How to get a stylophora pink

[Henrix]

Hello everybody

I am am a reefer for about 15 years now and one thing I always wanted to archive is a really pink stylo. "Pink" stylos were always in my collection, same as poccis and hysterix. While the other pinkish corals never were an issue the stylos never really made it to the desired color. They mainly were dark red with "silver" polyps.

I know... (much) light is an issue. Over the years I had different lighting from MH, T5, a mix of both and finally LEDs. It seems that it is easier with T5s...

At this moment nitate is at 1.0 and phosphate below 0.03 with strong LED lighting and 10% waterchanges every 2 weeks with red sea pro salt. Furthermore I dose a small amount basic trace elements + nutrients.

I have a water sample on the way to the lab to get a screenshot of all the parameters.

Any suggestions or experiences to get a stylo pink?

regards
Henrik

 

[Gweeds]

IMO (I have nothing to back this up!) I think the pinks can only be achieved with coral foods... those high in carotenoid in particular... think about pink flamingos... take away the food high in carotenoids and the go grey... corals essentially feed on the same thing - crustaceans, this time in the form of zooplankton. Give them suitable foods full of carotenoids and they'll also display a more pink colouration.

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[Henrix]

Thanks for your answer. Coral food is surely not necessary to get them pink. This is backed up

It is more a issue of chemistry.... for example there is a product called "pocci glow" from Korallenzucht... with extra potassium. I never tried it.

 

[Alfrareef]

Never been able to keep the pink color and the guy I know that can maintain really pink always use natural sea water... don't know what's the pink secret...

 

[tfp]

Mine got the best hot pink under 10k mh lighting.

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[jda]

You need more lower energy light waves. Turn your whites, reds and greens up. Adding UVL Actinic White T5 is a great way to make reds and pinks pop - it takes a bit for the pigments to develop, but this is an awesome bulb for this.

Most stylos are very shallow and get 5.5K light all day in nature. They do look very good in nature under this light.

 

[CoralNerd]

Lots of light does the trick. My wife was bummed when I moved mine to the side and it lost its color.