Mixed tank balance (photo heavy?)

mpderksen · 02/17/2020, 07:33 PM

let's start with the pictures.

mpderksen · 02/17/2020, 07:53 PM

150g, 6' long with large sump and separate 25g fuge
pH 8.25-8.45
temp 77.1-77.9
SG 1.026
Alk 8.7-9.0
Nitrate and Phosphate below ICP detection limits.
Lighting 3x Ai26, running at peak from 12:00-8:00pm, half until 11:00pm
UV 5%
Violet 72%
Royal 77%
Blue 79%
Green 4%
Deep Red 4%
Cool White 5%
Also running 4x 80W, 60" T5 (3x Blue plus, and 1x Coral plus) currently only from 6:00-8:00pm
Fuge has a ball of Cheato, and a grow LED (40W?) on from 10PM to 10AM

My tank suffers from poor growth of LPS and pale colors. Yet my SPS is growing fine.
In November I realized my T5 bulbs were 18+ months old. I got new ones, but only added 1 new each week over the month. At that point they were on 4 hours, from 4:00-8:00. I also, probably, trimmed back my Cheato too much. I frequently harvest as much as a full 5 gallon bucket every 6 weeks!
I also tried to copy the famous AB+ spectrum, which has MUCH higher UV and Cool White.
POOF! I now have algae for the first time in 3 years!
I've dialed the T5s to 2 hours and moved my LED spectrum back to the one above. I also drained and cleaned all the algae out of my fuge, and won't trim the Cheato for a while.
I'm patient, but other than time, is there anything I can do to enhance my LPS? They probably don't love my ULN water, but if I add food, won't that just encourage MORE algae?
Also, you can see just how bad my vermatid issue is. All my SPS just grows around their tubes. Looks like a phlegm farm when I feed, but otherwise probably not an issue.
I think it's generally a very successful tank. I just want to stay on top of it, so advice is welcome.

mpderksen · 02/17/2020, 09:08 PM

More photos, because I just really like photos....

02/17/2020, 07:33 PM	#1
mpderksen Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Manteca, CA Posts: 1,853	Mixed tank balance (photo heavy?) let's start with the pictures.

02/17/2020, 07:53 PM	#2
mpderksen Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Manteca, CA Posts: 1,853	150g, 6' long with large sump and separate 25g fuge pH 8.25-8.45 temp 77.1-77.9 SG 1.026 Alk 8.7-9.0 Nitrate and Phosphate below ICP detection limits. Lighting 3x Ai26, running at peak from 12:00-8:00pm, half until 11:00pm UV 5% Violet 72% Royal 77% Blue 79% Green 4% Deep Red 4% Cool White 5% Also running 4x 80W, 60" T5 (3x Blue plus, and 1x Coral plus) currently only from 6:00-8:00pm Fuge has a ball of Cheato, and a grow LED (40W?) on from 10PM to 10AM My tank suffers from poor growth of LPS and pale colors. Yet my SPS is growing fine. In November I realized my T5 bulbs were 18+ months old. I got new ones, but only added 1 new each week over the month. At that point they were on 4 hours, from 4:00-8:00. I also, probably, trimmed back my Cheato too much. I frequently harvest as much as a full 5 gallon bucket every 6 weeks! I also tried to copy the famous AB+ spectrum, which has MUCH higher UV and Cool White. POOF! I now have algae for the first time in 3 years! I've dialed the T5s to 2 hours and moved my LED spectrum back to the one above. I also drained and cleaned all the algae out of my fuge, and won't trim the Cheato for a while. I'm patient, but other than time, is there anything I can do to enhance my LPS? They probably don't love my ULN water, but if I add food, won't that just encourage MORE algae? Also, you can see just how bad my vermatid issue is. All my SPS just grows around their tubes. Looks like a phlegm farm when I feed, but otherwise probably not an issue. I think it's generally a very successful tank. I just want to stay on top of it, so advice is welcome.

02/17/2020, 09:08 PM	#3
mpderksen Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Manteca, CA Posts: 1,853	More photos, because I just really like photos....