Browning

[Jpaul]

I'm sure this is pretty common, but I'm still new to this. My red planet, Joe the coral, and other SPS are browning. I run Acan LED's that are up to 90% intensity and SPS at top or middle. I run at highest intensity for 6 hours than the lights change to 25% white and 100% blue. My parameters are as follows

Ammonia 0ppm
Nitrite 0ppm
Nitrate 0ppm
Ph 8.2ppm
Alkalinity 8.9 dkh
Calcium 420ppm
magnesium 1380ppm
Phosphate 0ppm
Temp between 78-79
Salinity 1.025.

Are the lights not on long enough? What can be the problem? I have heard things about softies putting out chemicals, and I just got rid of my leathers, still have mushrooms and zoas, and some Lps. Just figured I would include this info.:grumpy:

 

[greybolt03]

how long have you had the leds? how long have you had the corals?

 

[JonnyJ]

What size is the tank and how high are the lights mounted?

How long have you been running them? How long did it take you to get them to 90% intensity?

 

[Jpaul]

Had the light about 3 months, the corals are constantly being added, probably in the last month or two. Lights are 4 inches off the glass, but thats the height of the mounting brackets, without hanging them it's as high as it goes.

 

[Jpaul]

The tank is a 50 gallon, lights are 24 inches, according to acan good for my size tank. 2 months to 90% intensity, I go up 5% every week. Strange part is I do have some growth on certain acros, just don't understand why they are browning.

 

[Meadowlane]

Did you acclimate your acros to the light? I read somewhere that you need to acclimate them to the light ESP with led.

 

[Jpaul]

I didn't acclimate them, but than again the frags I bought were under the same leds I have at 100 percent. Maybe I should turn the intensity down?

 

[Meadowlane]

I would put them in the bottom and then slowly put them up.

 

[ctrayer]

If you don't want to move them down lower you can add a piece of plastic screen between the lights and glass. Cut the screen in small strips and position
over corals that you feel need less light.

 

[duke62]

you dont need to put the corals up or down thats the beauty of ACAN lighting.you can lower the intensity to let the corals get used to the lights.a guy once told me the three steps of sps..1 is keeping them alive.2 is growth and 3rd which is less important is color.if they are just frags the color will come out in time.i was looking for a supplement that will help me with coloration and soon will be trying all the zeo products.also frags will color up in time when they become colonies

 

[Mattl22]

If u just added them then just give time but if they where nicely colored then browned u have to look at ur nutrient level nitrate and phosphate if truly 0 which unlikely then ur water too clean which happens too guys running biopellets zevoit etc... The other reason sps tend too brown is high phosphate how r u testing this??
Also what is ur flow like??? Low flow might also be culprit.
How long is system set up? Do u have any alage issues?

 

[Jpaul]

Well they are all alive, I just dropped the intensity to 70%, let me see if that makes a difference.

 

[Jpaul]

According to the tests they are zero, the tank has been running since 2008 but I started adding coral probably about 6 months ago, I run phosban in a reactor with carbon, using api test for phosphate. Flow is good I have a Koralia powerhead 1050 plus the return pump from the sump, it's only a 50 gallon tank.no alage problems as of late besides a tiny bit of hair alage, nothing much.

 

[duke62]

you cant tell phosphate level using API

 

[Jpaul]

Guess I better get a new kit. And if there are some phosphates what should I do as I already use phosban?

 

[Jpaul]

Bought a Salifert Po4 kit, still says 0.

 

[duke62]

even though salifert is a better test kit its still not reliable for PO4.you would need a hannah meter.im not saying you have PO4.there are many factors in corals browning.is it every SPS you put in or just certain ones.

 

[DxSOR25]

I had the same issue with my monti cap and when it acclimated to the new light it browned and then slowly the color began to come back.. Could be anything just make sure that it is living and getting growth

 

[Jpaul]

It's not every Sps, my stylos look good, birds nests, and some acros look ok.

 

[Meadowlane]

How high is your light from the tank?