Literally cannot figure out why these are pale

[Zbutcher]

Hey everyone does anyone know what could be causing the bleaching or paling on the underside of the corals? I took a pic at night so you could see better. Please see my specs below. And also I rodi water for everything

180 gallon frag tnak of sorts. It is 72"x36"x12"

It is about 5 months old now.

For stock it has a
White tail bristletooh tang
Purple tang
Baby mandarin
2 clown fish
Cleaned goby
Cleaner wrasse
1 spot foxface

My params are
Salinity: 1.024
Alk: 10.3 should be 9.3. alk has been going up without me dosing anything I'm not sure why
Cal: 400 should 440
Mag: 1320 should be 1350

0 ammonia
0 nitrites
16 nitrates checked last week
.05 phosphates checked last week
Temp: 78
My light is Neptune sky as well. I run 2 wavs and 2 jebaos for flow. I run a refugiums which hasn't grown much and a skimmer.

I want to preface this stuff as well by saying the corals were paling before my all went up and before I tested nitrates and phosphates went up. Mainly the frag on the left of the photo looks pale in the daytime too but you can really tell at night.


Does anyone have any idea I'm truly lost here.

 

[nereefpat]

The underside is the dark side, so it will always fade, especially with LEDs. Does the topside look fine?

I disagree that you need to increase Ca or Mg. But I would increase the salinity and decrease the alk each a couple points.

 

[jmichaelh7]

What lighting are you using ?

 

[nereefpat]

What lighting are you using ?

My light is Neptune sky as well.

 

[jmichaelh7]

Neptune sky is a good light. I usually look at phosphates when colors pale. Nitrates as well

 

[Zbutcher]

The underside is the dark side, so it will always fade, especially with LEDs. Does the topside look fine?

I disagree that you need to increase Ca or Mg. But I would increase the salinity and decrease the alk each a couple points.

Top of side of slimer looks fine. The austera on the left looks pale in the top too

 

[Zbutcher]

Neptune sky is a good light. I usually look at phosphates when colors pale. Nitrates as well

To lower them or raise them?

 

[ScottB]

Your nutrient numbers are fine and not likely the direct issue.

I think you answered this before in another thread, but cannot recall your answer. Do you have live rock in this 5 month old build? Something with some nice sponges that come with a 2-4 year vintage?