why is monti cap turning color?

[KyleinCT]

I have a large monti cap colony (orange and some other frags scattered about my tank. All my acros and softi look fine, good polyp extension, etc...my monti cap seems to be taking on this light bleaching like color, not white, just washed out.....all parms look good, 0's and 5ppm for trates. Ideas?

 

[Chris L]

whats your calcium at?

 

[smcnally]

Magnesium plays a big role in Monti color IMO too

 

[KyleinCT]

I'll check both after AI!

 

[KyleinCT]

mag= 1380
calc= 420
nitrate= 5
ph= 8.0
phos= .25, (just changed out kent phos sponge after test)

 

[Chris L]

what kind of light sdo you have?
and how far from the lights are the cap ?

 

[KyleinCT]

cap is halfway down. Lights are 3x 400MH w/ actinics, 7hr photo period.

 

[TomD]

Your lighting and parameters are good, maybe it is the phosphates.

Placement can have a big impact on color. How old are the bulbs?

Thanks for reminding me Steve, I have to check my MG

 

[smcnally]

Params seem ok...What brand and temp bulbs are you running and how old are they?

 

[KyleinCT]

PFO 10k; unknown age as I bought used! Estimated at 6 or 8 mos.

 

[smcnally]

Unknown age = bad... They could be at the end of their useable life cycle and could totally be your problem.

 

[ReeferMedic]

.25 is very high for phosphate. Are you using a test kit or a meter to test it? I have an almost impossible time differentiating between the subtle color changes on my test kit.