M. undata....how to get the vivid red back?

[Chuck H.]

Hi,

I got this little guy in March 2010:



He's been with me through several transitions, from the stock MH hood on my JBJ Nanocube, to a Nova Extreme Pro T-5 fixture on the 'cube and is now currently in my Elos Midi under my Gen 1 Radion.

Has grown great (IMHO) and has excellent polyp extension and movement. He lost it's color fairly quickly - probably started paling out within a few months and has never regained it, but, as mentioned is growing and has active polyps.

This pic is while still in the 'cube - maybe late '10 or early '11, and probably under the T-5's:



Definitely under the T-5's and mid '11:



Bottom left corner, March '12 acclimating under Radions - 30% Natural Mode:



Most recent pic (2 weeks ago) in the top right and not as pale as my bad photo shows but obviously not vivid red. But, again - good growth I think and excellent polyp movement:



I'm currently running my Radion at 60%, still in Natural Mode. I currently run 2 MP-10's at about 25% power. Return is a Mag 5 but the nozzles are not directed at the undata. Water parameters are all within reef specs.

Any thoughts?

 

[aqua80]

It is a tyree's undata ?
Mine hasn't too much red in it but great coloration in my main tank (MH + t5) :

and a frag is coloring up too (but less green) in the frag tank under radion g2 :

actually the top pic is earlier this year when color were better and the bottom one is more recent. not so much difference between radion an mh now (frag tank is plumbed with the main tank, same water)
HTH

 

[ghostman]

I don't think the monti undatas are red. Mine looks like aqua80s, a nice greenish grey base with white polyps, and a bright purple growing edge.