I've been reading of late, the desire by some to intentionally cause/create/initiate a color shift in a frag or colony of Zoanthids or Paythoas? I'm not bashing or jumping on anyone, I'm just asking, why would you spend money to change that which you've purchased? I spoke in theory a few months ago that " I could change the coloration of a polyp if I wanted to, but why would I". There are enough variables that we must contend with on a daily basis to prevent unwanted/undesirable changes/bleaching in our systems. Purchasing a frag or colony with the sole purpose of changing it, is akin to Russian Roulette, as you will never know what the out come will be. Sure we have all experienced color shift, but usually it is due to light shock, extreme temp fluctuation, placement levels, aggressive light acclimation or something beyond our control or simply something we did or didn't do properly without malice.
Bleaching - the exodus of large amounts of Zooxanthellae ( single cell algae within our corals which gives them their coloration/pigment ). Almost all of the factors within our reef tanks which result in bleaching are attributed to something we do/did, ....didn't do or shouldn't have done. This is but one of the reasons I'm so adamant about education. Knowing the names and prices of every polyp and not knowing the factors which could cause a complete expulsion of Zooxanthellae, to me, is like putting the cart before the horse. Attack me if I'm wrong, but I just replied to an email I got from a reefer who has spent $ 2,000 total on zoas, palys and a few other softies. His goal was to create this monster zoa tank. He purchased his/this first system in June of last year. He's running 250 watt DE - 10 K Halides on a magnetic ballast with 2 - T5 - 6 foot 10 K's as he wants optimal/quickest growth and 2 T5 actinics. He was going to remove the T5 10 K's after a year. He placed everything mid tank level to the top. Unfortunately, he received some very bad advice as most everything has begun to shift/change/bleach/morph, whatever we choose to call it.
Here's a direct quote from page 380, top left corner of Eric's Aquarium Corals book.
"Without the proper number of Zooxanthellae in their tissues, corals must rely almost entirely on dissolved nutrient uptake and heterotrophic feeding to meet their energy needs. Without their symbionts, the corals' ready carbon source produced by zooxanthellae photosynthesis is severely, if not totally, reduced. Furthermore, there is no guarantee that a bleached coral can or will adopt new zooxanthellae. Without the uptake of new symbionts, it will then LIKELY PERISH. At the least, metabolic activity becomes abnormal while the coral is in a bleached or partially bleached state, leading to changes in reproduction, reduced growth and possible tissue degeneration.
Translation - If the appropriate measures by each of us are not taken to adequately address that which leads to bleaching and those who make a concerted effort to cause/create a color shift/change, this is what will potentially happen. The coral will expel its Zooxanthellae from its tissue, the coral will have to rely on organic substrates to get its carbon for growth and development, the coral must now adapt to meet its needs for survival, you have impeded the inner natural functions for survival, there is no guarantee that the color with return and possible mortality ( death ) can occur. The very least that's going to happen is the breakdown of food and its transformation into energy will become abnormal and change and/or alter the reproductive rate, hinder growth and possible cause external damage to the coral.
Not trying to sound like a big head or anything, but the preservation of reefkeeping as we know it will only continue through better understandings of what it is we do. That said, I'm simply asking for dialogue to better understand why someone would risk causing the potential damage listed above to an otherwise healthy coral just to achieve a new color, most for reasle purposes only? If I'm wrong, I stand corrected.
Clarification, I'm not speaking of light adjustments for best presentation. I'm not speaking of accidental situations which can and have happened. I think Geoxman and I and many of you have done things in the past to improve color and the overall dynamics of the polyp. My question and concern is for example, swapping out your 20 K 175 watt SE halides, for 250 DE 14 K Halides, for the sole purposes of creating something new. Or, setting up a tank for the sole purpose of shifting colors.
Mucho
Definition,
Symbionts - an organism living in symbiosis; especially : the smaller member of a symbiotic pair
Bleaching - the exodus of large amounts of Zooxanthellae ( single cell algae within our corals which gives them their coloration/pigment ). Almost all of the factors within our reef tanks which result in bleaching are attributed to something we do/did, ....didn't do or shouldn't have done. This is but one of the reasons I'm so adamant about education. Knowing the names and prices of every polyp and not knowing the factors which could cause a complete expulsion of Zooxanthellae, to me, is like putting the cart before the horse. Attack me if I'm wrong, but I just replied to an email I got from a reefer who has spent $ 2,000 total on zoas, palys and a few other softies. His goal was to create this monster zoa tank. He purchased his/this first system in June of last year. He's running 250 watt DE - 10 K Halides on a magnetic ballast with 2 - T5 - 6 foot 10 K's as he wants optimal/quickest growth and 2 T5 actinics. He was going to remove the T5 10 K's after a year. He placed everything mid tank level to the top. Unfortunately, he received some very bad advice as most everything has begun to shift/change/bleach/morph, whatever we choose to call it.
Here's a direct quote from page 380, top left corner of Eric's Aquarium Corals book.
"Without the proper number of Zooxanthellae in their tissues, corals must rely almost entirely on dissolved nutrient uptake and heterotrophic feeding to meet their energy needs. Without their symbionts, the corals' ready carbon source produced by zooxanthellae photosynthesis is severely, if not totally, reduced. Furthermore, there is no guarantee that a bleached coral can or will adopt new zooxanthellae. Without the uptake of new symbionts, it will then LIKELY PERISH. At the least, metabolic activity becomes abnormal while the coral is in a bleached or partially bleached state, leading to changes in reproduction, reduced growth and possible tissue degeneration.
Translation - If the appropriate measures by each of us are not taken to adequately address that which leads to bleaching and those who make a concerted effort to cause/create a color shift/change, this is what will potentially happen. The coral will expel its Zooxanthellae from its tissue, the coral will have to rely on organic substrates to get its carbon for growth and development, the coral must now adapt to meet its needs for survival, you have impeded the inner natural functions for survival, there is no guarantee that the color with return and possible mortality ( death ) can occur. The very least that's going to happen is the breakdown of food and its transformation into energy will become abnormal and change and/or alter the reproductive rate, hinder growth and possible cause external damage to the coral.
Not trying to sound like a big head or anything, but the preservation of reefkeeping as we know it will only continue through better understandings of what it is we do. That said, I'm simply asking for dialogue to better understand why someone would risk causing the potential damage listed above to an otherwise healthy coral just to achieve a new color, most for reasle purposes only? If I'm wrong, I stand corrected.
Clarification, I'm not speaking of light adjustments for best presentation. I'm not speaking of accidental situations which can and have happened. I think Geoxman and I and many of you have done things in the past to improve color and the overall dynamics of the polyp. My question and concern is for example, swapping out your 20 K 175 watt SE halides, for 250 DE 14 K Halides, for the sole purposes of creating something new. Or, setting up a tank for the sole purpose of shifting colors.
Mucho
Definition,
Symbionts - an organism living in symbiosis; especially : the smaller member of a symbiotic pair
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