SPS Color bleh...

I'm real unhappy with the color of most of my SPS, their polyp extension is great but color is not real vibrant and browned out in some.

About my tank;

60G Cube

Vertex Illumina LED lighting - think I have more than adequate lighting.

1 MP40 on one side of the tank and a MP10 on the opposite.

Reef Octopus skimmer - skims like crazy

9w UV Sterilizer

I dose Vinegar, and BRS Calcium and Alk mixtures automated with a Bubble-Magus Doser.

All tank parameters are where they should be and stay very steady.

I do run Ecobak pellets(maybe I'll pull them?..)

I feed regularly and a constant variety, from Rod's Fish food, to Reef Nutrition pods, mysis, phyto, zeovit coral vitalizer, sponge power, pohls extra, amino acid concentrate.

Any thoughts or ideas? I'd take pics, but have absolutely no skill taking pictures of the tank. Thanks!

No I haven't.

How long have you been running the Ecobak pellets? If you've been running them a while and skimming heavily, which you said you were, your phosphates shouldn't be an issue since the pellets feed the bacteria strains that eliminate phosphates.

Just a thought how long have they been in this tank. With some
of the ones I have got, it takes some time coloring back up after moving
from one persons tank to mine.

Edited by jaschall - March 18 2012 at 8:14am

wow thanks reef'd that helped me a ton as i was having the same issue with a sps

Potassium deficiency can leave corals pale brown, but you're right, brown is usually from lack of light or high nutrients. I really doubt high nutrients are the problem given the vinegar dosing, pellets, etc. But just for shiggles & gits, what are the phosphates and nitrates measuring? 

Reef'd Up wrote: Potassium deficiency can leave corals pale brown, but you're right, brown is usually from lack of light or high nutrients. I really doubt high nutrients are the problem given the vinegar dosing, pellets, etc. But just for shiggles & gits, what are the phosphates and nitrates measuring?ÂÂ

I don't know that I would call potassium deficiency "starving" the corals though. I would say the parameters are out of whack at that point.

However, I've never seen any proof that potassium helps with colors. I know people have reported it and I personally use it, but I've never seen scientific proof. I also believe there is enough potassium in most salt mixes that regular water changes will replenish any that is used up.

However, it does seem the ULNS type tanks do need to dose potassium. In this case, we have vinegar and biopellets being used which seems like complete overkill to me. Therefore, potassium is a likely culprit.

I am not arguing here. Just trying to further discuss these things.

I have one acro that I would say is pretty browned out, all the others light/pastel looking. For now I'm going to pull the biopellets, increase feeding and over the next bit add another fish or two.(my wife will be happy about that!)

Ryan Thompson wrote: However, I've never seen any proof that potassium helps with colors. I know people have reported it and I personally use it, but I've never seen scientific proof.