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kevin1234
06/17/2007, 04:15 PM
Hi I have sps frags that are turning brown and I don't know why.
what can I do to make my corals regain their color?

My tank is a 265g mixed reef
lighting is 3x 250w 10k mh + 4 actinics+ 4moon light leds
ph:8.1
phosphate:0
nitrate:0.20

what can I do to get the colors back?


tks

ReefHotSpot
06/17/2007, 04:18 PM
Hey Kevin,

With the lighting that you have and params that you posted, think about placement (high enough), flow (strong enough), and bioavailable calcium levels.

kevin1234
06/17/2007, 04:31 PM
the nitrate is ok?
I'll probably add a calcium reactor soon so it should be ok right?

And what can I do to accelrate the growing cause I have a few frags that almost didn't grow at all in heightbut grew a little spreding on the rocks, so what can I do that would make them grow faster.
Do you think my flame angel (he's a nipper) might stress them and they don't grow cause of him ?

tks

t5Nitro
06/17/2007, 05:42 PM
If you have them in a good flow area, then they should be good. You said frags, did you recently get them? Maybe they can brown a bit because of transfering tanks, and then regain color?

kevin1234
06/17/2007, 09:30 PM
some of them are new but some of the others aren't and have been in the tank for quite a few months now (8 months for the oldest corals)
for the flow I have 2 streams 6100 on a multi running non stop and at full power and I also have a wavebox.
Is it enough for the corals to make them regain their color?

tks

fish2morow
06/17/2007, 10:01 PM
that should be plenty flow. Make sure your cal, mag, alk and ph are in check.

kevin1234
06/17/2007, 10:24 PM
what should be the good concentration of each?

fish2morow
06/17/2007, 10:50 PM
Cal 400-450 PPM, Mag 1350-1400 PPM, Alk 8-11 DKH and PH 8.0-8.2

jduck
06/18/2007, 12:02 AM
You said they grew on the rock, that is a good sign that they are attaching themselves before they start to make branches.

kevin1234
06/18/2007, 02:13 PM
but they grow really slowly and I mean really really slowly only my orange monti is a fast grower compared to the others
what can i do to make them grow fast exept raising calcium and stuff is there something else to do?

newmoon
06/18/2007, 02:20 PM
Did you check for red bugs? If they are growing slowly, maybe you need to add more calcium. What about soft corals? What Acros you have? Some grows faster than others.

kevin1234
06/19/2007, 10:55 AM
yeah I checked everything I don t have any kinds of parasites exept one acro crab but I dont think it is a parasite (it is white whith white eyes and little furry legs it is pretty small like a cent)
But I have nippers ( singapore angel, imperator angel, bicolor angel and flame angel but the flame and singapore anr the nippers of sps the other 2 nip at zoos)
the soft corals grow like hell the growth is amazing I know they are supposed to grow fast but mine they double in size in 2 weeks.
for the kinds of acros I have I dont know what kind they are so I ll post some pics of them for you guys to help me identifie them.

tks

kevin1234
06/19/2007, 09:51 PM
here are some pics of the acros I don't know tw name:
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m91/Sexuality1337/IMG_0128.jpg

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m91/Sexuality1337/IMG_0226.jpg

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m91/Sexuality1337/IMG_0060.jpg
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m91/Sexuality1337/IMG_0059.jpg

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m91/Sexuality1337/IMG_0058.jpg

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m91/Sexuality1337/IMG_0054.jpg

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m91/Sexuality1337/IMG_0057.jpgI know its a monti but I don't know witch one.

soldier1911
06/19/2007, 09:59 PM
You need to let us know what your alk, calcium, mag, ph, and phosphate levels are. You should also include the test kits that you are using.

grego
06/19/2007, 10:17 PM
yes, we need the alk, calcium, mag, ph, and phosphate levels, the problem most be here, I would say it is low alk.

kevin1234
06/20/2007, 11:57 AM
ok so my calcium is at 420 and the mag is at 1380 (I just added it). jbl test
phosphate is at 0 seachem test
ph 8.1 pinpoint metre
alk ??? (the test pasted away...)
but I have reef carbonate so can I add a little and see what it will do, right?

MiddletonMark
06/20/2007, 12:08 PM
I wouldn't add anything without knowing Alkalinity.

Too little is big problems, too much is big problems.

Test, then add :)

meschaefer
06/20/2007, 12:47 PM
You need to know your alkalinity, and maintain it in order to get growth. As a general rule, I don't dose anything unless I can test for it.

As to your color issue, I put my money on phosphates. High phosphates will also inhibit your growth. I don't trust your test kit, most (but not all) phosphate test kits are worthless.

grego
06/20/2007, 01:36 PM
when did you add mag ?, which brand ?, and go test the alk, salifert would be ok.

kevin1234
06/23/2007, 01:05 PM
It is seachem and I used 2 tests seachem and hagen and they both gave me the same p hosphate level wich is none.

tasos
06/25/2007, 05:22 AM
Check your phosphates,I see no polyp extension(maybe the angels do the trick......), and I would feed the tank more...The zoos seem to have brown colors also....

john rochon
06/25/2007, 06:44 AM
that looks totally like a nutrient issue. I even see some cyno or dinos attached to a part of an sps.
how old is your RO/DI filters??
are you feeding alot? I guess with those angels you are.
skimmer?
water changes/

blide
06/25/2007, 07:30 AM
You need a refugium if you don't already have one...

kevin1234
06/29/2007, 03:30 PM
for the cyanos I don't have any more (these are old pics) but for the dinos I don't know what to do.What could get rid of them?

I do feed alot because of the angels especialy because of the flame:mad2: :mad2: he's a huge nipper.

but for the PE I made a kind of box with eggcrate and now they are exenting.

I have a fuge already so...
the skimmer is a deltec AP-851 and I am making more water changes this weekend.

some pocilloporas are coloring up more and more so I guess I am on the good track.

meschaefer
06/29/2007, 09:48 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10200015#post10200015 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kevin1234
It is seachem and I used 2 tests seachem and hagen and they both gave me the same p hosphate level wich is none.

worthless phosphate tests. It's a phosphate issue. Find someone with a colorimeter to test it for you.

kevin1234
06/30/2007, 04:47 AM
what kind of test is good?

aquarius77
06/30/2007, 11:49 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10175820#post10175820 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kevin1234
here are some pics of the acros I don't know tw name:
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m91/Sexuality1337/IMG_0128.jpg

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m91/Sexuality1337/IMG_0226.jpg

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m91/Sexuality1337/IMG_0060.jpg
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m91/Sexuality1337/IMG_0059.jpg

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m91/Sexuality1337/IMG_0058.jpg

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m91/Sexuality1337/IMG_0054.jpg

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m91/Sexuality1337/IMG_0057.jpgI know its a monti but I don't know witch one.


Where are the polyps?? There is little if any polyp extension in all of those pics. The green on the rocks tells me your phos test might be wrong. I really think your combination of water parameters, phos issues(overfeeding?), and nipping fish are all playing a role in this.

kevin1234
07/01/2007, 08:51 AM
what sould I do to reduce my phosphates? a phosban reactor?

plus these are old pics that I took months ago the rocks don't have any green on them now.As for the nipping fish
(flame angel only) I made a box of eggrate so he can't get in and I placed the corals inside so they can PE and they are.
I would post a pic of it all but I can't as I am currently out of the country and a friend of mine who has aquariums is aking care of mine.

mcliffy2
07/02/2007, 08:43 AM
get a phosban reactor...they are super cheap, about $50 with a pump. I just started running one 4 days ago, and am already starting to see a little more color come through. I am running with 50% carbon and 50% ferric oxide (bought in bulk from twopartsolution.com).