Ora Green Birdsnest Placement

[Ira]

Hi all,

Got a question. Currently have my Ora Green birdsnest pretty much dead center under my Radioen (8" from surface and about 5" of water penetration to the birdsnest). The birdsnest is growing like a week but the colors on it suck. It had the nice, typical colors when I received it but has since washed out to a brown/cream/tan color. I am currently in the process of ramping up my radieon intensity (currently at 33%). Do you guys think the birdsnest would get better colors if I moved it off to the fringes of the tank where there are lower PAR values or should it color up as I increase the lighting intensity?

Thanks!

 

[chessmanmark]

I've had that piece midway in my tank and up high. It did fine in both places. It actually grew faster lower in my tank. But I don't think your problem is lighting. You might want to check your water quality. It always kept a bright green color wherever it was placed.

 

[Felixc395]

What type of lighting was the coral under before?

 

[Alex T.]

Mine did best a few inches from the bottom to the side of a 400 watt Radium.

 

[JT3069]

mine does good in high light/flow

 

[Ira]

Here are current Parms:

PH 8.3
T: 77.8
NH4: 0
No2: 0
No3: 0
MG 1400
Ca: 450
PO4 0
KH 9
SG 1.027

Dosing C-balance 1x day and also using the Polyplab Reefresh system.

All these parms are pretty much rock solid, harldy any swing from week to week. The MG numbers are a little low, but it is waterchange day so those should be back up after that (Use H20cean pro salt).

I am a little suspect of the P04, using an elos tritration kit right now and I know those arn't the best. I am going to get a hanna checker for PO4 in a few weeks. Though I dont have any algae growth in my tank so I know it is pretty low. I think I need to get my lights ramped up, I noticed that my pink birds nest went from brown to almost white and then started to slowly turn bight pink after I started ramping my lights. The Ora Green birdsnest has great PE and is has doubled in size in about 2 months, all it is missing is the color.

any other suggestions?

 

[Psyops]

sometimes when you just add a coral to your system it goes through an adjustment phase. Lighting, water conditions, transport, etc. Sometimes just waiting it out is just what the doctor ordered. I have mine stay discolored on the tips for about 2-3 months and now it is doing very well. For whatever it's worth, it's placed in the middle. I have AI LEDs up to 55% for the mid part of the day.

 

[Leena2674]

Under more intense lighting, my green birdsnest tends to pale. It has better green color under more moderate lighting. JME...

 

[joe22883]

The green polyp always did better low in my tank, it was a very easy to bleach sps. I was running 400s. Id also say start at the bottom maybe even shaded.

 

[ange062]

Mine is up pretty high and center under the Radion at 70%. It did bleach out initially on the LED switch though, just give it time and it will come back. It's a very sensitive but robust coral if that makes any sense. I have had it twice look completely dead to the point where I nearly threw away the skeleton, only to have it looking excellent again in a months time.

 

[Ira]

Thanks for the input everyone. I am going to continue my light ramp up and see how it does. All the other corals are coloring up nicely the more intense I make the lights.

 

[JSeymour]

Birdsnest don't adapt very well to differences in light*. Give it time and don't disturb it, it will color back up. My ORA green birdsnest seems to look best at moderate to low light.

* Birdsnest corals do not adapt well to different conditions

 

[MHG]

I have the same situation. My birdsnest is growing like a weed but the polyps are whilt. The tan skin has not changed from its original color. It has been in this spot for a little over a month. I have turned my lights down to 45 %. I I guess I will see how it goes based on most of these comments...

My parameters are almost identical...

 

[Ira]

I have moved the birdsnest out from directly under the radieon (highest light) to out on the edges where the light is less intense. I will let you know if there are any changes.

 

[gig]

Mine is middle to low and doing great

 

[DaveG99]

updates?

 

[nurjrk]

Mine has done the same thing. Has been months with no color. Looks healthy otherwise. Running 4x24w T5's over a 20 long. I've kinda given op hope for it to turn green again. We'll see.

 

[rovster]

Mine did well high and low. Now its 2-3 inches from the water surface, under LEDs that are 3 inches over the water.

 

[Andyf30]

Mine pretty much follows with the others. Initially (both my purple and green) looked like crap coming from metal halide at the lfs to my T5 set up. Gave it a month of so, and my green and purple are both starting to come back. The green especially.