Why isn't my hammer bright green like in the lfs?

MoreDakka · #1 07-10-2013, 10:02 PM

You can see it brown in the bottom leftish area. In the fish store these are bright green. They are under LED lights in the lfs but a single T5 fixture at home. Could the bulb need replacing? Replaced it in January so not even 6 months old yet.

sigh, my tank is bare...I want more...expensive hobby.

Oh and PS - Should i scrape the back wall? I have high nitrates right now (40ppm) and I'm trying to find the culprit as water changes aren't bringing it down much.

sphelps · #2 07-10-2013, 10:24 PM

Lighting is your issue, you have a single T5 bulb that's probably a lower K rating. You need actinic or blue type of lighting to bring out florescent greens.

ScubaSteve · #3 07-10-2013, 11:07 PM

Also more light tends to bring out more intense coloration.

You also have high nitrates - high nutrient levels will make corals be more brown (typically).

And yes, scrape the back.

How old is your tank?

MoreDakka · #4 07-11-2013, 06:47 AM

This tank is about 8 months old. Heh, it looks younger than that...

When I scrape the wall I'm assuming I would scrape up and take it out of the tank?

Spyd · #5 07-11-2013, 11:52 AM

I think a bit stronger lighting than a single T5 would help. What colour bulb are you using? Also, the browning is far more likely caused by your nitrates. No coral likes nitrates that high. Having some in a LPS tank is fine, but not anywhere near that high. Bi-weekly water changes and a skimmer should keep nitrates down.

DAVE · #6 07-11-2013, 01:49 PM

Nitrates at 40ppm although high, would not likely be the cause of the browing of that LPS coral. I have seen a number of tanks with LPS corals with nitrates 40ppm and higher that don't have issues like that with LPS.

SPS is a different story....

Your single light bulb is the biggest problem here.

michika · #7 07-11-2013, 02:58 PM

Are your rocks old? Like did they come from an older tank? Your nitrite problem could be coming off your rocks. I have had this problem in the past.

MoreDakka · #8 07-11-2013, 03:42 PM

These rocks were fresh tonga rocks. Had about 2-3 months of cycling before adding any livestock. The levels were all good at that point.

pinkreef · #9 07-11-2013, 03:44 PM

i like how you have your rocks placed, it looks good

PFoster · #10 07-11-2013, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hydrologist

Nitrates at 40ppm although high, would not likely be the cause of the browing of that LPS coral. I have seen a number of tanks with LPS corals with nitrates 40ppm and higher that don't have issues like that with LPS.

SPS is a different story....

Your single light bulb is the biggest problem here.

+1