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Restless10101
11-22-2015, 05:07 AM
Hey all.

I have a piece of Red Dragon Acro that keeps losing it colour. I have had it for about 5 months, it is growing, but just seems to be very light in colour. It is currently sitting about 27 inches below the T5's but it has been moved around a couple times. First in was 12 inches below the T5's then about a month later it was moved down about 8 inches. 2 months later I moved it down to where it currently is.

Aquarium (running for approximately 10 months):

90 gallon with 20 gallon sump.
6, 54w T5 bulbs (ATI bulbs)
SWC 160 skimmer, with light bio load
BRS single media reactor running with Seachem PhosGaurd

Just stopped using C Balance two part additive and switched to a calcium reactor, but colour was bad before the switch.


Water Parameters:
Salinity : 1.025
PH: 7.9 - 8.1
Alk : 7
Calcium : 440
Nitrates : undetectable
Phosphates : undetectable
Mag : ?

I was feeding my corals with Coral Frenzy and Koral Color (brightwells) every third day, but have stopped doing so in the last month. Again they colour was fading even when feeding my corals.

https://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a5cf00b3127cceeafe8a3cf0e900000030O00Absm7Ni4buX APbz4I/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00809781372720151122054043125.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
F.H
11-22-2015, 06:09 AM
My guess would be not enough nutrients, coral is probably starving. Try acropower or something?

But lets wait for some of the sps pro's to chime in first :P
Wheelman76
11-22-2015, 06:15 AM
What do the rest of your sps look like ? Are they all pale ?
WarDog
11-22-2015, 06:51 AM
Looks and sounds like ULNS to me.
iamfrontosa
11-22-2015, 08:00 AM
looks bleached to me.
Myka
11-22-2015, 01:47 PM
Which test kits are you using to test nitrate and phosphate? What do the other Acros look like? It looks bleached to me, not starving.
Aquattro
11-22-2015, 01:50 PM
I have mine very close to a 400w MH, I wouldn't keep moving it lower :)
Myka
11-22-2015, 01:53 PM
I have mine very close to a 400w MH, I wouldn't keep moving it lower :)

Agreed, but right now it has hardly any zooxanthellae to protect it from the lights, so moving it up right now would roast it. Don't you think?
Aquattro
11-22-2015, 02:00 PM
Agreed, but right now it has hardly any zooxanthellae to protect it from the lights, so moving it up right now would roast it. Don't you think?

50/50 really. I've moved bleached pieces up high without issue, and with issues. I would at least start moving it closer. Maybe go halfway back up and leave it alone for 3 months, see what it does.
Restless10101
11-23-2015, 07:32 AM
I have a piece of bonsai coral that did the same thing. It was up closer to the top, about 12 inches from the lights. Moved it down to about 18 inches down and the colour has returned on the new growth. My Valida was high up as well colour was drab on it as well. Moved it down and it seems to be colouring up too. I also had some hammer coral on the bottom of my aquarium turn white and moved them into a large cave under my live rock (out of the direct light). They coloured up after a month.

I do have several sps coral high in my aquarium, red planet, cali tort, purple pocci, green elkhorn, blue tip - green slimmer, orange & forest fire digi, purple cross and lots of different montis. They all seem to very well. I also have some others that have good colour, but the growth isn't great. These include, pink lemonade, pearl berry, Hawkins coral.

If my lights are too intense, should I move them up? They are currently 6 inches above the water. What height should I move them to?

And thanks everyone. Really appreciate the help!
iamfrontosa
11-23-2015, 07:52 AM
too many variables. how do you arrange your rock ? Does your light have the option to on/off some bulbs or dimmable? Easiest way is to move the light up - starting with 6" ? And find the sweet spot. I am no expert though.
Restless10101
11-23-2015, 08:07 AM
Yes, standard 90 gallon. 2 lights are on 12 hours, 4 others are on for 10 hours. Not dimmable. Rocks are arranged in a lattice wall (see picture)

https://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a5cf02b3127cceeafaa0c6c16f00000030O00Absm7Ni4buX APbz4I/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00809781372720151123090411960.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/.
Aquattro
11-23-2015, 01:16 PM
In general, I think 12 hours is a bit much for lighting cycle. I prefer 7 or 8 for main lights.
Proteus
11-23-2015, 02:18 PM
In general, I think 12 hours is a bit much for lighting cycle. I prefer 7 or 8 for main lights.

Agreed. I went from a 6 bulb to a 8 bulb t5 and lowered the time period drastically, photosaturation is something alot of people don't consider