Learning/rebuilding from my epic fail

[DiscusHeckel]

I don't think this is correct.

Corals will actually shed zooxanthellae in higher light conditions. One of the byproducts of photosynthesis is oxygen a very reactive free radical. Free radicals are bad because they react with other things in a corals system disrupting biological processes.

Corals 'brown out' in lower light conditions to produce more food.

Though it is probably not the only reason, colours in corals are thought to be a sunscreen, either directly reflecting light energy or absorbing and re-emitting it.

Danna Riddle has written a lot on corals and colour.

:thumbsup:

"A picture is worth a thousand words"

Stony corals in a low tide

 

[Rakie]

I don't think this is correct.

Corals will actually shed zooxanthellae in higher light conditions. One of the byproducts of photosynthesis is oxygen a very reactive free radical. Free radicals are bad because they react with other things in a corals system disrupting biological processes.

Corals 'brown out' in lower light conditions to produce more food.

Though it is probably not the only reason, colours in corals are thought to be a sunscreen, either directly reflecting light energy or absorbing and re-emitting it.

Danna Riddle has written a lot on corals and colour.

Corals shed Zoox from too much light -- yes, but that's on the extreme end of it, when the light itself is too much for the coral, depending on it's circumstances.

That said, as I've always understood it the zooxanthellae are kind of a dual mechanism, both providing energy from sunlight as well as protecting the coral.

 

[Ucantwin]

I've had coral brown from too much light. I'd move the coral down and it would regain color.

 

[gregkn73]

My corals' growth rate (very fast) and PAR (high to very high) they receive not to be consistent with the findings of Dana Riddle. I am not in a position to argue against his findings. My case may or may not be statistically significant. Nevertheless, it is a fact.

Bulent did you ever try lower light for an extended period, to see if your corals alter growth rate or coloration?

 

[reefmutt]

I wonder just how much control a coral has over the zoox living within its tissue. Clearly, it has some control and can manipulate the concentration but as the above discussion demonstrates, there are stories and theories that contradict each other..
Too much light and too little can cause browning. I’ve seen coral grow really fast in tanks with nutrients low enough to cause pale colors and I’ve seen tanks with similarly low nutrients that the corals don’t really grow at all.. Super low nutrients in an aquarium almost always causes lightening and intense lighting may cause more.. but similarly low nutrient in the ocean, under the sun may cause darkening- I suppose because there is more food/plankton for the corals to catch...
I suppose there is some self regulating that the zoox do aside from what the coral can control..
I also wonder what the difference is between the zoox that causes a coral to brown and the zoox that causes a coral to color up? Are they the same?

 

[reefmutt]

Bulent did you ever try lower light for an extended period, to see if your corals alter growth rate or coloration?

Interesting question.. I certainly had benefits from reducing my intense photoperiod..
But I don't think Bulent's gomezi or sermentosa could get any better.. they are pretty much perfect.

 

[reefmutt]

I took just a couple group shots his weekend and tested nutrient again..
N is now below 1. Probably.5
P is holding steady at .18.
Not sure if it's just my imagination or if I've noticed a slight paling in a couple corals.. my JF Flame frags, for example, seem to have lost a bit of colour..
Anyways.. I'm watching.. I added a small amount of kno3 to give n a bump.. I know.. I said I wouldn't do this but I don't like having n below 1.. I didn't add a lot and will only add it twice a week and see what happens..
Here are a couple group shots..
Red Robin and scorpion

Not sure and not sure..

Aussie horrida and red planet.. another Aussie below..

Red dragon, Robin Hood and punk matrix..

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[Pife]

Whew that Robin Hood is amazing. What are you lighting your cheato with? Can we get a picture of your sump?

 

[DiscusHeckel]

Bulent did you ever try lower light for an extended period, to see if your corals alter growth rate or coloration?

No I never tried it. I have always had 12-hour photoperiod, 10 hours of which represent full lights. As my corals grow very fast and relatively colourful, if not very colourful, I feel reluctant to experiment with your suggestion. I have a tendency to increase as opposed to decrease, e.g. increased light intensity or water flow, as my corals seem to respond positively to such changes.

 

[DiscusHeckel]

Wonderful pictures. Thanks for sharing, Matt.

The Aussie Acropora horrida is my favourite in this latest group shots. There was a large Aussie Acropora horrida blue colony in my local shop, but I could not afford to buy it. The shop asked a silly price for it.

 

[illumnae]

That's interesting Bulent, here in Singapore Acropora horrida colonies are one of the least desirable Australian acroporas amongst local hobbyists, along with Acropora aculeus ("Candlelight"). They are usually amongst the leftovers in any Aussie shipment here.

 

[gregkn73]

No I never tried it. I have always had 12-hour photoperiod, 10 hours of which represent full lights. As my corals grow very fast and relatively colourful, if not very colourful, I feel reluctant to experiment with your suggestion. I have a tendency to increase as opposed to decrease, e.g. increased light intensity or water flow, as my corals seem to respond positively to such changes.

Bulent I am not suggesting anything, I just wondered if you have experimented with lower light or intensity, since your statement against Dana's experiments and Matt's experience, was rather strong. But if you haven't try lower par values or light duration at your reef, how can be sure about the effect of them on acroporas?

 

[reefmutt]

Wonderful pictures. Thanks for sharing, Matt.

The Aussie Acropora horrida is my favourite in this latest group shots. There was a large Aussie Acropora horrida blue colony in my local shop, but I could not afford to buy it. The shop asked a silly price for it.

Most corals from Australia have a silly price tag attached to them! I'd love to be able to pull more blue out of it. When it's green, it's not so impressive.. I think if my p were lower, the green would subside somewhat. I'll have to work in that..
One consistent thing about horrida is the great pe..

 

[Wrangy]

Phenomenal as usual Matt!! :inlove: I so can't wait to be playing in the big boys acro sandpit again haha

 

[reefmutt]

Thanks, Dom..
Now, hurry the hell up!!

 

[drawman]

Acros look great Matt. That aussie horrida looks very happy!

So out of curiosity how long is your photoperiod now?

Also do you have "Bulent's gomezi" in your tank? If so I would love to see a pic! I love gomezis but don't see them for sale often other than maricultured from time to time.

 

[reefmutt]

Thanks Tim.
I WISH I had Bulent's gomezi. Every time I see a coral that looks remotely similar, I buy it. I have a few gomezis or corals that look like gomezi to me.. I'll try to photograph them a bit later today when I do some weekend tests..
My photoperiod is as follows:
Led start to ramp at 9am. They reach their peak at noon (which is really only 70% b and rb, 45% uv and v and 5%white) they stay at peak from noon to 3:30- shut off from 3:30-4:30 and then quickly ramp up to peak again until 7pm. At which point they begin ramping down to 10pm.
2bplus and an actinic turn on at 11 am and stay in till 10 pm. Another bplus and two cplus turn on at noon, shut off at 3:30-4:30, then in again till 7:30 pm.
3X 150 ushio 20k mh come on at 12:30-off at 3:30-on at 4:30 and off again at 6:30....
There! There's my complicated light schedule. All geared towards two intensity periods with a rest in the middle. A daily cloud cover, if you will..
Ok.. here's a macro photo dump.. half of it.. I'll do the other half when I get back from hockey..
I am going for color contrasts..

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[watchguy123]

Stunning.

 

[reefmutt]

Thanks Mark!
I had a great reefing afternoon. For all sorts of stuff done. Refilled kalk stirrer, wc, cleaned out frag tank, moved some corals.. did some tests.
I discovered that my older salifert alk kit was reading 6.7 while my newer AF kit is giving me 7.7. Since thenAF kit comes with a reference solution, I'll believe the AF.
So, alk it 7.7
N - .5 even with light supplementation of kno3- I will increase it slightly..
P steady at .17.
I had some cyano in my frag tank but none anywhere else. I removed 90% of it and will leave light off in there for several days.
Here's the second half of the photo dump..

That is my 4 ish year old dormant pearlberry that is waking up at the bottom! Very happy about that..

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[Wally.B]

I took just a couple group shots his weekend and tested nutrient again..
Aussie horrida and red planet.. another Aussie below..

Red dragon, Robin Hood and punk matrix..

Love the PE on the Horrida.

Red dragon looks great, and one of my favourite corals (for some strange reason). The reason is I killed so many and am determined one day to own one.
Same ambition for a Red Planet. Your's looks Awesome!!!