SPS color loss

[CoralClasher]

I'm using giesemann verrve lights running on preset reef 1. I'm really excited about the dsb refugium I just don't want critters that will eat the life out of the sand or make a mess of it.

 

[CoralClasher]

You will never have zero unless you are using chemicals or media to remove it. This would be Organic Carbon dosing, GFO, Lanthaum Chloride, etc. This can truly get to zero. The natural methods will always leave just a trace to keep the equilibrium moving forward - nature is smart like this. The diatoms are VERY effective filters and these could be removing a lot of the organics before they can biodegrade, so I might stop running the diatoms on a daily basis - they can still be very useful for an occasional water polishing.

The 0.00 is just because our test kits suck. My tank shows 0.00 N on a hobby-grade test kit, but I have to send out ICP to get a real reading of about .1. In a new tank, aragonite can bind a lot of the phosphate early on, but usually after a few months you can see 1 to 3 ppb on a Hannah Ultra Low Checker - this enough phosphate.

Your photos look like you have a mature-enough tank with plenty of coralline.

If you want better acropora color and only use LED, then get some T5s. If you have 2x T5s then get 4x or until the T5s can carry the heavy load and the LEDs are used to fill in color and stuff. You do not see acropora people who added T5s to their LEDs and were unhappy - you might find one or two, but that is about it. If you are running T5s, then let us know which bulbs and adding a more daylight bulb might help. The lack of spectrum below 400nm and above 600nm for LED only tanks works for a lot of corals and will grow and color them "just fine," but it sounds like you want more than "just fine" with your acropora.

BTW - I saw your sand bed post. It will take some diverse live rock and sand from an established tank, and about six months, for it to get teeming with life - it is worth the wait. Once it does get some the rainbow of colors on the front glass and all of the gunk, then get a few conchs and a cucumber - Florida ones are fine... they are like magic cleaners.

Thanks again for the information. On to the dsb refugium critters is there conchs that you recommend and time frame to add them? I have QT everything that goes into tank so I need to plan and buy them six weeks before I need them. I'm starting to get algae on the glass not below sand line tho.

 

[jda]

You are six months to a year away from having to worry about critters cleaning up a sandbed. The conchs and cucumbers will starve if there is not enough food in there for them. You need to be seeing pods scurrying all over the place, mini brittle starfish, tube worms, bristleworms and all kinds of other critters making themselves at home. Also, you can see the different levels and layers of diversity through the front glass and you at least wants to dark colored stuff towards the bottom.