Do zoanthids/Palys darken up under nutrient rich conditions?

[1DeR9_3Hy]

I am starting to see my mohawks and some pink palys go from there gold coloration and pink coloration to a darkened color...almost dark brown.

My No3 in that tank is around 50 ppm, and Po4 is around .02-.03.

Any ideas? Could it be lighting (54 Watt T5's, over a 10" deep tank)?

 

[650-IS350]

yes they can, they can even turn clearish to white'ish ( bleach )

 

[1DeR9_3Hy]

Good to know, i thought they may

Anyone notice that its only certain colors that do it? Like pinks and golds?

I have some nightmares that are growing like weeds, and they are holding there color great. Same for some all green palys.

 

[jefathome]

I was just reading aother thread on PO4 and it can brown your corals through the over-production of zoanthellae (sp?)

 

[650-IS350]

never heard that but that something new I'd like to read about... got a link to that thread Jeff?

 

[1DeR9_3Hy]

I was just reading aother thread on PO4 and it can brown your corals through the over-production of zoanthellae (sp?)

never heard that but that something new I'd like to read about... got a link to that thread Jeff?

Ive heard of it in sps, but not soft corals (for whatever reason that is..i dont know or have links).

 

[usol]

anyone know where i can buy named zoa

 

[SIR PATRICK]

Light bulbs that have lost their spectrum can brown zoas out also.

 

[1DeR9_3Hy]

Light bulbs that have lost their spectrum can brown zoas out also.

Thanks Pat (fellow MR here), the bulbs are about 6 weeks old though (Wave point T5's).

 

[1DeR9_3Hy]

anyone know where i can buy named zoa

www.lucidprop.com

I like them because they are close to me, but a local forum is your best bet.

 

[SIR PATRICK]

Just recognized the username- didnt pay attention to the name last night.

Just realized, I didnt answer your posted question either...

High nutrients are great conditions for polyps, as long as they are not phosphates and nitrate. High po4 and above average no3 will both brown out (or turn ugly, loss of nice color) polyps, some types before others.

Some times nutrient rich water and dirty water are confused....

Dirty water is water w/ high no3 and po4

Nutrient rich is water that has available nutrients for corals to uptake when needed, somtimes (but not all the time) a bit above lvls aceptable in a low nutrient system, and available alot of the time, but arent arund long enough to break down into nitates/posphates- at least as far as color and nutrients go.

The water parameters you described are dirty water (no offence) and will brown out many very nice colored polyps. There are polyps out there that will thrive (grow) in these water parameters, but most bright/nice colored ones will go brown, kinda like sps do, but under more forgiving circumstances.

Growth can happen at a faster rate (at times) in higher nutrients, or even dirty water, but when it comes to color- you gotta keep parameters in check or you might go brown and ugly.


Beleive it or not- I got all brown ugly zoas right now....water conditions and light source are a both the culprit....they will come back though w/ time- they always do.

 

[SIR PATRICK]

Had 2 edit twice....

 

[1DeR9_3Hy]

Just recognized the username- didnt pay attention to the name last night.

Just realized, I didnt answer your posted question either...

High nutrients are great conditions for polyps, as long as they are not phosphates and nitrate. High po4 and above average no3 will both brown out (or turn ugly, loss of nice color) polyps, some types before others.

Some times nutrient rich water and dirty water are confused....

Dirty water is water w/ high no3 and po4

Nutrient rich is water that has available nutrients for corals to uptake when needed, somtimes (but not all the time) a bit above lvls aceptable in a low nutrient system, and available alot of the time, but arent arund long enough to break down into nitates/posphates- at least as far as color and nutrients go.

The water parameters you described are dirty water (no offence) and will brown out many very nice colored polyps. There are polyps out there that will thrive (grow) in these water parameters, but most bright/nice colored ones will go brown, kinda like sps do, but under more forgiving circumstances.

Growth can happen at a faster rate (at times) in higher nutrients, or even dirty water, but when it comes to color- you gotta keep parameters in check or you might go brown and ugly.


Beleive it or not- I got all brown ugly zoas right now....water conditions and light source are a both the culprit....they will come back though w/ time- they always do.

No offense taken, im working on getting the water under control If you scroll to the bottom here (http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1764963) you can see what measures i am taking.

I always considered dirty water and nutrient rich water one in the same (All of J. Sprung's books use the nutrient rich water to mean high Po4 and No3 among other nutrients). But i do see where you are going with this...water quality is/can be the culprit here and for other problems.