I obvioulsy had a problem with an elevated nutrient problem. This was why my corals were fading and losing color. Now, I have corrected the problem and some corals a doing great and other are not. The purple and blue corals only have their bule/purple at the tips and the rest of the body of the coral is faded brown/tan. Is there a posibility that I have stripped the tank of all the nutrients? How do I determine this? ASLso, what causes the corals to only keep their color at their tips?
nutrients
- Thread starter Sea Turtle
- Start date
Me again 
If the corals browned out, going activated carbon like you're thinking is a good idea, but i'd make sure not to do too much at one time or else you may bleach your corals. Dissolved organics can really impede light penetration and cause corals to lose colors. GAC does a good job clearing up the water. Once the corals get more light towards the bottom of the colony, they're old colors will return.
The ideal solution, of course, is to do 25% water changes for 4-6 weeks straight. It'll clear up your water and replace any elements you think you may have taken out with whatever process you used.
If the corals browned out, going activated carbon like you're thinking is a good idea, but i'd make sure not to do too much at one time or else you may bleach your corals. Dissolved organics can really impede light penetration and cause corals to lose colors. GAC does a good job clearing up the water. Once the corals get more light towards the bottom of the colony, they're old colors will return.The ideal solution, of course, is to do 25% water changes for 4-6 weeks straight. It'll clear up your water and replace any elements you think you may have taken out with whatever process you used.
I took some pictures tonight to show you. I have been doing 15%-20% water changes every weekend (reef crystrals), adding two mesh bags of active carbon to the sump, refugium (all chaeto) and a loaded GFO reactor. All water perameter are absolutely perfect. Ca 440, PH 8.0, dKh 8.5, Mg 1460, Temp 79, SG 1.026. I just am not seeing any recovery in the Blue/purple corals. Getting very frustrating. I am seeing growth, plenty of it, but it is white growth. The corals seem to have their blue/purple color only around the base (rim) and at the very top tips and their pastel not dark purple. Also, all the polyps are just thriving all out, very big, bright green and healthy.
I just added a bunch of really nice purple and blue coral frags to the tank this last weekend and I am worries that they are going to fade away. Greens and reds are doing great. What could be the problem? Do they looked bleached?
Do you think that even after all that I could still have too much nutrients in the water? Could I have too little nutrients in the water? What usually does this? I add Lugio's. Should I add more, less, what do you think?
Here are some pics.
I just added a bunch of really nice purple and blue coral frags to the tank this last weekend and I am worries that they are going to fade away. Greens and reds are doing great. What could be the problem? Do they looked bleached?
Do you think that even after all that I could still have too much nutrients in the water? Could I have too little nutrients in the water? What usually does this? I add Lugio's. Should I add more, less, what do you think?
Here are some pics.
Are they fading from when you brought them home or are they fading compared to how they used to be? Either you run different lighting than the LFS or your bulbs could be getting old respectively. Nutrient balance can be annoying with SPS. I have constant algae battles yet my neighbor doesnt touch his tank and it stays pristine...I hate him...
They have faded from what they used to be. I may try to replace the halides. How long to the Phoenix double ended halides typically last? The only problem is that I have been contemplating upgrading my lighting system to a hood with a mixture of 2 400 watt halides and T5's. Just a lot of money though.blackcloudmedia":2egx2rki said:
I know this thread has lost interest. However, I am still dealing with my problem. I have spoken to a lot of people lately regarding this issue and have read over past thread posts. What I am thinking is it must have to do with something along the lines of "put in what you take out". So, now that I think that this could be it, based on my past posts, could it be possible I am taking out more thaty what is being put in. Should I hold off on water changes for a bit? Is there a way to tell if this is the method I should take?
Sorry, this is where the hobby gets challenging. You have to take the information you have gathered and try to analyze your tank. In the end it must be your decision, and if you are worng, you wil learn form it, but if you move slowly, you need not have a crisis. It's kind of like learning to drive. You will over-steer when your first start. Good Luck.
I have a fish question that may have something to do with this. My tank is 75 gallons. I have about 90 lbs of live rock, a small refugium, a good skimmer, and phosban reactor with GFO and carbon. I have eleven small fish in the tank including one fairly large yellow tang. Is this too much for the reef system that I have (sps)? Could they be adding too much polution to the water? I just am just so frustrated, I thought I had this under control. I had a brilliant bottle brush acro that got all its color back and now I am watching it fade back to brown each day... I am going crazy with 15% wate changes each weekend.
Here is another thing that I have noticed. About a month ago when I was doing some rearanging of the rocks, I noticed a turbo snail pushed down into the sand. I picked it up and it was the worst smell I have ever experienced. It was dead. I must habe bought 12 turbo snails when I first strted my tank and now I can only find about 3 or 4. I have lso found a couple of those circular stone like things they use to protect themselve when they pull inside their shells. Anyway, could this be poluting the water and causing the discoloration? I teasted for Amonia and Nitrates this morning but none showed up. Possibly it is present but at a lower level than the test kit can detect? Is that enought ot affect the corals?
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