Hi All, if you enjoyed these color transformations and the insights I shared, be sure to check out my video on achieving faster coral growth here: th-cam.com/video/2vycgQZG0Ek/w-d-xo.html
high nutrients (or adequate) IMO is phosphate of at least 0.1 and nitrate of 10. I don’t see the reason/benefit of going any lower in my experience. That being said, your test kits could produce lower numbers than this, but if your feeding heavy 3-4 times per day and have a good fish population, no reason to panic, your tank/corals are just processing the nutrients. Feed heavy and often, and don’t panic if you see some algae, that just means your corals are getting what they need.
Hello I stumbled upon your channel and found this video you did about coral colors. I really appreciated the content. I've got a much better understanding now thanks to your photos and explanations. I consider myself a type of person that learns better visually rather than listening to a lecture or reading. Thank you.
The Acropora valida is pretty. That pink stag with blue tips is amazing. Great transformations. For these series, I enjoy the lecture style of your videos.
I attempted to do so, but no matter how much more I fed, could barely get nitrates to budge on my test kits. Phosphate would rise to 0.07 - 0.09 when feeding heavy. Every tank is different though. I think it is less about what your test kit reads and more about how much nutrients are available in the water column. Add patience to that mix and more often than not, colors would deepen in 80% of cases, once feeding increased over a period of time.
@@zburnreefing thanks for the response. I've been in this hobby for years and I'm barely getting decent at it. I will take all the info I can get. Thanks again.
thanks for sharing this knowledge. i’ve always thought browning were due to high phosphates. my hanna was testing high while the icp came back under 0.1 which frustrated me. will revisit and try these methods
0.1 phosphate should be no issue, maybe experiment with increasing your lighting/PAR and/or making sure that coral gets a little bit of time to bake under some full spectrum (i.e., whites) if running leds. Coral may just need more light. You might could achieve success without changing light intensity and going the low nutrient route, but I find that approach to be less stable and more risky.
@@MACNTOSFAM Hi, yes I do have a walt disney at the moment. I keep dkH at around 8 and Ca at 420. I haven't checked nutrients in sometime...usually pretty low, phosphate below 0.1 and nitrate
I just got a green pipe organ coral 3 days ago. I believe that it’s probably still adjusting to the tank, but it’s opening up every day, yet isn’t green, it’s like a yellowish pale color 😕
Hi there, pipe organ coral are definitely more sensitive that most soft corals. It probably just needs time to adjust. As long as it’s not getting too much light, I’d let it be for a few weeks and see how it goes. Good luck!
My pink diamond zoas are brown an favia centers are white but healthy added fish hope that brings nitrate up bc mine are zero. Favia eats mysis but no color change in centers where mouth is
How much light are they getting? Have you tested nitrate and phosphate? Sounds like you are on the correct pathway. I wouldn’t stress too much about the numbers, if you do test, just be sure to keep that tank fed and know it’s going to take some time to notice a change…at least 6 weeks.
If you can, I would increase your fish population as the best pathway. It is the most natural approach and gentle in terms of change. If you can’t add more fish due to your tank size, you can increase feeding to your current fish population or increase target coral feeding using phytoplankton/reefroids. I would keep your nutrient export techniques untouched and just try to bring the import up. Keep the skimmer going, your water change schedule, etc. Lastly, I’d avoid dosing nitrate directly unless you are experienced. It can be a little challenging to balance and monitor in comparison to feeding more/adding fishes. And….give it 3-4 weeks after making such changes for the coral coloration to react. Good luck!
Hey there, great question. There are many methods but I’ve always found the most gentle and successful approach is through adding fish (if your tank is sized to handle more) or through feeding current fish more. What size is your tank and what is your fish population like? You can also dose nitrate or micro foods like phyto. Some folks also will dose amino acids although when I dose those I tend to run into algae issues. The other thing you can do is reduce nutrient export techniques, like running your skimmer on a reduced schedule, doing less water changes, etc, but I would recommend high nutrients in and high nutrients out - so keep filtration running at maximum efficiency, just increase nutrients. Hope that helps!
@@zburnreefing Hello! it's only 3 months old and I have a Kessil A360X on it. I don't measure Mg. I do frequent water changes, once a week actually. I have a test kit for just the 2 nutrients. I use red sea pro
Tank is pretty young still. I would increase nutrients and check mag. The problem is, increasing nutrients with a young tank will only cause algae issues. High mag will brown out mushrooms.
@@zburnreefing I have a scoly browning too but plump. The zoas are browning too. Do you have experience with amino acid and how they affect nitrate test kits? I dose but I don't see any nitrates. It could be high Mg because of the salt I use but doesn't explain LPS browning too
@@Jel0XD aminos can raise nitrates, but takes time and doesn’t happen over night. I find I don’t really get detectable nitrates too easily until tank matures. You get them right after the cycle, but then they disappear until maturity happens. You could do an ICP test and rule out water chemistry and also validate your test kits with the results. Honestly, if the corals are not receding, are opening up fully, and plump, just browned out…I would stay the course. At 3 months in on a new tank my goal is coral survival. I wouldn’t stress too much over color until your tank is a little older (>8 months) and then you can work on tuning colors. Color may naturally just come back as the tank matures anyways. In short, I wouldn’t try too much until tank is older. You could do more harm than good.
Hey there, thank you! I experimented with dosing trace elements but it was short lived. For these particular transformations I only manipulated nutrients, lighting, and did routine water changes.
Haha, I am not sure if your comment is a good thing or a bad thing. I am an associate professor at a major university, but I don’t teach, I lead a research lab. I do guess lecture on occasion though.
Fair and good observation! All that coral needed was more light and it came right around! Also, you can conclude from the two pictures that the color transformation was quite quick, as there is little growth between the two photos….just a few weeks.
Hi All, if you enjoyed these color transformations and the insights I shared, be sure to check out my video on achieving faster coral growth here: th-cam.com/video/2vycgQZG0Ek/w-d-xo.html
what is high and low nutrient for you?
high nutrients (or adequate) IMO is phosphate of at least 0.1 and nitrate of 10. I don’t see the reason/benefit of going any lower in my experience. That being said, your test kits could produce lower numbers than this, but if your feeding heavy 3-4 times per day and have a good fish population, no reason to panic, your tank/corals are just processing the nutrients. Feed heavy and often, and don’t panic if you see some algae, that just means your corals are getting what they need.
Hello I stumbled upon your channel and found this video you did about coral colors. I really appreciated the content. I've got a much better understanding now thanks to your photos and explanations. I consider myself a type of person that learns better visually rather than listening to a lecture or reading. Thank you.
Awesome! Thanks so much; glad you found it a little useful.
Loving your videos man! Great simple and clean explanations looking forward to the next one!
This was very helpful. I like the eye training ideas. You have very good examples. Thank you!
I appreciate the feedback! Really glad you found this useful and good luck on getting those colors you want! 😀
The Acropora valida is pretty. That pink stag with blue tips is amazing. Great transformations. For these series, I enjoy the lecture style of your videos.
Thanks!
I agree. The PowerPoint setup for topics like this is very easy on the eyes and easy to follow
I am curious if you have test values for lower and higher nitrates and phosphates for the corals where they colored up from the increase/decrease.
I attempted to do so, but no matter how much more I fed, could barely get nitrates to budge on my test kits. Phosphate would rise to 0.07 - 0.09 when feeding heavy. Every tank is different though. I think it is less about what your test kit reads and more about how much nutrients are available in the water column. Add patience to that mix and more often than not, colors would deepen in 80% of cases, once feeding increased over a period of time.
@@zburnreefing thanks for the response. I've been in this hobby for years and I'm barely getting decent at it. I will take all the info I can get. Thanks again.
thanks for sharing this knowledge. i’ve always thought browning were due to high phosphates. my hanna was testing high while the icp came back under 0.1 which frustrated me. will revisit and try these methods
0.1 phosphate should be no issue, maybe experiment with increasing your lighting/PAR and/or making sure that coral gets a little bit of time to bake under some full spectrum (i.e., whites) if running leds. Coral may just need more light. You might could achieve success without changing light intensity and going the low nutrient route, but I find that approach to be less stable and more risky.
@@zburnreefing thanks! do you have walt disney corals in your tank? what levels do you keep your macronutrients along with Ca & dKh?
@@MACNTOSFAM Hi, yes I do have a walt disney at the moment. I keep dkH at around 8 and Ca at 420. I haven't checked nutrients in sometime...usually pretty low, phosphate below 0.1 and nitrate
Youre awesome thanks for teach me how to understand my system better
Glad you found the video helpful! Good luck are getting those better colors! 😎
@@zburnreefing i put all your tips in practice and im waiting for results
Very good explaination,
Thank you!
Great video man!
I just got a green pipe organ coral 3 days ago. I believe that it’s probably still adjusting to the tank, but it’s opening up every day, yet isn’t green, it’s like a yellowish pale color 😕
Hi there, pipe organ coral are definitely more sensitive that most soft corals. It probably just needs time to adjust. As long as it’s not getting too much light, I’d let it be for a few weeks and see how it goes. Good luck!
@@zburnreefing Okay, thank you for the advice
My pink diamond zoas are brown an favia centers are white but healthy added fish hope that brings nitrate up bc mine are zero. Favia eats mysis but no color change in centers where mouth is
How much light are they getting? Have you tested nitrate and phosphate? Sounds like you are on the correct pathway. I wouldn’t stress too much about the numbers, if you do test, just be sure to keep that tank fed and know it’s going to take some time to notice a change…at least 6 weeks.
This was a good video. Good job 👍🎉
Thank you for chiming in and for the feedback. Gives me inspiration for the next one! 🙂
@@zburnreefing yeah G. My garf bonzi acro is super purple colorful, but my green slimmer is losing some color, although polyps are super out.
what would you add to the tank for more nutrients?
If you can, I would increase your fish population as the best pathway. It is the most natural approach and gentle in terms of change. If you can’t add more fish due to your tank size, you can increase feeding to your current fish population or increase target coral feeding using phytoplankton/reefroids. I would keep your nutrient export techniques untouched and just try to bring the import up. Keep the skimmer going, your water change schedule, etc. Lastly, I’d avoid dosing nitrate directly unless you are experienced. It can be a little challenging to balance and monitor in comparison to feeding more/adding fishes. And….give it 3-4 weeks after making such changes for the coral coloration to react. Good luck!
Hello I like your video! I’m new have a tank about a 1 1/2 year old how do you increase nutrients? Thanks
Hey there, great question. There are many methods but I’ve always found the most gentle and successful approach is through adding fish (if your tank is sized to handle more) or through feeding current fish more. What size is your tank and what is your fish population like? You can also dose nitrate or micro foods like phyto. Some folks also will dose amino acids although when I dose those I tend to run into algae issues. The other thing you can do is reduce nutrient export techniques, like running your skimmer on a reduced schedule, doing less water changes, etc, but I would recommend high nutrients in and high nutrients out - so keep filtration running at maximum efficiency, just increase nutrients. Hope that helps!
Thanks forbyour video
Starts at 4:36
Not all superheroes wear capes! Thanks.
Good video. Get some corals in that tank 😁
Soon! Very soon
Why are my mushrooms and zoas browning with 0 nitrates 0.03 PO4 and 80 to 100 PAR for 5 hrs 70 to 60 par for another 4 hrs.
How old is your tank, what light fixture, and what is your mag?
@@zburnreefing Hello! it's only 3 months old and I have a Kessil A360X on it. I don't measure Mg. I do frequent water changes, once a week actually. I have a test kit for just the 2 nutrients. I use red sea pro
Tank is pretty young still. I would increase nutrients and check mag. The problem is, increasing nutrients with a young tank will only cause algae issues. High mag will brown out mushrooms.
@@zburnreefing I have a scoly browning too but plump. The zoas are browning too. Do you have experience with amino acid and how they affect nitrate test kits? I dose but I don't see any nitrates. It could be high Mg because of the salt I use but doesn't explain LPS browning too
@@Jel0XD aminos can raise nitrates, but takes time and doesn’t happen over night. I find I don’t really get detectable nitrates too easily until tank matures. You get them right after the cycle, but then they disappear until maturity happens. You could do an ICP test and rule out water chemistry and also validate your test kits with the results. Honestly, if the corals are not receding, are opening up fully, and plump, just browned out…I would stay the course. At 3 months in on a new tank my goal is coral survival. I wouldn’t stress too much over color until your tank is a little older (>8 months) and then you can work on tuning colors. Color may naturally just come back as the tank matures anyways. In short, I wouldn’t try too much until tank is older. You could do more harm than good.
Great video! Do you dose trace elements?
Hey there, thank you! I experimented with dosing trace elements but it was short lived. For these particular transformations I only manipulated nutrients, lighting, and did routine water changes.
Are you an educator by trade?
Haha, I am not sure if your comment is a good thing or a bad thing. I am an associate professor at a major university, but I don’t teach, I lead a research lab. I do guess lecture on occasion though.
@@zburnreefing Meant to be a good thing! I could tell based on your presentation techniques.
🎉
Couldnt help but realise your thumbnail one the light is dim and the other is bright...from an led
Fair and good observation! All that coral needed was more light and it came right around! Also, you can conclude from the two pictures that the color transformation was quite quick, as there is little growth between the two photos….just a few weeks.
Btw, no leds on this tank. T5.
Z Burn, class in session.
Good luck on the final exam! Yea, maybe this one is a little too formal, haha.
@@zburnreefing Fingers crossed. I haven't missed a video yet
do you have any fb or messenger?
Shoot me a message to zburnsreefing@yahoo.com