Browning Of Sps

[Afsal]

just a question thats been bugging me .... when sps go brown , that is an indication that there are excess nutrients in the water ... correct ??? my question is whether insuffient lighting can also do that???

 

[Midasblenny]

just a question thats been bugging me .... when sps go brown , that is an indication that there are excess nutrients in the water ... correct ??? my question is whether insuffient lighting can also do that???

I`d personally blame the lighting first.

 

[Alan]

Insufficient lighting and/or excess nutrient. What lighting are you using at the moment?

 

[Afsal]

TANK IS 4 FOOT , 450mm depth , using 5X54w ts5 (ati/geismann) and 2X39w t5 deltec aquablue plus

 

[Rory]

I doubt it's the lighting...

 

[Alan]

TANK IS 4 FOOT , 450mm depth , using 5X54w ts5 (ati/geismann) and 2X39w t5 deltec aquablue plus

Also doubt its lighting. What are your PO4 readings?

 

[Afsal]

i didnt test yet ... since i thought i have no algae issues , i shudnt test but i guess my line of thinking is wrong so i gotta test

 

[Rod]

Chipping in here, how long should the lights be on for? Is the photoperiod not also a factor?

 

[Alan]

That i don't know Rod as i have heard that corals only photosynthesise for 4hrs a day, but most of us light our systems for much longer than that anyway.

 

[Rod]

Perhaps some of the SPS experts could tell us how long they have their lights on for? I have an Acro very brown tucked away somewhere. I am going to place it under a mH and see how it goes. Time I tackled Acropora! The water depth is 150 mm.

 

[neilharris]

I would suggest that sps loose their colour for the following reasons:

Alk/KH not stable
Too much nutrients
pH and temp swings
Poor flow
Poor lighting
PO4 too high
Last, but not least, soft corals in the system giving off toxins.

HTH,
Neil

 

[Mekaeel]

afsal.bring some water over to my place and i'll test your water for you

 

[Afsal]

can i send with my cuz mek ???

 

[Rod]

From Neil Harris:
Quote "Last, but not least, soft corals in the system giving off toxins."

Hmmmm didnt think of that! My systems are 99% soft corals. And I have the brownest Acro's in town.

 

[neilharris]

Hmmmm didnt think of that! My systems are 99% soft corals. And I have the brownest Acro's in town.

Have a look to see if any softies are 'stressed'. They give off toxins as a defence, so they could be touching each other (yes, even other softies).

I know many people run carbon to try absorb some of the toxins from softies.
HTH,
Neil

 

[DragonReef]

Quote "Last, but not least, soft corals in the system giving off toxins."

I had a smallish but fast growing Gorgonian in my system, which I got as a frag and was kinda attached to it. When Calfo saw my tank he commented on the toxicity of Gorgonians, citing that they amongst the most toxic corals on a reef. I didn't think much of it intially. It's a smallish piece and my tank is a fair size, and I run carbon 24/7. Anyway about 2 weeks ago I decided to take it out. There has been an improvement in the colours of the corals in the vicinty of where the Gorg was.. Interesting..

 

[Mekaeel]

can i send with my cuz mek ???

ofcourse,just phone me before you send him to check if im in

 

[ShaneW]

I had a smallish but fast growing Gorgonian in my system, which I got as a frag and was kinda attached to it. When Calfo saw my tank he commented on the toxicity of Gorgonians, citing that they amongst the most toxic corals on a reef. I didn't think much of it intially. It's a smallish piece and my tank is a fair size, and I run carbon 24/7. Anyway about 2 weeks ago I decided to take it out. There has been an improvement in the colours of the corals in the vicinty of where the Gorg was.. Interesting..

Anyone want a gorgonia ???