Does Low ph affect your colors?

[ChurchBoy]

I've been struggling w/ low ph 7.6 to 7.8 throughout the day for 1 to 2 months & have had some fading of colors on all my corals lps & sps. Was wondering if low ph has any direct affect on colors. My parameters are all stable at: CA:480, Alk 9.4dkh, Mg. 1400, Salinity 1.026. Just wondering what else it could be, thanks.

[Billybeau1]

It is on the low end but I doubt that is your problem.

What is it at night (lights out) ?

[tmz]

Low ph can cause calcium carbonate( coral skeletal mass, live rock etc) to dissolve but not at 7.8 with your alkalinity. It also makes it hard for corals to precipitate calcium carbonate and grow. Are they turning pastel in color( bleaching)? Could be other water conditions such as phosphate, nitrate ,a toxin or change in lighting.

[ChurchBoy]

At night it drops to 7.6 & the colors are turning more pastel. I haven't really checked phosphates, nitrate & amonia for awhile. Maybe that's the next thing to do, thanks guys!

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

pH 7.6 is pretty low if accurate. I don't know if it will help colors, but it may otherwise help some corals if you raise it. Maybe limewtaer is a good option:

What Your Grandmother Never Told You About Lime
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.htm

Low pH: Causes and Cures
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.htm