Great growth but no color

[Travis Stewart]

Have really good pe and growth, but the colors aren’t as vibrant as they could be. PO4 stay around 0.03 and NO3 around 5-10. Should I try some aminos? Not currently feeding coral, but heavy feeding fish. Thanks for your help.

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

What’s your lighting?

 

[BigRich]

I’m a big fan of acropower. Definitely helps coloration IMO. At least worth a shot for you, start slow and see how it goes.

 

[jda]

IME, lack of color, but good growth is usually a lighting thing if parameters are stable. In no way do you need to feed acros... single cell organisms mostly will get to aminos before coral will, so it only really feeds them on the back end, which you have enough of N and P. Most coral prefer to get their nitrogen from ammonia, so the heavy feeding will help here. Focus on lights or overall stability.

 

[Travis Stewart]

IME, lack of color, but good growth is usually a lighting thing if parameters are stable. In no way do you need to feed acros... single cell organisms mostly will get to aminos before coral will, so it only really feeds them on the back end, which you have enough of N and P. Most coral prefer to get their nitrogen from ammonia, so the heavy feeding will help here. Focus on lights or overall stability.

I’m running 2 x hydra 26 HD about 9-10” from surface on a 48” tank with diffusers. I am currently running the ab+ schedule that was posted for these lights.

I will also add that I do have some doing really well with color, it’s mainly the stuff with multiple colors that I have issues with.

 

[hart24601]

What is the intensity of the lights?

 

[Travis Stewart]

This is what I peak at. Says 56W

uv-118%
Violet-116%
Royal blue-79%
Blue-80%
Red-4%
Green-4%
White-19%

 

[hart24601]

Hmmmm interesting. Seems like should be good there. Here was my 120 running 5 hyrdra 26s but with only two isn't enough intensity? Not sure on that. The top acro were at 500-600 par while.most were 300-400.

 

[Travis Stewart]

Hmmmm interesting. Seems like should be good there. Here was my 120 running 5 hyrdra 26s but with only two isn't enough intensity? Not sure on that. The top acro were at 500-600 par while.most were 300-400.

How wide and how deep is that tank? Looks nice. What values Are you peaking at?

 

[Travis Stewart]

Hmmmm interesting. Seems like should be good there. Here was my 120 running 5 hyrdra 26s but with only two isn't enough intensity? Not sure on that. The top acro were at 500-600 par while.most were 300-400.

 

[Travis Stewart]

Hmmmm interesting. Seems like should be good there. Here was my 120 running 5 hyrdra 26s but with only two isn't enough intensity? Not sure on that. The top acro were at 500-600 par while.most were 300-400.

 

[hart24601]

I took that down a couple years ago, but did make a par map. Used the lower of the two numbers.


48x24x24

 

[Travis Stewart]

I took that down a couple years ago, but did make a par map. Used the lower of the two numbers.


48x24x24

5 fixtures Is ton. I’m at 48x18x20

 

[Travis Stewart]

Thanks for all the help everyone

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

I have 2-52hds 16” above my 50 gallon pushing 550-600 (105 Watts each) par at the top of my rocks for 8.5 peak hours and 1.5 hour ramps.

Your corals look great in the pic btw

 

[jda]

I will also add that I do have some doing really well with color, it’s mainly the stuff with multiple colors that I have issues with.

This is the exact sentiment that people have before they add T5s to the LED... and then post about how it really helped.

 

[DesertReefT4r]

I think I have the same issue with my MH only lighting. Good growth my not getting all the color. I think some t5s will help a lot.

 

[Travis Stewart]

This is the exact sentiment that people have before they add T5s to the LED... and then post about how it really helped.

Ahh so you think supplementing T5 along with my led would help? I’ve thought about getting the combo fixture. Thanks!

 

[Travis Stewart]

I have 2-52hds 16” above my 50 gallon pushing 550-600 (105 Watts each) par at the top of my rocks for 8.5 peak hours and 1.5 hour ramps.

Your corals look great in the pic btw

For some reason, I can’t get my percentages up past 118%. They are HD...

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

The 52’s have higher settings than the 26’s and the primes.