Corals going from color to light tan?

[Wiskey]

Ok, here is a new one, for me at least.

Most of the corals in the lower light parts of my tank are doing great! But some of my corals (mostally ones in higher light places) are going from color to a light tan. This is especially noted in my Green Slimers, I have 2 of them, one in a lower light place, one in slightly higher light. The one in slightly lower light is a bright vibrent green, the one in slightly higher light is a light tan color, with hints of green, flow is almost identical.

This is not true in all cases, some of the corals in the higher light seem to be doing ok but there are at least 3 that are going to a light tan color.

Any ideas? Think it is too much light? Is this what people call bleaching (If so I have the wrong idea of bleaching).

Thanks,
Whiskey

[gman0526]

That's actually "browning" . Might be too much light, there's the issue of where are your corals coming from within a wild reef, even same sp. corals that are collected from different areas of the reef have diff. genetic predisposition to certain coloration varying from site to site. Hope i made sense with that.

[elephen]

Wiskey how do you acclimate your corals to your lighting setup?

[Wiskey]

Gman0526, when I say these 2 green slimers are the same, I mean they came from the same mother colony, I got a frag from somebody and it broke in transit.

Elephen, I am not, except for putting most of my corals at the bottom for a few days.

I will take a couple of pictures tonight when I get home, these corals are only about 5 inches apart, but the color is night and day.

Thanks for the replys,
Whiskey

[Wiskey]

How does everyone else acclamate to their lights?

Thanks,
Whiskey

[gman0526]

I've used the placing in the bottom of the tank method and gradually placing them higher. But I like using screening layers.

[gman0526]

Originally Posted by gman0526

I've used the placing in the bottom of the tank method and gradually placing them higher. But I like using screening layers.

Duhhhh. Somehow manged to quote my self

[Wiskey]

Thanks Gman, when you say "screening layers" do you mean you re-acclamate the whole tank every time you get a new coral?

I should also add that these corals are also growing like mad! In fact the ones going light tan are the fastest growing corals I have.

Thanks,
Whiskey

[Casey]

I still think you would get better color on the lower area,I dont get tan when they brown out I get dark brown.

[Wiskey]

Originally Posted by Casey

I still think you would get better color on the lower area,I dont get tan when they brown out I get dark brown.

That is my experiance too, that is why I didn't think this was due to high nutreants or lack of light. The problem is the tank is only 18 inches deep, and the coral right now is only 4 inches off the bottom. I am running 2*250W XM 10K's on a 50 gallon (48*12*18) and the whole thing kinda get's blasted, a tank upgrade is in the works, that is why I bought the 250's.

For now I was hoping to reduce the photo period, or maybe move the lights up to compensate.

Think either of these options would work?

Thanks,
Whiskey

[gman0526]

Originally Posted by Wiskey

Thanks Gman, when you say "screening layers" do you mean you re-acclamate the whole tank every time you get a new coral?

I should also add that these corals are also growing like mad! In fact the ones going light tan are the fastest growing corals I have.

Thanks,
Whiskey

Not when I add a new coral but when I change bulbs, which almost always are brighter than what was over the tank. 3 screen layers, I take one off every 3 days. New corals, 95 % of the time they go on the bottom when introduced and then make their way up

Didn't we discuss corals browning on the shorter photoperiod thread? Let me go and browse through those

[Wiskey]

I usually equate browning corals to going a turd brown, due to lack of light or high nutreants, is this light tan thing browning too?

If you have a link to the short photoperiod thread please post it. I can't find it right now.

Thanks,
Whiskey

[Wiskey]

Ok, here are the pictures I promiced.

This one showes how close the two corals are.


Color of the tan one


Color of the green one


Do you think this is a symptom of too much light?

Thoughts?

Thanks,
Whiskey

[Casey]

Looks like to much light I would move it down as I have stated.

[Wiskey]

Originally Posted by Casey

Looks like to much light I would move it down as I have stated.

Ok, Ok, I just wanted to post the pic to be sure that this was a symptom of too much light.

It is now sitting on the bottom glass, partly shaded by the edge of a rock (not underneeth it, just beside it).

Thanks,
Whiskey