Blue tort--before and after

OK, I have this figured out. I managed to take a great pic recently that shows green polyps and general green/purple coloration on the main trunk and purple polyps on the branches.
This is 6 1/2 months' growth using the home Ca/Alk recipe. Does anyone else have any before/after pics with either B-ionic or the home recipe?
TortJan06.jpg


TortAug06.jpg
 
Crit, I do not have pictures but 6 Mo growth on mine is about three to four times as much. IMO if you maintain Calcium and Alkalinity parameters within the acceptable ranges regardless of what you use to do it it will make no difference in the growth. It will grow a lot faster with more light but be warned you may loose that wonderful coloration. Mine paled considerably So my recommendation is for you to keep it as it is.

BTW which bulbs are you using?
 
Well, with 1600 total watts of lighting, you'd better have more growth! Jeez!

I think you missed my point. As a recent convert to SPS I was sharing my success with fellow clubmembers regarding a favorite blue tort frag, not bragging that the home recipe was any better than B-ionic, although it IS orders of magnitude cheaper and, IMHO, about as effective. I think at a gallon or so per mixture each month I'm spending about $12-15 a year for Ca, Alk and Mg combined. I believe that a reef tank can be successful and eye-pleasing without spending thousands upon thousands of dollars on a complete reef biology lab.

I used 3x175W 10000K, supplemented with 260W 50/50 PCs until a month ago, then switched to 14000K's and half 50/50 and half actinic PCs. I'm very happy with the growth considering it was just over an inch tall in January and I'm not keeping my local electric company afloat. One reason I'm allowed to keep the tank is that I can tell my wife that the big expenses are in the past--except for a fish or two--or three--oh, and that crocea I've had my eye on! So for that reason alone, I have no plans to change a thing.

Nice alveo and clavularia specimens, BTW.
 
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Dan, you got that from Eric L right? Mine is much more purple than yours is, almost solid purple, just not as much growth. Then again, I am only on my second gallon of 3 part.
 
Yes. Mine was solid purple up until 1-2 months ago. Assuming it's from the same original colony, I wonder if yours will eventually get greed tones and polyps.
 
Makes you wonder what it's supposed to be...all purple, green and purple, or maybe it depends on conditions.
 
The ora torts vary from blue green to blue to purple to purple green. It's the same coral and its appearance is dependent upon the tank conditions. IME, lower light or placing it lower in the tank brings out the green.
 
Since it's only 3" below the surface, it would have to be the lighting. It's between the bulbs. Regardless, I like the 2-tone look.
 
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