Jump to content
ReefCleaners.org

coral coloration problems?


mmelnick

Recommended Posts

I have a couple questions about the coloration of my corals. It seems that every coral that I put in my tank changes colors on me.

 

These mushrooms were one solid color when I got them. They didn't have any green on them, but started to get green spots shortly after being placed into my tank. They are now 1/2 green.

DSC_0003-2.jpg

 

And these are starting to lose their coloration in the centers. They all had bright pinkish red in the centers and a sort of burgundy color around the outsides, but are becoming pure burgundy.

DSC_0002-2.jpg

 

The polyps in the center still have the same coloration, but you can see how a few are losing the coloration in the center.

 

I have a 20H with 2X T-5 VHO's. a 10,000K and a super actinic

 

Params are as follow:

 

Nitrates 2.5ppm (ALWAYS at 2.5)

calcium 320 (usually runs about 420)

phosphates 0

carbonate hardness 8dkh (always stable at 8)

sg 1.024 (averages 1.023 - 1.027 depending on time since top off)

water temp 80.5 (averages 79.1 - 80.5)

Link to comment

It's probably your 10000k bulbs, those are a bit strong and can cause browning out in corals due to their spectrum. What color were the mushrooms before you got them? They look pretty nice now with the green :)

Link to comment
circusordie16
It's probably your 10000k bulbs, those are a bit strong and can cause browning out in corals due to their spectrum. What color were the mushrooms before you got them? They look pretty nice now with the green :)

 

doesnt too strong of light generally cause bleaching while insufficient light causes browning?

Link to comment
It's probably your 10000k bulbs, those are a bit strong and can cause browning out in corals due to their spectrum. What color were the mushrooms before you got them? They look pretty nice now with the green :)

 

They were the same color as now except without any green in them.

Link to comment
doesnt too strong of light generally cause bleaching while insufficient light causes browning?

 

 

Technically, but a yellower spectrum in the bulbs makes the zooxanthellae algae in the corals grow more quickly, which causes a browning out effect :)

Link to comment
Technically, but a yellower spectrum in the bulbs makes the zooxanthellae algae in the corals grow more quickly, which causes a browning out effect :)

 

isn't 10,000k pretty much a general all around bulb. I know a lot of people with MH like to go for 18 or 20K's, but I kind of thought that higher spectrum bulbs wouldn't make much difference on a few softies. Am I wrong here?

Link to comment

14k is a pretty good all around bulb, 10k would definitely be on the lower end of the spectrum with a really yellow color. Actually, the higher k bulbs make a huge difference on softies, which are usually deeper water and will have some very nice colors under 20k bulbs.

Link to comment
14k is a pretty good all around bulb, 10k would definitely be on the lower end of the spectrum with a really yellow color. Actually, the higher k bulbs make a huge difference on softies, which are usually deeper water and will have some very nice colors under 20k bulbs.

 

Good to know, I'll have to look into a new bulb.

 

So do you think that the bulb is my main problem? I was kind of worried about water chemistry more than anything.

Link to comment

Should be the bulb as long as your salinity is stable, if you get a nice 20k bulb you'll wonder why you didn't get one in the first place, the tank will start glowing. It will slow down growth, but I've always felt that for my display I'd rather have everything look as good as possible rather than have things grow a little faster.

Link to comment

you guys are WAY off. 10 k is NOT a yellow bulb. 6500 is a yellow bulb. 20k is practically blue. 10 k has the most usable spectrum for corals. without giving a yellow look. 10 k generally gives great growth. i don't disagree that the color shift in the corals may be due to the acquisition of accessory pigments. you need to look at the bigger picture...nutrient load, coral feeding, lights and esp water flow...

Link to comment

umm.... no. 10k is a yellow bulb, 6500 just happens to be an even yellower bulb. 10k has the most usable spectrum for zooxanthellae algae, which will increase coral growth in some corals or fry some soft corals, but it only has the most usable spectrum for shallower water corals, especially SPS. Most deeper water corals, especially softies, need a higher k rating to do well and show their better coloration. There's no question that a higher k rating will give much better coloration...

Link to comment

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recommended Discussions

×
×
  • Create New...