Acros darkening and slow growth - help me find the issue

[chipchipbro]

Hi all

I am struggling to keep my acro colored up nicely. What I mean is, I cant keep the shiny, glowy and light look they have when I receive them.
Usually when I get a new frag it takes 3-4 weeks and then the frag is darkening. Its not that they dont have ANY color, its more a darker washed out coloration.

I want them to color up and get more light and glow/shine. The POP everyone is talking about.

Setup:
24" Cube (Red Sea Reefer 200XL)
Flow: 2 Jebao MLW20 on the right and on the left side (1 random flow and one classic mode 95%) / Theres another jebao on the bottom to keep up with the detritus.
Lighting: 1 x Radion XR30 G5 Blue (Pirates Reef Corals Preset) My XR30 is running on 100% intensity (gives around 350-400 PAR) where the most acros sit.
NO3: 8-10
PO4: 0.1
KH: 7.5
Calc: 470
Mag: 1400
Salinity: 35ppt

The elements are all in check (mostly) accroding to my Fauna Marin ICP. I was low on Fluorine and Zinc but I did dose it up.
I sent in another ICP (Fauna Marin Total) yesterday and will receive the results in a few days.

Do you guys have an idea what I am lacking or what could be the issue? I cant see any pests so I kind of rule this out.

NOTE: I am dosing Aminos and coral food MinS - can acros darken up when dosing too much Amino Acids?

 

[Waters]

Could just be the acros adjusting to the new system....sometimes they will darken up and don't show true colors until they start to encrust and grow. How long have the darken frags been in the system? Might want to also try reducing PO4 a bit.

 

[chipchipbro]

Could just be the acros adjusting to the new system....sometimes they will darken up and don't show true colors until they start to encrust and grow. How long have the darken frags been in the system? Might want to also try reducing PO4 a bit.

Hmm.. I cannot imagine as all acros are lacking this pop.
And some are in this tank for a year.

the others are in the tank for a month maybe. But its not only the new ones - all acros are affected.

Maybe try lowering coral foods and amino acids dosages? or cut it completely.

 

[Backreefing]

I had darkening acropora to . Let me guess are your montipora caps dieing in the oldest areas ( center) dispite good phosphate parameters?

 

[chipchipbro]

I had darkening acropora to . Let me guess are your montipora caps dieing in the oldest areas ( center) dispite good phosphate parameters?

Sorry, I do not have monti caps unfortunately.
What was your problem?

 

[Reefer911]

I’d work on slowly lowering nutrients maybe carbon dosing might help dial those in

 

[Waters]

Hmm.. I cannot imagine as all acros are lacking this pop.
And some are in this tank for a year.

the others are in the tank for a month maybe. But its not only the new ones - all acros are affected.

Maybe try lowering coral foods and amino acids dosages? or cut it completely.

I would definitely start with lowering the coral foods......amino acids dosing would depend on your water change schedule. I do aggressive water changes and still dose daily low amounts of amino acids but they probably aren't needed lol.

 

[chipchipbro]

I would definitely start with lowering the coral foods......amino acids dosing would depend on your water change schedule. I do aggressive water changes and still dose daily low amounts of amino acids but they probably aren't needed lol.

Ok, I will stop all the amino and coral food dosing.
I will install the Radion G6 upgrade kit tomorrow.

Some say my 100% intensity for the G5 is just too much...
I dont know..

 

[Backreefing]

Sorry, I do not have monti caps unfortunately.
What was your problem?

I have posted a thread about similar problems. Lanthanum chloride has helped a lot . Im using phosaban L with good results.

 

[Waters]

Ok, I will stop all the amino and coral food dosing.
I will install the Radion G6 upgrade kit tomorrow.

Some say my 100% intensity for the G5 is just too much...
I dont know..

I would go by PAR more than intensity numbers....assuming the frags were acclimated properly (LEDS require a bit more care when it comes to SPS and lighting unfortunately).

 

[Dburr1014]

Some may like that par and some may not. Depends on each type.

I have posted a thread about similar problems. Lanthanum chloride has helped a lot . Im using phosaban L with good results.

Your post says you have stn or rtn. I'm not sure the OP wants to go down this road yet.

IMO, 0.1 is a good number for po4.

 

[ScottB]

Some may like that par and some may not. Depends on each type.


Your post says you have stn or rtn. I'm not sure the OP wants to go down this road yet.

IMO, 0.1 is a good number for po4.

Agreed on PO4 at .1

I would not chase that number down. All of the OPs numbers are fine.