Mushrooms losing a little color

[jschulzpt]

I got some blue, green striped and brownish/green mushrooms that I got last summer. They are splitting and growing and doing all-in-all relatively well. I have noticed that some of the new shrooms do not quite have the color brightness and extremes as the originals. Is my lighting the problem, or do I need to add more supplements, or something else?

Tank size: 55 G
Lighting: 50/50 blend of super actinic and 10000K total approx 150W
Supplements: calcium, Kent (essential elements), and Kent Coral-vite, I also supplement the Bioplanton live 1X/wk

Thoughts?

[usmc2b2004]

If it's the small splits mine do not color up until they get bigger. But just to check how old are your bulbs?

[jschulzpt]

My T5s and my CPs are both 6 months old. I know that the T5s should be good, I am not so sure about the how often to change the CPs.

Jesse

[Loverotties]

What are your water parimeters?

[OneDummHikk]

Originally Posted by jschulzpt

My T5s and my CPs are both 6 months old. I know that the T5s should be good, I am not so sure about the how often to change the CPs.

Jesse

About 6 months is the limits on PC bulbs. The bulbs should probably be replaced.

[jschulzpt]

Yes, I will replace the bulbs within a week. My water parameters are 1.024, my calcium is within normal limits. I do not check my other levels to be honest. I have never had a problem before and had never purchased a test kit. I really don't want to have to purchase an expensive all inclusive test kit...anything specific I should test for?

[mustang_stroked]

for growth make sure your calcium is 450 magnesium is around 1350 and alk. is around 8 and make sure your water parameters are dialed(water changes) in no high levels of nitrate and phosphate and running a reactor is a really good thing. You dont need really high end lights for mushrooms sounds like what you have is good enough for lighting.Mushrooms should take off and look good.

[jschulzpt]

My nitrates are just above 0 on the very very low side. I had them checked 1 month ago I forgot.