sps help

[jospear]

My sps don't seem to color up what am I
doing wrong?

About my tank

It is a 90gal tank with a 30gal sump
2 lumanarc reflectors
bulbs se xm 250 watt 20000k m58 balast 8hr per day
was using xm 10000k just changed one month ago to
xm 20000k
2 t5 atinics 12hr per day
skimmer euro reef rs 135
Tank has been up and running for 1 year
I am using IO salt and add calcium and magnesium to bring the levels up should I be adding anything else to IO salt

I added some Knife Caulerpa (Caulerpa prolifera to my sump.
Is this statement true about knife caulerpa
Excercise caution when using this iron supplements. They can also encourage the growth of nuisance hair algae and less desirable macroalgae.
should i take it out of the sump?

Livestock
1 yellow tang
1 copperband
1 flame angle
hermits crabs
1 fire shrimp
1 cleaner shrimp

SPS

digitat
birdnest
acos
all small frags

At first I was not adding anything to my water till one month
ago I started to add zeovit.

5 drops of coral vitalizer per day
5 drops of amino acid per day
5 drops of zeofood two times per week
5 drops of zeobak two times per week
last three days been adding coral snow

Water parameters

nitrate 0 salifert test kit
phosphate 0 salifert test kit
ph 8.0 neptune controler
temp 80 neptune controler
calcium 450 salifert test kit
magnesium 1300 marine aquarium test kit
salinity 1.025 refractometer
alk 7.6kh

Any help would be appreciated

 

[jlneng]

Try increasing the photo period. 8 hours of MH is not enough. 10-12 hours is more like it. The actinics don't really do anything for color IMO. The fish waste is more than enough food for SPS corals. I don't add any food targeting SPS corals to my tank, and my animals are thriving. 80 is probably OK but I would slowly back same down alittle to 78 just for safety. If a heater stuck on your corals would lose more color and bleach at 82F. I stopped using my actinics about a year ago and did not notice any negative effects. You water parameters are great ........

 

[Anonymous]

The new lights may be part of the problem. The corals will need time to acclimate to them. Plus you just started adding these foods and additives, These new additions may be adding stuff that feeds the zoos in the corals, which in turn, make them turn brown. Cut the food and only add what is necessary, like Ca, Strontium, magnesium, and bicarbonates(alk). Most iodine is added through food.

Your photo period is fime IMO/IME. Actinics add a great dawn/dusk effect that some corals really appreciate. Your temp is fine as well, as long as them temp doesn't fluctuate. Lose the Zeovit for now and add it slower after they color up. You may only need a drop of each because the water changes are adding the rest. The caulerpa will not make the coral colors change but will definately help deplete iodine, iron, and magnesium. I cannot say for sure, but it has also been linked to hair algae outbreaks. Cheato is a better algae for sumps.

 

[jospear]

I had the same problem before I changed my bulbs just trying to narrow it down thx any other suggestions.
Not sure about my Strontium levels I do not have a test kit for that.

 

[Anonymous]

I had the same problem before I changed my bulbs just trying to narrow it down thx any other suggestions.
Not sure about my Strontium levels I do not have a test kit for that.

The bulb change, plus the addition of these supplemnts could do it. If they are losing color(browning up, then I would say that excess nutrients are the reason. Increase your skimmer...skim wet. Add some GFO as well.

 

[Anonymous]

Copperband and Flame angel are not typically sps friendly, however I don't know if that would prohibit them from coloring up.

 

[jospear]

Copperband and Flame angel are not typically sps friendly, however I don't know if that would prohibit them from coloring up.

So far they don't seem to nip at my corals.

 

[cindre2000]

Nah, I had sps color up while getting nipped. Probably is a nutrient issue w/ the new lights. Just give it some time, some corals color up the instant they are back in a stable environment, others can take months. Just skim wet and don't overfeed.

 

[Anonymous]

There is a Advanced Aquarist article somewhere about flow being important to SPS color too.


How's your flow?

 

[jospear]

There is a Advanced Aquarist article somewhere about flow being important to SPS color too.


How's your flow?

I have 4800 gph for a 90gal tank

 

[Sea Turtle]

Yeah, I have 4,600 gph in a 75 gallon tank and could still use a little more. The softies don't really seem to like it that much, but their cool with it.

 

[iseeweed]

Can you post some pics? Your lack of color may look great to a lot of us :roll:

 

[kgross]

What is your ALK as well. You are boosting CA and Mag, but you did not say anything about ALK.

Kim

 

[jospear]

What is your ALK as well. You are boosting CA and Mag, but you did not say anything about ALK.

Kim

alk 7.6kh

 

[kgross]

I would suggest bumping up the alk a little. That is close to NSW, but it can drop pretty quickly I would suggest shooting for around 9 dkh for safety and best color.

Kim