I'm looking for advice on some corals to progress or better myself in this hobby:)

[SomeHappyFish]

I have a couple of issues which I'm not sure how to handle yet.

Case #1: Pink bird nest
I'm getting growth at the bottom but the issue is the two small algae spots on what seems to be areas where a branch was broken or fragged. (Top right)



Case #2: Gorgonian
Located 6" in front of the gyre but still gets red algae or cyano. I have to brush it often to keep it clean and have the polyps open. It's the only coral with this brown/redish algae.


Case #3: These @$% zoas.
They stopped opening months ago, all my other zoas are good. Tried lots of location and this is how much they open.

 

[Formulator]

In order to help, we need more information about your system and a full tank photo would be really helpful.

What are your water parameters (pH, temperature, Alkalinity, Calcium, Magnesium, Nitrate, Phosphate)?

What kind of lighting and what schedule/intensity?

What are you doing for flow?

Water change schedule and water source (RODI, store bought, or tap)?

Any additive products being used?

If you can please answer all these questions I’m sure the community can make better suggestions for you.

 

[SomeHappyFish]

Ph 8.0
Alk 10.2
Nitrate 20
Phos 0.1
Calcium 440
Mg 1350
Salinity 35ppt
Temp 78-80F

Hard time keeping it cool this month, otherwise no issue.

noopsyche k7 v3 at 23%

Rodi 1 tds, 10% weekly aquaforest

Dosing Organic trace elements 0.2ml day thats it

 

[Formulator]

noopsyche k7 v3 at 23%

This is the problem. Why on earth people run their lights at such a fraction of their power baffles me. Turn it up, but do it slowly over a few days. I don’t know enough about that light to suggest a target, but I imagine at least 60%. I don’t really know why people don’t go to 100% TBH. But I’m a metal halide guy so my tank is BRIGHT.

It also looks placed too high above the water.

 

[SomeHappyFish]

This is the problem. Why on earth people run their lights at such a fraction of their power baffles me. Turn it up, but do it slowly over a few days. I don’t know enough about that light to suggest a target, but I imagine at least 60%. I don’t really know why people don’t go to 100% TBH. But I’m a metal halide guy so my tank is BRIGHT.

It also looks placed too high above the water.

They are 12" above the water and at 23% I have high par. Like 200 at the top which is plenty for most of my LPS/SPS.

Why would the lights be the reason for my algae on the gorgonian and burd nest? More intense lights = more algae no?

 

[Formulator]

They are 12" above the water and at 23% I have high par. Like 200 at the top which is plenty for most of my LPS/SPS.

Why would the lights be the reason for my algae on the gorgonian and burd nest? More intense lights = more algae no?

Who told you 200 was high PAR?

200 at the top means it is probably less than 50 at the bottom… 150-200 is what your LPS should all be getting. Birdsnest is SPS and wants more than that. Algae grows on dead coral. Your coral is dying because they are starved for light.

My mixed reef tank gets 150 PAR at the sand. 600-700 PAR at the top. My LPS get 200 minimum.

 

[SomeHappyFish]

I don't know, maybe some research ? 200 par seem to be considered the minimum par to be considered high par on many forum of reef2reef and on other websites...

I like that you assume that my par is 50 at the sandbed.... My tank is pretty shallow and I average 100-150 par on my sandbed because these lights are pretty strong to my surprise.

The birdnest came with this spot of algae and after dipping and brushing this algae spot keeps coming back.

My gorgonian has grown 1/4-1/2, inch on each branch, I doubt that it's dying.

 

[VintageReefer]

They are 12" above the water and at 23% I have high par. Like 200 at the top which is plenty for most of my LPS/SPS.

Why would the lights be the reason for my algae on the gorgonian and burd nest? More intense lights = more algae no?

I read your post and the only red flag I saw what’s that light at 23%. It was the first and only thing that jumped out as a problem. It should probably be 40-50% at least

Too low light = dying corals and dying coral = flesh recession and that means exposed skeleton and that = algae growth

 

[SomeHappyFish]

I'm not trying to sound argumentative by the way, I'm just trying to understand and compare the information I have read and the one you guys are giving me I also do find that 200 par should not be considered high but I have read conflicting informations. Most coral care sheet on tidals say high light is 150+.

Won't increasing my lights to 40-50% increase heavily the par on my sand bed which is already at 100-150 and kill/stress some of my corals?


By how much should I increase my lights % each day? 1% every 2 days ?

 

[VintageReefer]

Well. The issue you are having is you are trying to keep a mixed reef which is the hardest of approaches. The sps will want 250+ par. Some lps want 100-200. Some lps want 80

The gorgonian is a low light non photosynthetic filter feeder. Recession will almost immediately grow algae. Maybe prune this branch just before the recessed area

You will have to up the lights a little bit to keep sps happy and the lps will adapt if done slowly. You can use methods like rock overhangs (or plating montipora) to create lower light areas / shadow spots.

Or adjust light mounting placement. Moving the lights closer (together, to each other ) creates more of a hotspot area in the middle and sps can be put there. And inversely makes lower light on the outskirts of the tank and lps can be moved there.

To keep a variety of coral styles, you will have to adapt a little, and so will the corals

 

[VintageReefer]

Alk seems high also. Why are you keeping at 10? I would aim for 8.5

 

[twentyleagues]

The pic of the tank looks big but I see the feeder and it looks huge in comparison, my guess since you didnt say what size it is is around 50g max. Are you using 2 of these lights? What did you measure par with?

If you increase the intensity do it slowly like 5-10% per week at most. If the light has an acclimation feature set it to how much you want it to output and set the acclimation timer for a month or longer. A lot of corals can tolerate lower light levels longer better than being blasted too fast. I have euphylia in the 250+par range but I didnt do it fast took my time over 3 months.

 

[Hrosik123]

I had to turn my lights up to keep my acros growing. I tried the mix reef way too soon in my journey. Know better now. Keep my upper part around 325 plus. A good light should have an acclimation setting.

 

[Formulator]

I don't know, maybe some research ? 200 par seem to be considered the minimum par to be considered high par on many forum of reef2reef and on other websites...

I like that you assume that my par is 50 at the sandbed.... My tank is pretty shallow and I average 100-150 par on my sandbed because these lights are pretty strong to my surprise.

The birdnest came with this spot of algae and after dipping and brushing this algae spot keeps coming back.

My gorgonian has grown 1/4-1/2, inch on each branch, I doubt that it's dying.

I know you said you aren’t trying to be argumentative later on, but this post is pretty patronizing of me. You can ignore my advice if you want, but 200 PAR at the top of the tank is not a high PAR tank, period. Your corals will do better with more light. I guarantee it.

 

[Reefering1]

And the gorgonian is dying

 

[exnisstech]

This is where my 6 noopsyche k7 run over my tank

The previous tank with lights 7" off the water.

Current tank with lights 10" off the water. I've increased whites a bit

I say crank em up

 

[SomeHappyFish]

Alk seems high also. Why are you keeping at 10? I would aim for 8.5

The trace element I was dosing had some carbon in it and raised the alk. I'm doing waterchange weekly to bring it back down to 8.5.

The pic of the tank looks big but I see the feeder and it looks huge in comparison, my guess since you didnt say what size it is is around 50g max. Are you using 2 of these lights? What did you measure par with?

If you increase the intensity do it slowly like 5-10% per week at most. If the light has an acclimation feature set it to how much you want it to output and set the acclimation timer for a month or longer. A lot of corals can tolerate lower light levels longer better than being blasted too fast. I have euphylia in the 250+par range but I didnt do it fast took my time over 3 months.

Forgot to say its 33G + 12G sump so roughly 45G. Using two lights and used a par meter that I rented when I got them months ago.

They don't have an acclimation feature that I'm aware.

I had to turn my lights up to keep my acros growing. I tried the mix reef way too soon in my journey. Know better now. Keep my upper part around 325 plus. A good light should have an acclimation setting.

I have to do it manual saldy.

I know you said you aren’t trying to be argumentative later on, but this post is pretty patronizing of me. You can ignore my advice if you want, but 200 PAR at the top of the tank is not a high PAR tank, period. Your corals will do better with more light. I guarantee it.

Didn't mean to sorry! I will not ignore the advice I will increase the lights thank you.

 

[Formulator]

Didn't mean to sorry! I will not ignore the advice I will increase the lights thank you.

Its all good, my friend. Nobody likes to be accused of killing corals

 

[SomeHappyFish]

Its all good, my friend. Nobody likes to be accused of killing corals

These are my settings:
23% White, Blue, Cyan
13% Red, Green, UV
8h full light with a ramp up/down

So do I increase the light by 5% weekly or add 5% to the current intensity ? I'm I explaining this right lol

A:
(23% + 5% = 28%)

B:
( 23 + 5% = 24.15%)

 

[VintageReefer]

These are my settings:
23% White, Blue, Cyan
13% Red, Green, UV
8h full light with a ramp up/down

So do I increase the light by 5% weekly or add 5% to the current intensity ? I'm I explaining this right lol

A:
(23% + 5% = 28%)

B:
( 23 + 5% = 24.15%)

This is the worst color grouping / channels I’ve seen in a long time

I didn’t know noop did it like this