Losing color in my corals

[Anonymous]

It's a nice thing to have in any case. It'll let you know easily when you need to change your cartridges etc.

 

[Sea Turtle]

Any brand that you would recomend?

 

[Anonymous]

If you're worried about the quality of water being produced by your RO/DI unit, you might be best getting a TDS (total dissolved solids) meter, which will give you a better idea what percentage of crap is being removed.

I'm going to get one of these and set it up next week sometime. I really don't hope that this is the problem because my unit is very new and that could mean it's not working correctly. Although, it would be nice to find out what the problem is.

How many fish do you have and how much are you feeding?

Over feeding is a common problem.

 

[Sea Turtle]

How many fish do you have and how much are you feeding?

Over feeding is a common problem.

I have about 10 fish and I feed them once a day. I mix it up between flake food, mysis shrim and brine shrimp. I have to admit that I might feed them too much. They don't seem to be overfed though. When I feed the shrimp I give them one frozen cube for all of them. Is this too much?

Keep in mind I also have a Phosban reactor filled about half way and also religiously change about 10 to 15% water out per week.

 

[Anonymous]

10 fish is a bit much for a 75 gallon reef tank. The bioload is probably why the corals are browning.

 

[Anonymous]

Lose the flake food it is loaded with PO4. Feed frozen or live food.

Go here and order the premium GFO and use it in the reactor:

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/Carbon-an ... mover-(GFO)-High-Capacity-GFO/c109_8_89/p434/1-pound-(453-Grams)-High-Capacity-Granular-Ferric-Oxide/product_info.html

 

[cindre2000]

Going by watt's per gallon is inaccurate, and saying that 150w metal halides is fine for a 75g is also inaccurate. Coral placement is very important when it comes to lighting, 150w is not enough if the corals are placed in a poor location, but plenty if they are on top of the rock in a better location. However, except for exceptionally light demanding varieties, 150w should be fine in a 75g.

How old are the bulbs?

Also, how long have the corals been in after the browning. Any change in their parameters can cause a sps to brown out. How much time are you giving them to color back up?

 

[Sea Turtle]

Going by watt's per gallon is inaccurate, and saying that 150w metal halides is fine for a 75g is also inaccurate. Coral placement is very important when it comes to lighting, 150w is not enough if the corals are placed in a poor location, but plenty if they are on top of the rock in a better location. However, except for exceptionally light demanding varieties, 150w should be fine in a 75g.

How old are the bulbs?

Also, how long have the corals been in after the browning. Any change in their parameters can cause a sps to brown out. How much time are you giving them to color back up?

The lights are almost 1 year old now. I am in the process of ordering new Phoenix 14k's next week.

I do keep all of them out in the open or neer the water surface for ample light exposure.

Some of them take a week or so to change and some right away. The tub's blue zoas I put in the tank lost all their color over night.

I am not sure but I might be getting color back in them now that I have stabalized the alkalinity level in the tank.

It's funny because I have some corals and zoa's that are beautifuly colored and hold their color fine. Others can't.

 

[iseeweed]

How many fish do you have and how much are you feeding?

Over feeding is a common problem.

I have about 10 fish and I feed them once a day. I mix it up between flake food, mysis shrim and brine shrimp. I have to admit that I might feed them too much. They don't seem to be overfed though. When I feed the shrimp I give them one frozen cube for all of them. Is this too much?

Keep in mind I also have a Phosban reactor filled about half way and also religiously change about 10 to 15% water out per week.

When you do water changes, make sure you buffer the water up to the parameters of the tank water. I was making this mistake for a long time. My levels in the tank would be great, but then I would do a water change with levels like- 6.0dkh, 325ca, 900mg. It would dilute the water and take me a week or so to get the water back up to the right levels. By the time the levels were stable, it was time for another water change.
I think I was stressing the corals with the rapid, constant fluctuations in the water parameters.

 

[Sea Turtle]

How many fish do you have and how much are you feeding?

Over feeding is a common problem.

I have about 10 fish and I feed them once a day. I mix it up between flake food, mysis shrim and brine shrimp. I have to admit that I might feed them too much. They don't seem to be overfed though. When I feed the shrimp I give them one frozen cube for all of them. Is this too much?

Keep in mind I also have a Phosban reactor filled about half way and also religiously change about 10 to 15% water out per week.

When you do water changes, make sure you buffer the water up to the parameters of the tank water. I was making this mistake for a long time. My levels in the tank would be great, but then I would do a water change with levels like- 6.0dkh, 325ca, 900mg. It would dilute the water and take me a week or so to get the water back up to the right levels. By the time the levels were stable, it was time for another water change.
I think I was stressing the corals with the rapid, constant fluctuations in the water parameters.

How would I go about doing this? You mean dose the new water before putting it into the tank and test it?

I only change 2.5 gallons out every other day. Is this enough to change the water perameters in the tank?

 

[iseeweed]

Thats what I have been doing, but I do a 20%(about 17 gallon) change every other week. I am using Chrystal Sea Salt(el cheapo), and it takes me about 6 oz of CA, and 8 oz of MG(two part solutions mix) just to get the water to a decent level that is close to what is already in the tank. I also heat the water to the temp of the tank so I the temp stays the same. Your 2.5 g changes every other day probably don't effect the paramenters that much, but I would still test a fresh batch to see what you got.
IMO you may want to reduce the frequency of water changes. The tank may need some time to just sit and stabilize. Quite of few times I have let my tanks run unattended for a week or two while on vacations. When I get back, I am usually shocked that the coral looks better than when I left!

 

[Sea Turtle]

Thats what I have been doing, but I do a 20%(about 17 gallon) change every other week. I am using Chrystal Sea Salt(el cheapo), and it takes me about 6 oz of CA, and 8 oz of MG(two part solutions mix) just to get the water to a decent level that is close to what is already in the tank. I also heat the water to the temp of the tank so I the temp stays the same. Your 2.5 g changes every other day probably don't effect the paramenters that much, but I would still test a fresh batch to see what you got.
IMO you may want to reduce the frequency of water changes. The tank may need some time to just sit and stabilize. Quite of few times I have let my tanks run unattended for a week or two while on vacations. When I get back, I am usually shocked that the coral looks better than when I left!

Hmmmm, intersetsing. I could definently try that. I hate doing water changes. Maybe I'll wait a week and see how things look. That's a good idea. Might also rule out water change as a problem. Thanks.

 

[Ben1]

It's funny because I have some corals and zoa's that are beautifuly colored and hold their color fine. Others can't

Some softies, like zoas, palys, and certain SPS seem to do better with slightly dirty water compaired to SPS that will brown in the same water.

 

[Sea Turtle]

Ok, one of my really nice purple bonzi corals that a friend gave me is starting to turn brown. It's losing its f***ing color!!!!! I tested my salinity. I would say that it probably apraoaching 1.027. Could this be it? I think that I am going to have my water sent away and profesionaly tested. Does anyone know where a good place is to have this done? And if so, will they figure this out for me?

 

[kgross]

How long have you had the bonzi?

Kim

 

[Sea Turtle]

How long have you had the bonzi?

Kim

about 3 weeks now.

THIS IS DRIVING ME CRAZY!!! All my purples are turning to brown!!! :evil:

What the hell could be doing this? I just orderd a meter to test my RODI unit output quality.

Maybe my salinity could be a little high? Coudl this do this? I think I am in the 1.026-1.027 range.

I don't know???!!!

 

[kgross]

I still think you don't have enough light for them to stay colored up.

Kim

 

[Sea Turtle]

I still think you don't have enough light for them to stay colored up.

Kim

That's not it!!! However, the MH bulbs migt be old and have lost their affectiveness. Maybe your partially right.

 

[Sea Turtle]

Okay, here is what I feel could be the problems and my appraoch

1st Problem: RO/DI unit is not cleaning water efficiently.

Solution: I purchased a TDS meter online. Should have it in a few days.

2nd Problem: My Metal Halides are old and not producing valuable rays anymore.

Solution: I purchased 2 - 150w Phoenix 14k double ended metal halides. I hear these are the best.

3rd Problem: My salinity was too high (1.027) or my gravity tester is wrong.

Solution: I lowered my salinity to 1.025 last night and am going try to calibrate my float arm tester.

4th Problem: Need more blue in my lights.

Solution: Changing from 10k to 14k.

5th Problem: Need more time to mature.

Solution: Waite!

6th Problem: High iodinie level.

Solution: I am getting an iodine test kit this weekend.

7th Problem: Water parameter could be off.

Solution: I am going to run through all the tests again today and check. (Ca, Mg, Ph, dKH, temp, salinity) and anything else that you might think I should test for. Nitrates amonia... Maybe send my water away for a professional examination.

8th Problem: Maybe my wife is using windex or something too close to the tank. :x

Solution: I have no idea.

:idea: I will try to put some close up pics up for you to see today so you can see what I mean. Maybe that might help.

 

[Sea Turtle]

Okay, here are some pics to better show my problem:

Bellow are "Tub's Blue Zoa's" I got from LFS about 4 months ago. They were beautiful deep blue with chocolate hairs. Now, see for yourself

This is the purple bonzi my friend gave me about 3 weeks ago. It was so nice when I got it. Dark deep purple. Now is turning redish brown.

This is a ORA frag I got about 2 months ago. Purple reamins on the tips but the rest is now brown. Also the second ORA plug has lost all its color:

Here is my frog spawn (purple tip torch). No color left at all.

Finally, this is what really has me mad. :x Here is my maxima clam I got 1 month ago. It was so nice deep purple/blue "shocking" 8O NOW LOOK!!! :x

Oh, I can't forget this one. War coral. Do I need to even explain :?:

WTF?