Corals grows fast but look brownish, how to increase their color?

[uhupong]

The subject say it all. I'm confused on wheather I leave my 14k 150w halide on too long or too short (now 10 hrs per day). Should I increase hour of my blue exotic led strip ?

Very confused. Help please

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[kevinpratt823]

It is more likely due to high nitrates/phosphates, or an old bulb.

 

[uhupong]

I thought I attached pic in the post.

Sorry

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[reeferpj]

i run my MH for 8 1/2 hrs what kind of bulbs and how old and deff +1 on what kev said

 

[uhupong]

At first I thought it was nitrate too but I tested with my kit and skipton's and they both came out less than 5 ppm.

My old bulb was about 11 months up untill last couple weeks when I asked oceanic for one small replacement part for my lamb but they sent me the whole lamp kit. So now I have 2 week old brand new bulb.

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[MikeG]

Have you measured phosphate with a low range photometer? High phosphates can also lead to browned out corals.

 

[reeferpj]

did you slowly bring the new bulbs up to 10 hrs. going from 11 month old to new will stress out coral and some times kill them

 

[Andy V]

They can brown out under the wrong lighting conditions as well. Try another spot in the tank if the water is ok.

 

[stingythingy45]

I see mostly softies and LPS in that tank.
And the color don't look all that bad.
SPS is mostly effected by nitrates and phosphates.
Did they send another 14 K spectrum or a 10K?

 

[uhupong]

Thingy45. That is my concern, am I just being paraniod here or do they look just a little fade out in color? I compare them with when I initially brought them home and now it looks less in color to me.

My RBTA also look brown after it split into 3. All of them grow like crazy and developed long tenticles instead of bubblely like it used to have. They also dont show "glow" color under actinic light that much antmore.

My concern happened before new bulb.


p.s. Funny on how I got many fast responds on weekday than weekend. U guys must have office boredom syndrom like I do.

The pictures were taken under 14k light only.



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[kevinpratt823]

Yes, to me the color doesn't look that bad. I also see fresh epoxy/putty at the base of some of those pieces, so I'm guessing they haven't been there too long, and the lps at the top look like they're getting an awful lot of intense light(possibly too much). Other than high nitrates/phosphates causing stuff to brow(more so with SPS), any type of stress can cause corals to expel thier pigments, maybe raise up the ligh a bit and let them settle in for a few weeks and see how they look.

 

[stingythingy45]

I agree with Kevin.
If raising the light is too hard,cut back to 7-8 hrs. halides a day.
I only run from 2:00-9:00 pm with halides.
2-65 watt T5 actinics one hour before and after halides.

 

[uhupong]

Thanks for all inputs. That frogspawn have been in the tank for sometime but I knocked half of its skelton off while trying to get the nasty snail (tube type) out. My six line never help me clean them.

I didnt know I can just use superglue to attach coral , that why you see so many ugly pink clay. My sculpting skill also known to be worse than those 3rd grader's. Lol

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[frank180reef]

your goni looks great, my guess it is nutrients...................

 

[uhupong]

Have you measured phosphate with a low range photometer? High phosphates can also lead to browned out corals.

I have not measure it with a low range photometer but with API kit and it seem fine. This is my first time hearing that term.

 

[uhupong]

Should I be concerned about total light spectrum at all ? I now leave my blue stunner strip on along with halide too, just because the tank look better with it.

 

[delta]

It is easy to to point a a few things as possibilities. It is very hard to say it is any one thing, many times it is a string of things.

Based on what you have posted it doesn't give anyone much to go on saying you parameter are fine also doesn't shed any light on it.

Best advice I can offer now is to run carbon, increase water changes, make sure your skimmer is in top working order and watch your parameters closely. Keep the parameter swings to a minimum. Doing any that will never hurt

It may be the bulb change, that can cause corals to loose color but I would still increase maintenance until things look better.

 

[uhupong]

I can only pin it down to Nitrate level, I def have some in there but not much (number coming soon).I also run cheme pure elite and purigen. As for water change, I routinely do bi-weekly 5G water change and my skimmer is running 24/7 with good dark water empty out every 3-4 days.

Sorry for the lack of water parameter and jumping back and forth with the posting, I'm still at my work.

 

[delta]

Step up to 30% water changes once a week.

put some fresh carbon in there and change it out in about 3 days then once a week from there on out.

Chemi pure elite.... I would be very careful running a GFO mixed product. As far as lasting 6month, I think it would be crazy to leave GFO in your tank for 6month let alone carbon.

Are you running any foam or filter pads? If so keep a spare on hand, switch out every week, clean & dry and repeat weekly

 

[uhupong]

I beg your pardon but what is GFO?

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