light purple instead of dark purple coloration?

[jjoos99]

I have added coral frags to my tank that have been dark purple in color but after several months they have lightened in coloration. One was a garf bonsai that was really dark but as it has grown it has really lightened in purple color. They are still purple but just not near as a deep purple. Lighting, water, any suggestions?
currently running 20k 250w xm bulbs with 2 ho t-5 blue plus bulbs. i have very little algae growth but also have slow coraline growth also. I have 10k bulbs ordered to see if I can get a burst of growth so I am curious to see if the coloration will change under the higher intensity bulbs.
thanks
Jeff

 

[luther1200]

I'm curious as well. I have very similar issue's. Do you dose vodka or anything like that?

 

[eros]

A friend of mine has a very light colored Garf. I think it's a combination of very intense lighting and very low nutrients. Mine is dark but I have it lower in my tank than he does.

 

[jjoos99]

I dont use any type of additives or supplements. i do filter with phosban and a fairly large skimmer. I think that my system is pretty low in nutrients. I dont have to clean my glass for a week. and I dont have any algae growth on my rock work.
jeff

 

[eros]

Probably lighting. How high do you have it in the tank? 10k's will likely make it even lighter in color. Garf does best in lower light for best coloration IME.

 

[xJimCx]

Had the same exact issue you are describing. Had a very pale Purple Monster amongst others.

A friend of mine who has been around a long time suggested adding a few more fish and feeding a bit more.

Added a few fish, upped the feedings and withing a month or two that PM went the darkest richest purple I've seen....def did the trick.

 

[jjoos99]

actually mine is fairly high in the tank under my 20k. i might try and mount it lower. it has grown fairly well, nothing stellar but steady. that seems to be one of the hardest thing with this hobby is finding the sweet spot or each coral.
jeff

 

[jjoos99]

Had the same exact issue you are describing. Had a very pale Purple Monster amongst others.

A friend of mine who has been around a long time suggested adding a few more fish and feeding a bit more.

Added a few fish, upped the feedings and withing a month or two that PM went the darkest richest purple I've seen....def did the trick.

Jim
that is pretty interesting. I dont have alot of fish in my 180. I have only 8 fish but I feed about 2 cubes of food a day. I tried to add a powder blue but lost it after a month due to ick.
jeff

 

[xJimCx]

Jim
that is pretty interesting. I dont have alot of fish in my 180. I have only 8 fish but I feed about 2 cubes of food a day. I tried to add a powder blue but lost it after a month due to ick.
jeff

Have 180 display also. I'd add fish. I went and started adding wrasses and what not. Already had a couple tangs at the time. I feed small amounts 3-4 times a day. Mix of pellet, flake and frozen. You'll be able to tell if your over feeding. It worked for me...

 

[seminolecpa]

I may be off base on this but GARF, I believe, has lower light and higher nutrient tanks. Could be part of your issues in that you may have it unter too much light or your tank is too nutrient poor.