improving sps color

[mrtian97]

my sps are growing fast but colors are not as intense as I originally purchased. the sps are: red dragon, blue stag, birds nest.

I use Radion lights, using salifert, my phosphate and Nitrate are not detectable. Alk 7-8 , Ca 425, Mag 1400, pH 8.2-8.4. I feed Red sea Energy A and B twice a wk and feed reef chili once a wk. I use GFO and carbon in media reactor, replace every 2 months.
Tank has been setup for 1.5 yrs and the sps and LPS grow in good rate (I get to sell quiet a bit frags). My hammer, candy cane and duncan grow fron 2 heads to 20 to 30+

Any suggestion either:
1. Just stay as is since the corals are growing

2. feed more reef energy like 3x or 4x a wk instead of. twice a wk

3. others?

Thanks

 

[Jason mack]

Well I’ve been told dosing iron can help with red and green colors .. i am at present doing the same thing . Although I must stress don’t do it till you’ve first tested for iron .. I dose 1ml on a 90g mixed reef every 3-4 days ..

 

[Flippers4pups]

Good read:

https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/tank-parameters-of-some-masters.263/

Most likely your too “clean”. You need some No3 and a trace of P04.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Well I’ve been told dosing iron can help with red and green colors .. i am at present doing the same thing . Although I must stress don’t do it till you’ve first tested for iron .. I dose 1ml on a 90g mixed reef every 3-4 days ..

Unless you are very highly dosing iron, you cannot detect it. Even a Triton test cannot detect anywhere close to surface NSW iron levels. :)

IMO, most folks who want to dose iron can and should dose it without measuring, since you cannot detect low enough to control it.

 

[Jason mack]

Good read:

https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/tank-parameters-of-some-masters.263/

Most likely your too “clean”. You need some No3 and a trace of P04.

I noticed on this that in all the test results for each one mentioned that they list strontium SR as well ..

 

[Jason mack]

Unless you are very highly dosing iron, you cannot detect it. Even a Triton test cannot detect anywhere close to surface NSW iron levels. :)

IMO, most folks who want to dose iron can and should dose it without measuring, since you cannot detect low enough to control it.

Then I stand corrected !

 

[mrtian97]

Thanks for the article, I am reading it and watching football game and typing this (multi tasker ).
I also have Hawkin that is growing in slow pace, maybe I should maintain status quo?