[jsgates]

I have several SPS corals that are not up to par for me. I started with one of the acropora 3 packs for $60 that Live Aquaria had about a month or so ago since these were my first SPS. I also got a green encrusting montipora. The montipora never was green when I received it, but it's still not green at all. The acros didn't have a lot of color either, but were a little bit more green & orange in color. They are all doing pretty well, now, but they are just ugly corals. the Montipora is pretty much browned out, and one of the acros is kind of yellow now. They seem to be doing better since I started feeding Coral Frenzy every other day, and a small amount of DTs on the days in between. When I received the corals, I placed them towards the bottom of my tank which has VHO T5 lighting to acclimate them. I left them there for a couple of days and then moved them towards the top of the tank, closer to the lights. They were most likely under Metal Halides at Live Aquaria. Did I maybe just get a bad batch of corals since they weren't all that colorful to start with? or did I do something wrong? The polyps extend on the corals, and the symbiotic host algae glows nicely undedr the moonlights....they are just dull and ugly. LPS and leather corals in the tank are doing awesome. I am trying to brighten up my tank and really want a blue acropora, but I don't want to pay $60 and have it fade out to a dull brown. Any suggestions?

[RyanG]

How is your lighting placed on your tank? How far away from the water is the unit? What T5 lighting system do you have?

[pogodzib]

Also, light bulbs are you using and how is your water quality? Lighting intensity and kelvin rating (color) can greatly affect how SPS corals color up in a tank, along with water quality.

[jsgates]

Here is my lighting rig: It is install under my canopy.

https://diyreef.authsecure.com/shop/...a106fac880c81b

The bulbs are in the following configuration:

front to back.....420 nm,6500k,6500k.10000k

Nativevaman from this forum helped me pick out my lighting setup. Everything has gone great from his advice. Bulbs may be about 6 inches above the water surface, but I will have to verify this. Only time water quality goes down at all is when I feed DTs or Coral Frenzy at night an turn the skimmer off.

[dinor2]

I am still pretty new but, I think you may want to try adding one more actinic bulb as I believe those are the lights corals really thrive on. I'm sure someone more knowlegdable will address this but, that's what I'm thinking might be going on.

[WILLIAM1]

I think you should add 1 more atinic to the mix and x out one of those 6500k bulbs even x out both 6500k bulbs and do 2 atinics and 2 10000k bulbs. . From what I have heard is that under thr 6500 range your corals will produce the best growth but the least amount of color. This is the reason will usually use MH lights to bring out all the colors in there coral...

[jimw369]

Steady water params are a must with the SPS. Some are more forgiving than others. I am learning the same thing as we speak! Keep a close eye on that PH and keep it steady!

[REEFMASTER]

Originally Posted by jimw369

Steady water params are a must with the SPS. Some are more forgiving than others. I am learning the same thing as we speak! Keep a close eye on that PH and keep it steady!

This response here sounds more feasible. make sure your params are where they should be for hard corals. then go to your lights next. then your flow/circulation.

[demonsquirt]

SPS like flow more then lighting.And a regular food source of small meaty bits/Cyclops works great. The flow will circulate the food back and forth giving then time to capture food. Here's a few links GL..

Advanced Aquarist's Online Magazine - Feature Article: Water Flow is More Important for Corals Than Light, Part V


www.asira.org - Coral CareÂ*

[Taras1]

One other little tidbit -- Coral farms and fraggers have set-ups that vary greatly from your own set-up. No two are alike. In my own experience, I bought a bright green Acro with purple tips. It's now a bright PEACH with purple tips. It was grown under MH's and I have T-5's both "daylight" and actiinics. Color temp and intensity "matched" with the fraggers. "Life is like a box of chocolates...." Forrest Gump

[Jason L]

might take time cant rush with sps. could take up to a year to get used to your tank... welcome to the world of sps!

[NYreefNoob]

stability, stability and stability, making sure your water quality is up to par, get rid of the 65k bulbs, myself when i ran t5's on my sps tank i used giesmann bulbs 2 11k's and 2 antic plus, also think your over feeding tank which probably has a high phos count and phosphate will cause sps to brown and lose color, how much flow do you have as well, cal levels ? alk ? mag ?

[shapermike]

+1 on NYreefNoob post and good water levels and the big one phosphate levels need to be below .09