If i take a SPS colony out of a nitrate rich environment, and place it into a perfect one where all parameters are in check, how long should it take before i start seeing colour in the colony again?
SPS Colour up
- Thread starter Dober Man
- Start date
ok guys, we all want this, so can only the guys who can help us out post, otherwise there are going to be 200 blokes also saying "me too"
It needs more than just taking it out of nitrate rich water.
Strong Flow(Alternating preferably)
Intense Lighting.
Constant food supply.
Constant alk and cal supply.
Not that simple!
Thanks.
Mashrie,
What i'm saying is that the lighting is strong, flow is strong, being fed etc.
What i'm saying is that the lighting is strong, flow is strong, being fed etc.
Cool, i see what you getting at. But every tank will be different.
Alot depends on the density of the zooxanthallae.
Say you looking at 3-5 months, could even be a year!!
All depends your husbandry skills and ofcourse luck!
EJ it depends on the amount of light you give these guys. In Anthony Calfo's book on coral propagation he mentions that the more light you give them (obviously over a period of time to prevent light shock) the quicker the SPS will colour up (as you put it) due to the increase of UV inhibiting pigments. He also mentions that due to low light levels SPS will shed these UV resistant pigments and turn brown..
ok, 100 colonies going, going, gone
In perfect conditions I've seen SPS corals change colours in 2 - 3 weeks, with a noticeable change within 5 days.
But, that was with more then perfect conditions in fact and enhanced with various other products such as Amino Acids, Iodide, Flouride etc etc.
There are just so many variable to consider that it's hard to put a timespan on it. Then of course there are some SPS corals that don't have the pociloporine pigment that shows off vivid colours and will always be dull, no matter how good the conditions are.
But, that was with more then perfect conditions in fact and enhanced with various other products such as Amino Acids, Iodide, Flouride etc etc.
There are just so many variable to consider that it's hard to put a timespan on it. Then of course there are some SPS corals that don't have the pociloporine pigment that shows off vivid colours and will always be dull, no matter how good the conditions are.
Mekaeel
Moderator
thanks for the info anthony!
andrew seems to get it to change fairly quickly but he is "the Heat at that stuff so ask him i guarentee you an answer
Guys you can certainly see a difference in a month. Most NB for me is light, low-low po4, and decent circulation.
Obviously the corals must not just be brown type corals.
Obviously the corals must not just be brown type corals.
I would put this down to the corals being in your system already and being accostomed to the parameters, and the only think lacking at the time was sufficient light.
I have noticed completely brown corals colour up completely in just one week, when moved from one of my frag tanks to my main system! Only difference between the two tanks being intensity of lighting!
Wild or aqua cultured colonies take anything from 1 to 3 months to completely colour up, but generally start colouring up after two weeks.
Strangely: I find corals from tanks with high nutrient levels, insufficient lighting and inadequate flow takes the longest to obtain full coloration when moved to my tank!
Could there be a correlation between time spent as a brown zooxanthellae filled coral in a below par (for sps) system and time to spent expellling excessive zooxanthellae, producing UV blocking colour pigments once reaching a system with ideal (or at least thereabouts) parameters??????
Mekaeel
Moderator
i had a guest over at my place today and the last time he had seen one of my birdsnest SPS,said that there is a change in the color of the birdsnest.it was cream and now gow going greenish(which is its true colour).i guess that because i see it everyday it doesnt really make a difference to my eye.its been in my system for around 3 weeks now.looks like i gotta take pics of each coral on a weekly basis so that i can tell the difference.what do you think crew?
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Mekaeel
Moderator
