Bonsai Acropora best placement

[ctniners]

So I have had a Bonsai Acropora on a rack for over a month....however is not looking as purple as it used to...is looking pale

A while ago I used to have an alk issue but everything has been stable for a while...I have been testing at least 3 times per week for over a month

Alk 7.3
Calc 475
Mag 1300

All tests are Salifert tests.

My tank:
40 Breeder
T5 6 Bulbs 39 W each
2 MP10wirless....at 75% power

The rack is about 8" below water level...light is about 4" above water level...

The green polyps are nice an extended...I feed them oyster feast twice per week...all other sps on the rack are looking good....any ideas?

Should I move it higher? or lower it to a little darker place and maybe the color will come back?

Thanks for the inputs

 

[brad65ford]

I have mine only 4 inches from the surface with pretty good flow, running a Radion 2nd Gen 10" from the water surface at 85 % and its loving it.

Whats your p04? Do you run GFO?

 

[ctniners]

thanks....my salifert phosphate test shows undetectable...I have a reactor and run ChemiPure Elite in it.

So you think I should bring the frag higher?

 

[brad65ford]

honestly being lower usually increase the darkness of the corals. Wonder if you stripping the tank from P04. How long have you been running the reactor and also how long as the tank been running? How do you dose alk and cal?

 

[Frick]

Is it a true GARF Bonsai? The Bonsai name gets slapped on any purple Acro with green polyps these days so it can be difficult to determine it's care.

True GARF Bonsai does not like direct or intense lighting and needs low nutrient levels. Stable alk is a must.

 

[ctniners]

The tank has been set up for little over a year.....i used to always have the chemi pure elite but in the past I just had a couple of bags just sitting on the rocks in my sump...so instead of that i put the chemipure in a reactor little over a month ago.

What do you think would be the negative of putting the bonsai in a lower spot?..what signs I should I look for that would mean that I need to bring it back up?

 

[ctniners]

Is it a true GARF Bonsai? The Bonsai name gets slapped on any purple Acro with green polyps these days so it can be difficult to determine it's care.

True GARF Bonsai does not like direct or intense lighting and needs low nutrient levels. Stable alk is a must.

hmm...good point i was told it was a true garf bonsai but like you said very hard to prove it...I wish i had a nice camera but all my pictures come out blue....I guess the only way of knowing is just waiting to see its growth i hear garf bonsai is very slow grower......

So if it is a garf bonsai then i should put it lower...how much lower?

 

[DogueDeBordeaux]

I have 2 frags. One is down low under 250w radium and is dark purple. The other frag about in the middle under a 400w radium is a lot lighter.

 

[Pederreefnerd]

thanks....my salifert phosphate test shows undetectable...I have a reactor and run ChemiPure Elite in it.

So you think I should bring the frag higher?

Hi there

Saliferts test kits are fine, except for the phospate kit - it only measures if yr water is wet.... So I would go for Rowaphos or Hanna.

Good luck

Peder

 

[ctniners]

thanks guys....so what signs should i look for to let me know the bonsai doesnt like being in a lower spot?.....thanks again.