Is PAR bleaching a thing? (1 Viewer)

[alstang1]

I’m running 4 hydra 32’s on a 6’ 180 g. Left settings are 78% and white variations on right are in the 30% range.

I got a few frags that were all the way at the bottom of a 300ish par tank and put them half way up my aquascape. They have lost natural color and turned a very light tan, almost white color. Is it likely this is a par issue or should I look elsewhere for a solution?

 

[webster1234]

Hard to blame it on par. But can't rule it out either. LED's just have too many variables for me. Others will disagree, but T5's are idiot proof........that's why I ditched my LED's and went dimmable T5's.

My new saying is...if you are running T5 and still can't grow coral, it ain't your lighting.

 

[TX_Punisher]

So how much par were they receiving at the bottom? That Looks like a playing monti. Undata perhaps? Mine were in about 200 par at most when I had them.

 

[alstang1]

So how much par were they receiving at the bottom? That Looks like a playing monti. Undata perhaps? Mine were in about 200 par at most when I had them.

It’s presumably beach bum.

 

[Reefahholic]

I think first we need to ask some additional questions. What kind of filtration methods are you running and what are your nutrients looking like. Specifically N&P numbers to start with. Any nutrition going into the tank other than fish food?

 

[Reefahholic]

Sometimes over lighting a coral can make the coral outgrow its own resources. Is the tank growing well or are the corals just sitting ATM?

 

[webster1234]

Sorry, I wasn't clear in my earlier response. Yes, it could be par, but it could also be spectrum.

 

[alstang1]

I think first we need to ask some additional questions. What kind of filtration methods are you running and what are your nutrients looking like. Specifically N&P numbers to start with. Any nutrition going into the tank other than fish food?

Live pods weekly, 2 sump chambers full of live rock, large skimmer, 0,0,0, 7.37, 469, 1407, ph average 7.89 high of 8.04. Apex.
Water changes every 2 weeks. 20%. Dosing Red Sea reef energy plus ab+ just below max daily.

 

[Reefahholic]

Sorry, I wasn't clear in my earlier response. Yes, it could be par, but it could also be spectrum.

I’d definitely say the two most common for pale colors is either too much PAR or an imbalance in nutrients typically on the depleted end with the latter being more common due to the advanced filtration methods we have today. It’s definitely possible it could be spectrum, but most of these fixtures have spectrum pretty well dialed in almost like T’5’s if you’re following the basic recommended settings like AB+ with Radions.

 

[Reefahholic]

Live pods weekly, 2 sump chambers full of live rock, large skimmer, 0,0,0, 7.37, 469, 1407, ph average 7.89 high of 8.04. Apex.
Water changes every 2 weeks. 20%. Dosing Red Sea reef energy plus ab+ just below max daily.

Sounds like you have really good filtration, but you also have good nutrition going back into the system. The 0,0,0 represents what values? Is that the N&P?

 

[BigRick]

My beach bum took almost 8 months before growing now its doubled in the past 2 months. Hopefully you didn't allow it to get too warm transporting it.

 

[alstang1]

Sounds like you have really good filtration, but you also have good nutrition going back into the system. The 0,0,0 represents what values? Is that the N&P?

Amonia trate trite

 

[Reefahholic]

Amonia trate trite

So I’m only worried about Nitrate. The other two valves really don’t apply unless the tank is brand new or something died in the system.

Definitely bring up the nitrate to about 3ppm and see what you observe. You can do this but turning off the skimmer for a bit each day, feeding more, dosing NaNO3, etc. I have a video I’ll link below on how to make your own. Excuse the audio issues:

 

[alstang1]

My beach bum took almost 8 months before growing now its doubled in the past 2 months. Hopefully you didn't allow it to get too warm transporting it.

4 of 40 SPS (10%) have gotten extremely lighter within weeks of adding them to the tank, most at different times. The UT orange cap I got from you is hot pink in my tank after around 40 days. I just hope I’m not doing something wrong. Based on my current knowledge level, lighting is the only thing I could think of. Any suggestions are appreciated.

 

[alstang1]

4 of 40 SPS (10%) have gotten extremely lighter within weeks of adding them to the tank, most at different times. The UT orange cap I got from you is hot pink in my tank after around 40 days. I just hope I’m not doing something wrong. Based on my current knowledge level, lighting is the only thing I could think of. Any suggestions are appreciated.

This is the beach bum 8 days ago

 

[Reefahholic]

It’s N&P and the PAR is likely making it worse. The corals don’t have enough nutrition and will begin to fade and eventually die unless corrected. Increase the nutrients now, and take the skimmer offline for 50% of the day until you are getting nutrient readings. You also might need to start removing live rock until you find the sweet spot. Or add more fish. I bet I could fix that system within 3 days and have color coming back.

 

[Reefahholic]

I fixed the exact same issue on video with a Green Slimer Stag. I recognized that despite my heavy nutrition going into the tank, I was blasting the corals so intense with light that the one stag start to STN. I immediately corrected and fixed it on video. Notice the color of the coral in the pics before and after.

 

[alstang1]

It’s N&P and the PAR is likely making it worse. The corals don’t have enough nutrition and will begin to fade and eventually die unless corrected. Increase the nutrients now, and take the skimmer offline for 50% of the day until you are getting nutrient readings. You also might need to start removing live rock until you find the sweet spot. Or add more fish. I bet I could fix that system within 3 days and have color coming back.

Thanks. I’ll do it.

 

[Reefahholic]

Man y’all going to make me set up my tank. Trying to wait out these supply shortages though before I do, but this gets me hyped up.

 

[alstang1]

I

Man y’all going to make me set up my tank. Trying to wait out these supply shortages though before I do, but this gets me hyped up.

can’t add fish any time soon as both qt tanks are empty. Ordering the pure concentrates tonight.