Browning out help

loweryphil · May 9, 2019

Purple Plating montipora has gone a shade of brown. I know it's down to two things either not enough light or too high nutrients. My nitrate is sitting at 2.5 and my phos is around 0.025. My lighting I have an aqua knight led full spectrum and a aquaray 600 50000k blue to supliment it. Both of these seem to be enough for me but the colour just is not popping at all. Since I introduced it to the tank it gradually lost colour slowly about 5 weeks ago.

P-Dub · May 9, 2019

I'm inclined to believe it is the lighting. It is hard to say for certain. I would place it higher and see what happens. It is really amazing the difference in coloration changes that can occur just within out tanks based on placement alone. For example... got to post #20... amazing... https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/reboot-with-leds-after-many-many-years-out.344915/

loweryphil · May 10, 2019

Yes that was my thought. I have upgraded the lighting two days ago with what I mentioned so I'm hoping the colour returns within about 4 weeks. The same amount of time it took to lose it. On the plus side I'm seeing good growth. If this does not work I will have to buy another light unit to add to what I have.

P-Dub · May 10, 2019

Might consider ramping up time and or intensity of the additional light over some weeks and don't expect the coral to change as quickly as you might think. Give it some time to acclimate and adapt.