Bubble Coral: White to Tan?

[GMGQ]

So this bubble coral I've had, has gone from a crisp white colour, to a tanny-brown colour:

What would cause this change in colour? This happened within about 3 months. It seemed relatively healthy, sweepers come out at night, and it opened up very bubbly during the day.

Lighting is (2) 250W MH + (2) T5 Actinic+

 

[Amphiprion]

It may have been slightly bleached when you got it, only to "color up" and regain zooxanthellae later. If anything, it is probably doing better.

 

[Julio]

they are usually tan, but i had a white one that was in my tank for about 4 years and no it was not bleached.

 

[GMGQ]

No it wasnt bleached. I got it from a friend who had it for a few months before selling it. You can tell from the first pic that there are some brown patches that are starting to take over...

 

[xcreonx]

That first shot of it looks bleached to me.

If it wasn't bleached, it might be excess light, as i see you have it under metal halides. Bubbles generally like much LESS light than other corals we keep. For what it's worth, my bubble is the same brown/cream as yours and it's only under 2 T5s.

 

[Julio]

Tkae good care of it, i heard these corasl are goign for $800 bucks in Europe, apparently they are really hard to get now adays.

 

[InvertLover]

I've seen white and brown and one that was neither. With any luck it will color up to a beautiful iridecent white/brown/green.

 

[GMGQ]

I guess this is as close as these corals get when they're considered "white" as opposed to "green"?

 

[MiddletonMark]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6956614#post6956614 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by xcreonx
If it wasn't bleached, it might be excess light, as i see you have it under metal halides. Bubbles generally like much LESS light than other corals we keep.

My bubble seems to love my halides ... IME they're pretty darn adaptable and compared to a few other stony corals I've had MH's aren't a problem.

First picture looks bleached a bit to me as well. Color is better now ... I'd think that in another 6-12 months maybe much much nicer.

 

[mzeinstr]

i agree, in the first picture, it doesn't look that good. i know that mine loves the 400 watt MH. and mine is not real white, almost a pearl like color.

marti

 

[Bathel]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6956644#post6956644 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Julio
Tkae good care of it, i heard these corasl are goign for $800 bucks in Europe, apparently they are really hard to get now adays.

800 bucks .... damn I've got about a 8 to 10" Green Bubble I'll sell anyone for 800 bucks

 

[MayoBoy]

I'll take it if I can pay with this

 

[MiddletonMark]

From what I understand, there's quite a few stony corals that aren't imported to Europe anymore [or very very rarely]. Bubbles, Euphyllia ... quite a few things that are considered dime-a-dozen right now here.

That said, we can expect to join them in the future ... given what I've heard.

 

[Julio]

Monoploly money, Classic!!