i dont get it☹️

[MrMaTTpaT]

i need help/suggestions, i dose afr, i have two flow pumps their both at about 250 gph, my light is a flex 30 leds, the guy said level 3 should be good for anything i want to grow, my magnesium is 1400, my calcium at 420, my alk is at 8, ph at 8.3, my phosphate at .005, my nitrate at 15ppm, my salinities at 1.026, yet things are loosing color, and i cant keep euphillia alive for the life of me my acans, birdsnest, and scoly, and candycane do fine, my “hammer” not so much, zoas, not so much, any suggestions would help

 

[19Mateo83]

Is this your light?

Flex LED 30S

Flex LED 30S High Output LED Lighting System for Saltwater Reef Aquariums Our unique color chip utilizes 12 individual LEDs providing a beautiful and balanced light spectrum High energy light output ensures optimum coral growth Compact and flexible design allows for unique light output...

sraquaristik.com

 

[MrMaTTpaT]

Is this your light?

Flex LED 30S

Flex LED 30S High Output LED Lighting System for Saltwater Reef Aquariums Our unique color chip utilizes 12 individual LEDs providing a beautiful and balanced light spectrum High energy light output ensures optimum coral growth Compact and flexible design allows for unique light output...

sraquaristik.com

yep thats my light

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

It sounds like a lighting issue. Also, are you measuring phosphate in ppb or ppm? .005 is extremely low if you're measuring in ppm.

 

[MrMaTTpaT]

It sounds like a lighting issue. Also, are you measuring phosphate in ppb or ppm? .005 is extremely low if you're measuring in ppm.

mesuring in ppm, it fluctuates from .005 to .01, when i do waterchanges

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

mesuring in ppm, it fluctuates from .005 to .01, when i do waterchanges

You want to aim for .03 phosphate ideally. (Or at least that's what's most commonly recommend as the bottom number).

 

[MrMaTTpaT]

You want to aim for .03 phosphate ideally. (Or at least that's what's most commonly recommend as the bottom number).

oh wow i had no clue, would my number reallt put things out of wack that hard?

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

oh wow i had no clue, would my number reallt put things out of wack that hard?

It's more likely inadequate lighting but really low nutrients will exacerbate the symptoms. Corals need food and if both the light is inadequate to promote a healthy zooxanthellae population and nutrients like nitrate or phosphate (which are needed) are depleted, the coral will slowly starve.

 

[MrMaTTpaT]

It's more likely inadequate lighting but really low nutrients will exacerbate the symptoms. Corals need food and if both the light is inadequate to promote a healthy zooxanthellae population and nutrients like nitrate or phosphate (which are needed) are depleted, the coral will slowly starve.

ah okay, i know my nitrate is fine, ill work on phosphate, i originally turned the lights down because things were bleaching

 

[MrMaTTpaT]

It's more likely inadequate lighting but really low nutrients will exacerbate the symptoms. Corals need food and if both the light is inadequate to promote a healthy zooxanthellae population and nutrients like nitrate or phosphate (which are needed) are depleted, the coral will slowly starve.

i do feed often i feed reefroids 3x weekly

 

[19Mateo83]

The 30 watts max output should be ok for a small tank. I’m wondering if it’s too much? Usually corals won’t bleach out under too little light. The fact that your birdsnest is doing good on the sand bed makes me think you can turn your light down and move the birds nest up on the rocks and torches, hammers and acans to the lower parts. That low phosphate is also not good, your corals are starving. I had the low phosphate issue when I first got my system up and running. I had to dose neophos and neonitro. I still run low nutrient but I maintain at minimum .03ppm phos and 5ppm nitrates. My corals seem to enjoy it. This just my $.02, I’m far from an expert though.

 

[MrMaTTpaT]

The 30 watts max output should be ok for a small tank. I’m wondering if it’s too much? Usually corals won’t bleach out under too little light. The fact that your birdsnest is doing good on the sand bed makes me think you can turn your light down and move the birds nest up on the rocks and torches, hammers and acans to the lower parts. That low phosphate is also not good, your corals are starving. I had the low phosphate issue when I first got my system up and running. I had to dose neophos and neonitro. I still run low nutrient but I maintain at minimum .03ppm phos and 5ppm nitrates. My corals seem to enjoy it. This just my $.02

the guy who sold me it said its alot of power, it was 150$, the birdsnest is browning alittle but still has polyp extension, maybe i can try and raise my light higher but turn it up more so its brighter, because its so dark at a low setting. ill start tryna up my phosphates, my nitrates are usually okay so if i up my phosphate will it mess with nitrate? i also thought maybe im killing my euphillia with too much flow, but they all seem fine atifrst, maybe blowing too hard then slowly shrink and die

 

[19Mateo83]

As long as your alk, mag and cal are in check, which they are, you should be ok to bring your phos up a bit. The most important thing in this hobby is stability. Make small changes gradually. As long as minimum nutrients are there, chasing numbers and constant fiddling with things will stress your corals also. Bring up your phos over a couple days and adjust your light and give it a little time. @livinlifeinBKK may be right, not enough light. Like I said, I’m no expert on lights. I tend to go over kill and turn them down as needed. Also, bleaching does not mean dead. As long as there’s flesh and not algae growing on the skeletons it can recover. It’s just stressed

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

The 30 watts max output should be ok for a small tank. I’m wondering if it’s too much? Usually corals won’t bleach out under too little light. The fact that your birdsnest is doing good on the sand bed makes me think you can turn your light down and move the birds nest up on the rocks and torches, hammers and acans to the lower parts. That low phosphate is also not good, your corals are starving. I had the low phosphate issue when I first got my system up and running. I had to dose neophos and neonitro. I still run low nutrient but I maintain at minimum .03ppm phos and 5ppm nitrates. My corals seem to enjoy it. This just my $.02, I’m far from an expert though.

I didn't see the tank size mentioned (I must have overlooked it) but I agree that although it's possible for corals to bleach with too little light, it more frequently occurs with excessive lighting. @MrMaTTpaT did you use all dry rock? That could help explain your difficulty in maintaining phosphate. From my understanding, dry rocks initially absorb phosphate.

 

[19Mateo83]

I didn't see the tank size mentioned (I must have overlooked it) but I agree that although it's possible for corals to bleach with too little light, it more frequently occurs with excessive lighting. @MrMaTTpaT did you use all dry rock? That could help explain your difficulty in maintaining phosphate. From my understanding, dry rocks initially absorb phosphate.

I’m 10 months into my tank and it still soaks up the phos. Especially the aragonite sand bed.

 

[MrMaTTpaT]

As long as your alk, mag and cal are in check, which they are, you should be ok to bring your phos up a bit. The most important thing in this hobby is stability. Make small changes gradually. As long as minimum nutrients are there, chasing numbers and constant fiddling with things will stress your corals also. Bring up your phos over a couple days and adjust your light and give it a little time. @livinlifeinBKK may be right, not enough light. Like I said, I’m no expert on lights. I tend to go over kill and turn them down as needed. Also, bleaching does not mean dead. As long as there’s flesh and not algae growing on the skeletons it can recover. It’s just stressed

do i need white light ?

 

[strich]

do i need white light ?

Blue is the most efficient form of light for corals, which is why so many reefs you see are washed in that dang blue haze. However many LED lamps consist of not just blue LEDs. In your case, 3 of your 12 LEDs are white light LEDs, meaning that your lamp is currently using 75% of its capability on the corals. Setting your lamp to use all of its LEDs will be technically more light for the corals.