Not saying it can’t be lighting just don’t think it’s trace. If it were lighting what would it be? To high of par? To much uv?
Too much UV, I highly doubt it, in fact, I would tend to think that it is a missing gap, specifically in LED use, that said, I would look more into the total photoperiodism/intensity of light. Take a look at the rising and falling of the sun, try and mimic what you see from sun up to down. The ramping capability with LED photoperiod is very close to the sun, as far as a curve goes. The photoperiod is best mimicked with around a 6 hour period of intensity, falling off before and after. Anotherwords, viewing blue light on either side should be ok, I use RB/UV channels only. Now, as far as UV is concerned, I tend to believe that a LED lit only tank lacks the UV range, and am on to what Chris Meckley referenced years ago in an interview with Jake Adams, where he claimed that a UV sterilizer on a LED only tank, may close the UV gap missing in the LED lighting. It is what happens to the water that is influenced by UV, not necessarily the direct UV light to the corals itself. FWIW, t5 and halide systems seem to emit uv A&B.
As far as trace, I have NEVER used ICP in 20 years, and worked with Aquaforest when it was free to me, whenever I wanted, I never used. You may ask why?
When is the last time you took your water sample that you intended to test, put it in a vial, put in the dark, and let sit there for a week, took that test result as gospel, then set your system regarding those results? I think the industry loves to gas light people into believing anything they sell you is needed, or required. Having a result tested within hours, then I will treat it like the holy grail, otherwise, it is hard to quantify any type of chemical reactions/mutations undergone in the time from sample to test. With trace, nitrate, and phosphate, I tend to hang my hat on the idea, that if it is there, it is there, the coral does not seem to care in what concentration, based on my observations.
IMHO,
I have noticed this phenomenon only with LED, and only with tanks that were not using a trace protocol and salts not fortified for trace. I would also tend to believe that this, coupled with too intense light may be the culprit for the deformitites. Note, I do not recall a halide or t5 run system encounter this. So, as anything, no nerd is going to 100% know your issue, that would be an Expert, and they don't exist when dealing with nature. Observation, and learning how to care for the system as a whole would take precedence for me.
My take :)
