or try to keep everything at the same time.

Thanks.

nivram · 02/01/2010, 09:28 PM

Are you getting any new growth? I've had a wild acro take about 5 months to color back up. Just be patient and keep an eye on them.

SnapperSlapper · 02/02/2010, 04:17 PM

Yeah, still getting good growth, if my colors were good I would be thrilled with the growth. Unfortunately my tank looks like siht with a huge brown purple rim monti in it.

01/31/2010, 02:35 PM	#1
SnapperSlapper Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: SRQ FL Posts: 79	Browned SPS, will they color back up? I have had my 54G corner tank up for almost two years, and it was originally moved and upgraded from another tank that was about three years old. Currently it has 2 MH, 1 @150w w/ 10,000k bulb, and 1 @70w w/ 20,000k bulb. as well as some led nightlights. Lights are on for 12 hours a day, and placed about 3" above the water. My flow is really good, with two tunze recirc. pumps plus the return from the tiny sump. I also plumbed in a refugium with a deep sand bed, chaeto, more live rock, and mangroves with lights on 24/7. In the sump I run a 100 micron pad, phosphate removing pad and a tunze doc skimmer (9015 i think). Only other filtration would be two reactors one with carbon and one with GFO always running. On to parameters: My water quality is really good. Nitrates always 0, same on phosphate, and have very little to no algae outbreaks. Only have three fish and feed them 3-5 times per week. Maintenance: I change about 10 gallons of water three times per month. I usually miss one water change, every month. The only parameter I have to keep in check outside of the water changes is alk. My CA is always about 430, ph stays between 8.0-8.2, and mag rarely drops below 1350. My alk will drop as the week goes on, and I usually add 2-3 tsp of kent buffer/rodi water three times per week. All of the SPS corals I added over the last year lost their color. Originally it was when I had an algea outbreak, so I thought it was a nutrient problem, even though nothing (Nitrates/Phosphates) ever showed on the salifert test kits. Now that the water is clean and has been I added a new millipora bright green, and in just a few days it is starting to look dull. Other sps all growing exceptionally fast, but very brown. I just ordered a new 150w 20,000k bulb to replace the 10,000k, and have been feeding more. Is there anything else I could try, or could it be that the colors just wont come back? Thanks for reading my long winded post... Rob Carpenter

02/01/2010, 05:06 AM	#2
Reeferland Moved On Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 160	it sounds like you're back on the right track. I guess all you gotta do is just wait.

02/01/2010, 05:07 AM	#3
Reeferland Moved On Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 160	or maybe try some trace element or supplement. and feed your fishes a lil more lol

02/01/2010, 07:37 PM	#4
SnapperSlapper Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: SRQ FL Posts: 79	I am going to try a few different things. I bought two 24" t5 ho super actinics to add to the halides. I also picked up some KORALLIN S-PLUS and ZEOVIT CORAL VITALIZER. I did a few big water changes this weekend and double checked all parameters/test kits. I am hoping the new lights alone will fix my problem, as I hate dosing stuff when I don't even know if it is the cure. I was also thinking of adding a few chromis to add to the bio load. What I was wondering is if maybe a different lighting schedule would be better, ie: halides on less and T5 on a little before and a little after the halides, or try to keep everything at the same time. Thanks.

02/01/2010, 09:28 PM	#5
nivram Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: S. FL Posts: 6,194	Are you getting any new growth? I've had a wild acro take about 5 months to color back up. Just be patient and keep an eye on them.

02/02/2010, 04:17 PM	#6
SnapperSlapper Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: SRQ FL Posts: 79	Yeah, still getting good growth, if my colors were good I would be thrilled with the growth. Unfortunately my tank looks like siht with a huge brown purple rim monti in it.