Pale sps in the middle of the tank

[dbq5anlxj]

There are three sps frag really pale and they both in the middle of the tank. The lowest one is a cc flaming sunrise 250par ( When lights are out, I can see dark brown zooxanthella on the shaded part of frag but the base has none. The base dose has baby blue color not white).

The tiny bit higher one is a lucky charm frag. It's really pale in color and can't see much zooxanthella on it. 280 par

The one on top is an RR JD. The tip is in kind white color and some part of the base is really pale . 320 par.

Other acros are fine. I also have two yellow acros the have those new growth with out any color. What's might be the problem? Too much light even tho it's only 250-300 par? Too little usable nutrients? Or anything else?

180 gallon
Filte roller
skimmer
no carbon dosing

Po4 was 0.01-0.03 I bumped up not too long ago to 0.1 (potassium phosphate)

No3 was 3-5 raised to 10ppm month ago (potassium nitrate)

13 fish
2 clownfish
1yellow Tang 4in
1 blonde naso 5 in
1 mids blenny
5 anthias (1big 2med 1 small 1 tiny)
1 powder blue 4in
1 swallow tail 3.5 in
1 pyramid butterfly 4 in


Thanks in advance

 

[blaxsun]

The second image appears to show some bleaching/dead spots (couldn't zoom in on the third image for whatever reason). I don't necessarily think it's a problem with your PAR (my SPS are probably 225-275 PAR or higher), and the nutrient levels seem fine (mine are a lot higher at 25ppm nitrates). You don't really have any nippers in your stock list, so I'm going to throw out flow as something to possibly look at.

 

[dbq5anlxj]

The second image appears to show some bleaching/dead spots (couldn't zoom in on the third image for whatever reason). I don't necessarily think it's a problem with your PAR (my SPS are probably 225-275 PAR or higher), and the nutrient levels seem fine (mine are a lot higher at 25ppm nitrates). You don't really have any nippers in your stock list, so I'm going to throw out flow as something to possibly look at.

Thanks for the reply. I forget to mention there are 4 mp40 at 85 and 1 mp60 on reefcrest mode.

 

[blaxsun]

Thanks for the reply. I forget to mention there are 4 mp40 at 85 and 1 mp60 on reefcrest mode.

I run a pair of ReefWave45s in my 160-gallon display (opposite sides of the tank facing inwards) @20-60% (60% at the peak, 20% at night), with a pair of Maxspect XF330s running @20% fixed/forward just for emergency backup - but all your other corals look great from what I can see so I don't think it's necessarily excessive. Aside from a few white spots, the corals look great otherwise. I have a bunch of white spots under my Chip's acropora colony - but I think that's due to it almost completely blocking out the light on the lower branches.

Sometimes it's helpful to temporarily throw an airstone into the tank so you can see the flow in greater detail.

 

[ScottB]

Based on position alone I thought about flow as well. I like @blaxsun idea of an airstone. I just dump in a bunch of chum, but moving a bubbler around would rule out flow in/out as a potential issue.

 

[dbq5anlxj]

Based on position alone I thought about flow as well. I like @blaxsun idea of an airstone. I just dump in a bunch of chum, but moving a bubbler around would rule out flow in/out as a potential issue.

Thanks so much for tunning in Scott. I just pulled out an air pump. Here is a video. After getting pale the lucky charm lost most of polyp extension as well.

 

[blaxsun]

It seems like a lot of flow - but this is just what I can observe in the short video. Maybe try reducing it by 50% for a few days and see how everything does.

 

[Reefahholic]

If you’re running a shorter more intense photo period try to reduce the PAR and run longer period.

 

[dbq5anlxj]

If you’re running a shorter more intense photo period try to reduce the PAR and run longer period.

thanks. I'm running 6 hours peak and 3 hours full blue and 3 hours ramping. The peak par is 400-180par from the highest point to the bottom floor. I lowered the intensity for the mid light two days ago. I guess it will take a while to tell the difference.

 

[dbq5anlxj]

I still leaning toward light issues even though that area is 250-300 par maxed. The dark area of the RR JD has perfect color also the flaming sunrise shaded area has dense zooxanthella. Could it caused my natural sunlight? There is an hour window some sunlight will shine on that area. I measured the par Infront the sump galss is 450 for the sunlight. The inside of the sump under water is 200 par. I did not get a chance to test it in my display yet. If there is a sudden par increase for 100-200 par caused by the sunlight will it do some damage to those corals?

 

[ScottB]

Thanks so much for tunning in Scott. I just pulled out an air pump. Here is a video. After getting pale the lucky charm lost most of polyp extension as well.

Enough flow. Not the issue.

 

[Oregon Grown Reef]

Did you ever figure out what was causing your problem?

 

[ELChingonsReef]

I'm having the same problem with my wolverine acropora. It was dark yellow.. its getting lighter. I'm thinking it's getting too much light..did you find a solution?