Help please !!! Coral color turn brown !!

xcuongx · 11/01/2010, 05:47 PM

My coral color starts to turn brownish. They arent vivid and colorful as they are supposed to be anymore.

Zero Cool · 11/01/2010, 06:13 PM

What kind of lighting are you using and how old are the bulbs?

bertoni · 11/01/2010, 06:54 PM

I agree that lighting is a common issue. Water quality can affect coloration, too. We'd need more details to help much.

xcuongx · 11/01/2010, 08:03 PM

I have a 65 gallons tank, and im using 6x T5 bulbs. I bought it used from someone, thus i cant confirm how old the light bulbs are

HOwever, they seem to be bright to me though. This color happened just about two weeks ago.

bertoni · 11/01/2010, 08:36 PM

Does the lighting fixture have a separate reflector for each bulb? What brand is it?

I'd likely get some replacement bulbs. You'll need them eventually, and you can do a side-by-side more easily with the new bulbs. I don't know what the state of the art is in T5 bulbs, but I thought something like 9 months to a year was the limit before they started getting dim. Your eyes won't work as a good light meter for this purpose, since they adapt to such a wide range of light levels.

Alunai · 11/01/2010, 09:23 PM

That's a very good point.

James404 · 11/01/2010, 09:39 PM

If your corals are browning out its either they are not getting sufficient lighting like Jonathan said, or you have excess nutrients in the tank such as phosphates. What kind of corals are these that you are referring to?

xcuongx · 11/02/2010, 12:00 PM

Thanks guys,

My torch coral, and my acans just turned pink from red. I think the main problem is i have excess phosphate, because i can algae all over my glass everyday. Correct me if iam wrong?

James404 · 11/02/2010, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xcuongx

Thanks guys,

My torch coral, and my acans just turned pink from red. I think the main problem is i have excess phosphate, because i can algae all over my glass everyday. Correct me if iam wrong?

Yes you are probably correct, I would start running GFO, prefferably in a reactor.

bertoni · 11/02/2010, 03:07 PM

I agree, the algae likely indicates a fairly high nutrient content to the water. I'd work on that, too. Less feeding might be the best approach, but a better skimmer or a GFO reactor can do a lot, too.

11/01/2010, 05:47 PM	#1
xcuongx Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: St. Pete Posts: 92	Help please !!! Coral color turn brown !! My coral color starts to turn brownish. They arent vivid and colorful as they are supposed to be anymore.

11/01/2010, 06:54 PM	#3
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I agree that lighting is a common issue. Water quality can affect coloration, too. We'd need more details to help much. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

11/01/2010, 08:36 PM	#5
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Does the lighting fixture have a separate reflector for each bulb? What brand is it? I'd likely get some replacement bulbs. You'll need them eventually, and you can do a side-by-side more easily with the new bulbs. I don't know what the state of the art is in T5 bulbs, but I thought something like 9 months to a year was the limit before they started getting dim. Your eyes won't work as a good light meter for this purpose, since they adapt to such a wide range of light levels. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

11/01/2010, 09:39 PM	#7
James404 I <3 Acros Join Date: May 2010 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 2,523	If your corals are browning out its either they are not getting sufficient lighting like Jonathan said, or you have excess nutrients in the tank such as phosphates. What kind of corals are these that you are referring to? __________________ 80g Deep Blue Rimless - http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2651295 225g Reef Savvy SPS Dominant - Retired http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1945361

11/02/2010, 03:07 PM	#10
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I agree, the algae likely indicates a fairly high nutrient content to the water. I'd work on that, too. Less feeding might be the best approach, but a better skimmer or a GFO reactor can do a lot, too. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

11/01/2010, 06:13 PM	#2
Zero Cool Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Louisiana Posts: 148	What kind of lighting are you using and how old are the bulbs?

11/01/2010, 08:03 PM	#4
xcuongx Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: St. Pete Posts: 92	I have a 65 gallons tank, and im using 6x T5 bulbs. I bought it used from someone, thus i cant confirm how old the light bulbs are HOwever, they seem to be bright to me though. This color happened just about two weeks ago.

11/01/2010, 09:23 PM	#6
Alunai Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Minnesota Posts: 174	That's a very good point.

11/02/2010, 12:00 PM	#8
xcuongx Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: St. Pete Posts: 92	Thanks guys, My torch coral, and my acans just turned pink from red. I think the main problem is i have excess phosphate, because i can algae all over my glass everyday. Correct me if iam wrong?

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