What Makes Color?

[Big B]

I have 3 Blue Tort frags/colonies. The parent colony is completely blue. Mine have blue tips, but have not colored up any more than that. They range from 2" to almost 5". The tank has been up and running for about 10 months. My lighting is 3 - 250 watt MH pendants running 2 - 10k XM and 1 - 14k bulbs. I also supplement with VHO. Other tanks stats are as follows:

Temp Range 79 - 81
Salinity 1.025 (Refractometer)
Ammonia 0 (American Pharmaceuticals Kit)
Nitrates 0 (American Pharmaceuticals Kit)
Phosphates 0 (American Pharmaceuticals Kit)
Nitrites 0 (American Pharmaceuticals Kit)
Calcium 380 (Salifert)
Alk 9 DKH (Salifert)
Mag 1110 (Salifert)
PH 8.2 - 8.4

Any ideas?

Thanks

Brian

[superwizbang]

Water parameters, lighting, a myriad of different parts to the equation. In a perfect tank with perfect flow, lighting...etc., you will find the colors of corals, especially SPS will show differently than other tanks. Good lighting, tailored to match closely what the organism receives in the wild, coupled with water quality most closely related to ocean quality will produce the best color responses. Some species are better suited for one color spectrum and others not. There is a lot more to it than, "this coral is pretty--lemme plop it in my tank". Many folks do not understand that. 8/

-Ken

[JY13131]

Blues are the hardest to keep from what I have learned

[superwizbang]

Also, you might find that if these are recently added species, it might take time for them to adapt. SPS are kinda strange in that it could take time for them to show the first signs of coloration and then in a week or two time period they will completely color up. The opposite is true with them as well. That is why most advise beginners to stay away from SPS. You really have to know your tank well before you can spot the signs of progress or regression with any form of accuracy.

-Ken

[pledosophy]

I'd increase the CA and Alk for a SPS system. JMO.

[Big B]

Originally Posted by superwizbang

Also, you might find that if these are recently added species, it might take time for them to adapt. SPS are kinda strange in that it could take time for them to show the first signs of coloration and then in a week or two time period they will completely color up. The opposite is true with them as well. That is why most advise beginners to stay away from SPS. You really have to know your tank well before you can spot the signs of progress or regression with any form of accuracy.

These have been in my tank for at least 5 months. I guess you are assuming from my questions or possibly my post count that I am a beginner. I am not. I was just wondering if there was something I am missing when it comes to the color blue. All of the corals in my tanks including these are growing well. Everything else seems to have good color with the exception of the blue tort. Yellow acro, green digi, purple digi, orange cap, green acro and many others.

Is there something I am missing here or do I just need to stay patient?

[Big B]

Originally Posted by pledosophy

I'd increase the CA and Alk for a SPS system. JMO.

Working on that one. I am upgrading my calcium reactor to help keep up with demands. Pretty hard to keep up with supplements right now. I was thinking 420 - 440 CA and 9 - 10 DKH ALK. Does that sound right?

[pledosophy]

A Ca level around 420 and a an alk up to 12 will dKH will help encourage color and growth.

To low of flow can also be problamatic.

Not treating you like a newb, just someone with a problem. No worries buddy.

[Big B]

I appreciate your help.

[crvz]

Originally Posted by pledosophy

A Ca level around 420 and a an alk up to 12 will dKH will help encourage color and growth.

To low of flow can also be problamatic.

Not treating you like a newb, just someone with a problem. No worries buddy.

Pledosophy, can you explain this a little bit? I've done quite a bit of research and have been keeping stony corals for a number of years, but I've never heard how high levels of calc and alk aid in coloration.

I appreciate that the availability of calc and alk is required for calcification, but I don't necessarily agree that higher concentrations encourage growth compared to the values that Big B currently has. If anything, I've found that higher alkalinity levels (greater than 10 dkh) will encourage abiotic precipitation. And any calcium level greater than 300ppm should not be a concern for growth rates assuming that magnesium is at a good level. I could be mistaken, however, and would love to hear more...

[Geoff]

here and here is some light reading about corals and colours.

i would start with the second link then if more info is wanted go back to the first link.

Ca and alk levels have little to do with it. as long as they are remotely near NSW levels they will not help/hurt the colouration of the corals.

G~

[salt-rookie]

THe Mother Colonies are accustomed to a good amount of nutrients in the water column. Try feeding some Golden Pearls or Oyster Eggs. Your ASM G3 will pull out the excess nutrients load. IMO!!!

[leveldrummer]

what kinda bio load do you have? fish and etc. ive been reading alot of people having success with adding an extra fish or two, just to put a little more nutrients in the water, the skimmer pulls it out before it becomes a polutant, but it helps with colors getting brighter. (supposedly)

[skeety]

Originally Posted by Geoff

here and here is some light reading about corals and colours. G~

Geoff,

The first link isn't working for me. Just get a page saying "Sorry. No matches"

[Geoff]

sorry, here lets try it again.

the more nutrients in the water the more brown the coral will be. the object is to keep the zoax to a minimum. you want the other symbiots to show themselves not the zoax.

G~