Trachyphillia losing color?

[Raven2010]

I have a fairly new trachy, had it maybe 3 weeks now. I’m not sure if it’s my eyes are deceiving me, but I think it’s losing color.

All my parameters check out ok
Temp 78.6
Salinity 1.025
PH 8.0
Ammonia 0.25
Nitrates 0
Nitrites 0
Phosphates 0
Calcium roughly 500ppm
KH DKH 17-19 or 142-215

I’m running two 400watt metal halides with 20k bulbs, and 2 reefbrite blue led stripes for middle tank space supplement.
I originally placed the trachy in what I felt was a nice mid tank dim spot, but I am wondering if maybe the halides cross over is possibly more of a par hot spot then meets the eye.
I will attach a current photo, unfortunately all the photos I took when I brought it home were under 100% actinic, so it’s hard to compare, If anyone has advice for this I would really appreciate it. Thanks!

 

[Raven2010]

This was the day I brought it home, but under actinic only.

 

[720 Reefer]

I have a fairly new trachy, had it maybe 3 weeks now. I’m not sure if it’s my eyes are deceiving me, but I think it’s losing color.

All my parameters check out ok
Temp 78.6
Salinity 1.025
PH 8.0
Ammonia 0.25
Nitrates 0
Nitrites 0
Phosphates 0
Calcium roughly 500ppm
KH DKH 17-19 or 142-215

I’m running two 400watt metal halides with 20k bulbs, and 2 reefbrite blue led stripes for middle tank space supplement.
I originally placed the trachy in what I felt was a nice mid tank dim spot, but I am wondering if maybe the halides cross over is possibly more of a par hot spot then meets the eye.
I will attach a current photo, unfortunately all the photos I took when I brought it home were under 100% actinic, so it’s hard to compare, If anyone has advice for this I would really appreciate it. Thanks!

Is your Alk really 17-19 dkh? If so then that is way too high. I would keep it under 12.

The ammonia showing up is a concern. How old is the tank?

Phosphates and Nitrates should be at least detectable. Lack of nutrients can starve out coral.

I have never run MH, but I know they definitely pump out some PAR. Could be too much for the trachy.

 

[720 Reefer]

Is your Alk really 17-19 dkh? If so then that is way too high. I would keep it under 12.

The ammonia showing up is a concern. How old is the tank?

Phosphates and Nitrates should be at least detectable. Lack of nutrients can starve out coral.

I have never run MH, but I know they definitely pump out some PAR. Could be too much for the trachy.

All that being said, it looks pretty colorful and healthy. Hard to compare a pic under blues to a pic under whites though.

 

[Raven2010]

Is your Alk really 17-19 dkh? If so then that is way too high. I would keep it under 12.

The ammonia showing up is a concern. How old is the tank?

Phosphates and Nitrates should be at least detectable. Lack of nutrients can starve out coral.

I have never run MH, but I know they definitely pump out some PAR. Could be too much for the trachy.

This tank is almost two years old.
I think I’m going to test the DKH again, last time was a week ago...I think I possibly messed up to result, I was worried about that. So I’m going to retest everything today to see where I am at.
I noticed the ammonia showed up after I added alot of corals within a week, like 10+ frags, and several big pieces. Don’t know if that would effect ammonia.
yes you’re right MH give off some serious par, I’m assuming the trachy was under led or t5, then to transition to my lights my be a big shock. I’ve placed it within the rocks with an overhang, see if it changes at all. I’ll post back with my new parameter results.

 

[Raven2010]

All that being said, it looks pretty colorful and healthy. Hard to compare a pic under blues to a pic under whites though.

Yes, I wish I would have snapped a pic under daylight, of course wasn’t thinking. Just excited about all my new corals at the Time lol

 

[720 Reefer]

Yes, I wish I would have snapped a pic under daylight, of course wasn’t thinking. Just excited about all my new corals at the Time lol

Haha I get that! Pics are always cooler under blues. Maybe take a pic under blues now and compare those?

 

[720 Reefer]

Side note, I think ours are pretty similar color wise!

 

[Raven2010]

Quick update. So I have since retested the KH, I did three retest to be sure, first result was a 6, the following two I got an 8 result. Tested the ammonia and got a 0 result. I have moved trachy to a cove like structure I made with an over hang, outside of what I think is a hotspot zone from the halides.
will post more updates soon.
thank you all for you advice!

 

[Raven2010]

Side note, I think ours are pretty similar color wise!

Yes! Wow yours looks

 

[reefinatl]

What lighting setup are you running. I saw halides so I run 2x250w Phoenix on 90g. I always have kept trachys on the far edge of the tank. I got all fancy with a par meter on my new setup and it's in about 90 par there and fairly low flow.

 

[Raven2010]

What lighting setup are you running. I saw halides so I run 2x250w Phoenix on 90g. I always have kept trachys on the far edge of the tank. I got all fancy with a par meter on my new setup and it's in about 90 par there and fairly low flow.

I’ve got two 400w MH with 20k bulbs, two reefbrite blue led strips for middle tank supplement. My display is 310g.
thank you for the placement advice. I have been looking at par meters lately, if anything for pure curiosity lol
What brand par meter do you have?