Corals turning pale

Discussion in 'Coral Health' started by Sacul1573, Jun 14, 2011.

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  1. Sacul1573

    Sacul1573 Millepora

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    Particularily the LPS and SPS polyps turn to a paler color after a week or so after introduction, and remain that way. My green slimer was a shaggy deep-green stick when I introduced, but the polyps are a lighter green now. The candy cane I introduced 8 days ago was red, now more of a pink. Corals are not browning out, just fading in color.

    Actinics are on from 10am-9pm, whites from 11am-7:30pm. 48" 6 bulb T5. Bulbs are original stock, 6 months old. I feed Coral Frenzy once weekly (sometimes I miss a week), and feed the fish a mix of frozen and nori daily. I've been dosing vodka for about 3 months now, and have established a daily dose of 3ml (1.5 in am and pm each). 10% WC bi-weekly.

    PO4 and NO3: undetectable
    Alk: 10
    Calc: 440
    Mag: 1500 (lowering)
    Temp: 78-81
    PH: 8.3
    SG: 1.026

    Any thoughts? I might try feeding the corals more often... should I target feed instead of just dumping in? Should I increase/decrease lights? What causes fading (as opposed to browning, which is too little light)?
     
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  3. bioreefdude

    bioreefdude Fu Manchu Lion Fish

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    hmmm maybe old lights what system r u running bulbs etc.
     
  4. Sacul1573

    Sacul1573 Millepora

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    AquaticLife T5 6x54watt fixture. It is 6 months old, as well as the bulbs.
     
  5. 2in10

    2in10 Super Moderator

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    Cut back on lighting to 10 hours actinic and 8 hours daylight. Increase height of light above water to 10 to 12 inches. Color may not come back completely. Some corals may need to be shaded IME.
     
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  6. 2in10

    2in10 Super Moderator

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    Lights are OK.
     
  7. Sacul1573

    Sacul1573 Millepora

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    Bump for the PMers.

    I can try reducing lights... I'm suprised to think that the corals might be getting too much...
     
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  9. 2in10

    2in10 Super Moderator

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    Why is that? A good T5HO fixture has penetration to 30" while a 250W MH only penetrates to 24".
     
  10. Sacul1573

    Sacul1573 Millepora

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    Dunno, misconceptions I guess. So you think reducing my photo period by 1 hour actinic and 30 minutes daylight should be enough?
     
  11. 2in10

    2in10 Super Moderator

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    It will some, I also now have my fixture about 11" above the water line. My LPS are coloring up beautifully, but I have lost a lot of the original coloring on a few that bleached out completely. The SPS are regaining some but not all of their lost coloring also. If you have caught it early enough hopefully they will return to the color they started with.
     
  12. N3MATOCYST

    N3MATOCYST Spaghetti Worm

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    does your temp fluctuate? alkalinity swinging?