SPS colors washed out please help!

andyvalk · Dec 12, 2012

So I am fairly certain it's not red bugs. I actually bought a magnifying glass, shook off the worst frags and didn't see anything. I am really starting to think it is too much light. I moved one of the healthier and better colored frags up higher and it whited out.

I am running the Lumenbright mini at the lowest recommended height (13" pendant to water), so I raised it three inches. I am waiting to see what that does. I have also started feeding reef pearls and haven't seen any difference in the week, but I wouldn't expect to either. Any other ideas are welcome!

Trevor40 · Dec 13, 2012

What's your photoperiod? How new are the bulbs? Are those LEDs?

andyvalk · Dec 13, 2012

Trevor40 said:
What's your photoperiod? How new are the bulbs? Are those LEDs?

Photoperiod is 6.5 hours. I am running only 250w Radiums on a magnetic ballast in the Lumenbright mini. The bulbs are now 8 months old, but I have been having this issue for 5 months.

bobssecrtsn · Dec 13, 2012

maybe its just one of those tanks where lps thrive and sps just die? just a thought...

MarineDepot · Dec 13, 2012

Just a thought outside of the box, I once had all my SPS pale and lose color after changing a filter sock. There was something introduced into my aquarium that was on the sock, so now I make sure I clean them well and store them properly. I am thinking it might have been from an air freshener or windex or some sort of cleaning product that may have gotten on my filter sock that set me back months of work with my SPS.

With that said, could there be some sort of chemicals being introduced into the aquarium that you may not be aware about, by a cleaning person, air sprays, etc.. that would not be strong enough to kill the tank, but enough to irritate your corals?

Dan

Chameleon · Dec 13, 2012

MarineDepot said:
Just a thought outside of the box, I once had all my SPS pale and lose color after changing a filter sock. There was something introduced into my aquarium that was on the sock, so now I make sure I clean them well and store them properly. I am thinking it might have been from an air freshener or windex or some sort of cleaning product that may have gotten on my filter sock that set me back months of work with my SPS.

With that said, could there be some sort of chemicals being introduced into the aquarium that you may not be aware about, by a cleaning person, air sprays, etc.. that would not be strong enough to kill the tank, but enough to irritate your corals?

Dan

Interesting thought...my wife is a cleanaholic (think Monica from Friends). I wonder if this has anything to due with sporadic bouts with STN...lol

andyvalk · Dec 13, 2012

MarineDepot said:
Just a thought outside of the box, I once had all my SPS pale and lose color after changing a filter sock. There was something introduced into my aquarium that was on the sock, so now I make sure I clean them well and store them properly. I am thinking it might have been from an air freshener or windex or some sort of cleaning product that may have gotten on my filter sock that set me back months of work with my SPS.

With that said, could there be some sort of chemicals being introduced into the aquarium that you may not be aware about, by a cleaning person, air sprays, etc.. that would not be strong enough to kill the tank, but enough to irritate your corals?

Dan

I appreciate the help...but I don't think so. I use the mesh socks and all I do to clean them is run them under tap water followed by an RO/DI rinse and sir dry. I store them in a dedicated container.

I don't think there are any sprays either...my tank has it's own room and I have already declared that only I clean in there. No kids either.

If it was simply just too much light, how long would I have to wait to see an improvement in color since I just raised the light? Should I lengthen the photoperiod slowly as well?

andyvalk · Dec 13, 2012

air dry that is

Reef Man · Dec 28, 2012

I am in the same boat about colors. Any update about solve this?

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Singlefin · Dec 29, 2012

Any progress?

islander84 · Dec 29, 2012

I have had very similar issues with my tank for past few months, and it oddly started happening right after i changed my bulbs! I have tryed all sorts of photoperiods and such....

Currently im running MH 250W Phoenix 14k x 2. 4 T5 x 39w (3) ATI blue+ (1) ATI coral+
4.5 hrs MH. 10 hrs T5

I removed all filter socks and gfo about 2 or 3 months ago and i have noticed some improvements in a few pieces but at the same time others had declined.....
My po4 was at 0.00 hanah and i havent checked it in a couple of months so im not sure where it is at the moment but i will check it sunday and update.

Have you documented any changes in your husbandry or any improvements or decline in coral health?

I have had bleached tips on some acros, random stn on others, some followed by rtn, some look excellent
Also had a couple lps recede a little...

andyvalk · Dec 29, 2012

Not much to report yet. I had one STN and completely die. Everything else has only improved very slightly. Oddly enough, the pink lemonade has great color and is the only thing growing. I am going to treat for red bugs soon even though I am almost 100% certain this is not the issue.

Zack · Dec 29, 2012

Good luck bro, hope everything works out for you

Trevor40 · Dec 29, 2012

If you treat for red bugs that will be one more question out of the cards. If there are any corals that don't have great polyp extension and do after the treatment then you probably had them. I had mine for a long time without even knowing. As far as photoperiod goes I would shorten it an hour and see if that helps.

-Logzor · Dec 29, 2012

Remove the GFO immediately. Each and every pale color thread has this one factor in common, they're all running GFO. I believe it strips too much from the water column and has a major impact on SPS corals. I only run GFO if I have a dire algae situation. I personally think dosing products like Algaefix Marine are more safe.

Trevor40 · Dec 29, 2012

Great point on the GFO. I only use half the recommended amount. I use 1/2c. for a little over 100 G. I lost a lot of color when I had dinos and added too much GFO to try and get rid of it. I think it's okay to use GFO but it will shock acros if phosphates change to quickly.

Sahin · Dec 30, 2012

Andy I just re-read your whole thread.

Once you have carefully checked for pests and have confirmed that it is not pests (eg Red bugs or AEFW's), I would still say that your corals are lacking food. I am a member on at least 5 SPS forums and see similar threads coming up frequently.

What is your phosphate level currently at?

Can you tell me a little about the rocks in your tank? Eg did you have the same rocks in the previous tank? Other than the change of lights from the and obviously change of tank, what else has changed from the previous setup?

Compare your old and new setup for me please:

1. Lights-OLD= ATI T5, NEW=250w Radium
2. Skimmer- OLD=??????, NEW=Reef Octopus XP1000SSS
3. Rocks? etc
4. Sand? etc
5. Mechanical Filtration?
6. Chemical Filtration?
7. Fish stocking?
8. Feeding?

I would actually keep up with regular water changes but increase feeding. The trick is LOTS of FOOD IN + LOTS OF WASTE OUT.
I think your tank is too clean in terms of particulate food. Maybe good liverock with lots of microfauna is worth the hassle with aiptasia etc.

All those tiny creatures are food for your corals. Honestly over the past couple of years I have done a complete u-turn when it comes to corals (particularly SPS). I used to think an ultra clean tank. Now I see more and more SPS reefkeepers especially, saying that we need a bit of phosphate. I think additionally, we need more than that. We need a tank full of microlife, those things will feed the corals as well.

Have a read of this:Small polyps do capture zooplankton

I found that site only a few days ago. I began searching on the subject matter because I wanted to confirm my idea about coral health and nutrition.

My last setup consisted of 100% Marco rocks. New setup has at least 50% good quality liverock so that I have sufficient microlife in the tank.

Anyway, I will stop my rant for now.

SamsReef · Dec 31, 2012

Apart from the great sugestions, one more thing which is must have in mixed tanks - Carbon. several softies/lps are perfect chemical war monger, dinos, external chemical...

creefer · Jan 1, 2013

I'm in a similar situation and have discovered red bugs and AEFW.....

This is the thread I started when I was having issues like you.

https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/ge...ing-questions-small-polyp-stony-branch-9.html

This is where I'm at with my situation. Good luck and keep this updated if you would.

Good Luck