SPS coloration and Lighting

[specialk]

Hey All -

So I have had some issues with some SPS corals not coloring up. 99% of all my sps are getting great skeletal growth, but not coloring up like i would hope. I have it nailed down to either water parameter swings OR the possibility of lighting.

I am running Ocean Revive S026's and running them at 85% blue for 9 hours a day. I am wondering if I dropped the % of the blues down, if that may help the colors color up a bit.

Just wondering if anyone has experienced anything like this before ..

 

[ali.farzinrad]

Hey All -

So I have had some issues with some SPS corals not coloring up. 99% of all my sps are getting great skeletal growth, but not coloring up like i would hope. I have it nailed down to either water parameter swings OR the possibility of lighting.

I am running Ocean Revive S026's and running them at 85% blue for 9 hours a day. I am wondering if I dropped the % of the blues down, if that may help the colors color up a bit.

Just wondering if anyone has experienced anything like this before ..

I bought a brown SPS and after a while it turns to green in my tank.
Most important thing is light, my light is DIY LED with natural white, blue, red, green and yellow (don't remember the number of each one)
Try ATI combination, it's all in it's website if you use bulbs.

 

[mcarroll]

Stop worrying about anything else if you are still experiencing parameter swings. The tank could takes up to several months to even out and start looking its best once you get things settled.

That said...

If you aren't using a light meter, start now. You can get a free lux meter app on your smart phone and start with that. A $15 handheld meter like the "LX-1010B" I use is a better option and also quite inexpensive.

Unless you are detecting well-over 50,000 lux then light is not likely to be the issue. (Most fixtures aren't capable of much more than that.)

What are your nutrient levels like on average and how much do they vary? (NO3, PO4)

And how old is this system? Can you share a pic?

Just wondering if anyone has experienced anything like this before ..

@specialk, you are not alone!!! I'm not saying "use the search function" but if you did, you'd see how often topics get repeated as new people join the hobby. So again, you are not alone. :)

 

[specialk]

Stop worrying about anything else if you are still experiencing parameter swings. The tank could takes up to several months to even out and start looking its best once you get things settled.

That said...

If you aren't using a light meter, start now. You can get a free lux meter app on your smart phone and start with that. A $15 handheld meter like the "LX-1010B" I use is a better option and also quite inexpensive.

Unless you are detecting well-over 50,000 lux then light is not likely to be the issue. (Most fixtures aren't capable of much more than that.)

What are your nutrient levels like on average and how much do they vary? (NO3, PO4)

And how old is this system? Can you share a pic?



@specialk, you are not alone!!! I'm not saying "use the search function" but if you did, you'd see how often topics get repeated as new people join the hobby. So again, you are not alone. :)

Thx mcarrol I know you are not saying that. But I also know exactly what you mean .. this is like a vicious cycle of everyone going thru the same problems as those before them!

* System is about 4 years old (although I moved it when I moved, so really this system is 1.5 years old. in its current state)
* I have not dosed all that much recently due to work and being overly more then normal busy, but I did consistent water changes every 2 weeks and watched my calcium mainly.
* Did not measure for p04 as I was told by some pretty smart nuts in this hobby, that they personally do not test for p04, as they know they have p04 issues when they have to mag float the glass more then usual or when they get algae outbreaks.

I really need to start testing and monitoring my levels so that I can find out what my system uses on a daily basis so I can keep things as constant as possible -- this I am learning the hard way

And yes I can get some pics up if you just give me a tad nit of time .. I will get some up

 

[mcarroll]

Unless you can make things so that you can dose the tank every single day (more than once a day is even better...this is why computerized-dosers rule) corals are going to remain a bit tweaked – always recovering. Plan for a doser soon – at least a Jebao 4-head, as it will get the job done. But there are many better ones. Pick one and start using it though.

Testing every day will be on-order when you get it. If you can do that, you should be able to have it running up to snuff in less than a week. (Without being able to regularly test and make adjustments, it took me the better part of a year. ;) )

Check the light levels with a meter just because...at minimum we can rule them out as contributing.

 

[specialk]

Unless you can make things so that you can dose the tank every single day (more than once a day is even better...this is why computerized-dosers rule) corals are going to remain a bit tweaked – always recovering. Plan for a doser soon – at least a Jebao 4-head, as it will get the job done. But there are many better ones. Pick one and start using it though.

Testing every day will be on-order when you get it. If you can do that, you should be able to have it running up to snuff in less than a week. (Without being able to regularly test and make adjustments, it took me the better part of a year. ;) )

Check the light levels with a meter just because...at minimum we can rule them out as contributing.

Whats the next one up from the jaebo that you would reccomend? Or something above that one ...I am a firm believer that you get what you pay for ...so I am not looking to nickle amd dime it. Also not looking to spend 400 either...lol...

Also, would a calcium reactor eliminate the need for calcium dosing and would that be a good pick up?

 

[reefwiser]

I use GHL while it maybe pricey to some it is a tank built with 24 D.C. Stepper motors. An easy to program with a smartphone. If you get a 4 pump model you can buy a level probe and have a reliable ATO all using the same unit. A cal reactor can be used but the cost is not any cheaper.

 

[mcarroll]

Whats the next one up from the jaebo that you would reccomend? Or something above that one ...I am a firm believer that you get what you pay for ...so I am not looking to nickle amd dime it. Also not looking to spend 400 either...lol...

Also, would a calcium reactor eliminate the need for calcium dosing and would that be a good pick up?

Indeed the doser market is highly segregated like that....you will either be spending $80 or you'll be spending $250+. The GHL is amazing, and on the top of that scale. ;)

If you are on the fence about a high-dollar one, start with the Jebao vs having none.

It gets you started and, at $80, it's not like you are marrying it. If there's something you'd like to upgrade to later, keep the Jebao as backup or sell it for $50.

A complete calcium reactor system that I'd have any more faith in than I have in my Jebao doser (which I'm realistic about) costs like $x,xxx. No joke.