SPS keepers - Nutrient load in your tank?

[Anonymous]

I am trying to figure out why my my SPS/LPS are very pale. My lighting is good and the water parameters are inline.

I only have 1 fish and I dont feed it allot.

Whats the nutrient load in a healthy SPS tank? I am trying to find out if I need to feed the tank? What else can I do?

Here is one of the SPS that has totally changed colors for the worse.

 

[bleedingthought]

Temperature swings? Change of lighting too quickly? PH swings?

 

[SnowManSnow]

is that a new coral? Even light hungry corals need to be acclimated to new light setups or they may bleach out.

If you just purchased it.. set it on the substrate if you have different lighting than at the store.

Every week move it up 4 or 5 inches until it is where you want it.

Not sure its your problem.. but it is one cause that people often overlook.

 

[Anonymous]

That coral has been there for 7 months or more.

 

[SnowManSnow]

oh

 

[bleedingthought]

Rob, how long did it take to lose all of its color?

 

[Anonymous]

over the 6-7 months

All my LPS is faded as well.

 

[bleedingthought]

What about PH and temperature swings in the past couple of months?

 

[Anonymous]

PH is pretty stable

Temp 79-81

 

[MelanieF]

I've seen this discussed a lot lately on the "other" website. IF all your parameters and conditions have remained stable the entire time this may be related to a lack of nutrient load.

IME, an increase in fish waste can make your colors richer. A lot of people that went bare bottom have been experiencing this lightening. If I was in your shoes, I'd try increasing the fish load very, very slowly (depending on the fish). Keep in mind though each fish has a different load. Those who have tangs can vouch for their larger waste volume... There is a fine line you need to observe when it comes to how much of a fish load your system can handle. If you do go this route, I would suggest allowing some time to pass after adding a fish to observe for improvement rather than adding too many fish and causing other much worse problems.

Currently in my 125 I have a swallowtail angel, hippo tang, desjardini sailfin, firefish, chalk bass, 2 green chromis and a foxface. In some systems the load would be too heavy and in others it wouldn't be enough. This is just the equilibrium in my tank. I have seen both lps and sps lighten in the absence of nutrients in the past.

 

[Anonymous]

I want to add fish. So far I have been only lucky to keep this one chromis alive since adding fish over the past 2 months.

Besides chromis and clowns what can I add to a 58G tank? Something that wont hide or is NOT a predator as I am trying to re-establish a pod population.

 

[bleedingthought]

Rob, how about a blenny? They hide but are also out and about picking on the glass and rock. They perch and watch you. I really like bicolor and midas blennies. Do you like Hawkfish? There's a couple I really like (esp. the Flame).

Also, this is separate from the hawks, but you could get some shrimp! A couple of fire, or cleaner shrimp would be pretty cool, I think!

 

[Unarce]

Rob - you really should order a small Tomini Tang online. Should be fine in your 58g for a few years.

BTW, the lack of coralline algae is unusual. Calcification might not be occuring in your tank.

 

[Anonymous]

bicolor blenny nip at SPS.

Had to pull mine from the 90g, and I think Laura D had the same experience.

I still have him in a 10g - will sell em cheap too!

 

[Anonymous]

Rob - you really should order a small Tomini Tang online. Should be fine in your 58g for a few years.

BTW, the lack of coralline algae is unusual. Calcification might not be occuring in your tank.

What can I do about that?

I would get that tang but I cant keep chromis alive let alone a $70 fish

 

[Unarce]

PO4 would be the primary culprit for limiting calcification, but I think you stated you're at zero. It's possible you've never introduced coralline algae spores in your tank, but I would expect those two SPS pieces to have encrusted after 7 or so months.

I'm at a loss, but if you don't mind giving this a shot, try lowering your photoperiod. Maybe work your way down to 4 hours of MH and 6 hours actinic. The rest period is just as important as the photoperiod, and there's documented evidence that corals grow slightly faster at night.

 

[Unarce]

Oh, and get some fish in there!

 

[Anonymous]

trying too if they would live

 

[bleedingthought]

Your chromis is still living!

I honestly think that a lot of your demises have been a series of coincidences! I would definitely try to introduce another fish again now. Just one, though. :wink:

 

[Anonymous]

If you're keeping SPS alive, then you should have no problem with another fish. Tomini's are great fish, though some would hang me for suggesting a tang for an under-800g tank. :lol:

But if you're water really is too clean, then I'd ask how is your skimmer? You don't have a two-thousand dollar Deltec skimming the bejeezus out of a 58. Or do you?

How old are your bulbs, what K and wattage are they?