coloring up?

[acidlittle]

Is there a general timeframe for how long it could take zoa's to color up? I have a small frag of brown zoa's sitting high in my tank and it appears they have some different colors in the middle that have started to come out. Now I know there is no exact time for coloring up but I was wondering how long I should leave them in the upper part of the tank before I gradually move them down (that is if there is no more coloring up).

Hope that makes sense. Thanks all!
Josh

 

[rsteagall]

Care to share pictures of what your calling coloring up? While its true different tanks can bring out different natural colors in the zoa, you're not going to turn a Pepsi into a Coke. That is unless you're friends with Little Nicky .

heh, I probably bit off more than I can chew in that statement... oh-well.

 

[coralfarm123]

Some zoanthids will color up if give the proper conditions, but not all. Basically they are just becoming normal healthy zoanthids again, and will become the color they are predetermined to be. This process can take a couple weeks up to a month or two. Also if a zoanthid is already colorful and healthy to begin with, it can also go the other way as well and a person can lose color if they do not have proper conditions.

I think this is why we here so much stuff about zoanthids are morphing. They are just going one way or the other on the road of health. Either they are getting healthier or taking a turn for the worse.

 

[acidlittle]

I didn't figure there would be a dramatic change just a shade of color. They are probably forever going to be brown lol. The centers just started to have a little more pink to them then I normally thought they had. Thanks though

 

[coralfarm123]

Sometimes there are some dramatic changes, but it just depends. You never know how long they were deprived of good conditions at the LFS and the wholesaler. Your T-5 lighting should bring out their best. Good luck.

 

[J. Montgomery]

The color of my zoas come out best when placed low in the tank with blue lighting (or actinic). Since switching to 20K bulbs, my zoas really stand out a lot more than they did under 10K. They gone from sort of blending in with the live rock, to "glowing".