Purple Bonzai

[Finland]

I have had a purple bonzai frag for about a year now, and it is an ugly brown. It encrusted the rock I glued it to and then nothing. It has grown very little, if at all, in the last year. The polyps extension is minimal and not the bright green/yellow it is supposed to be. More of a whitish color. It had nice bright green polyps for a while then faded. All other corals in the tank have good color and growth. Water parameters (ph,alk,ca,nit,mg,) are all fine. I test once a week and nothing changes. Any ideas? How do I get this coral to color up? My lighting is 3-250 watt 12k reeflux and the coral is high up in the tank. I had it lower, but made no difference. Where in the tank should I have it?

 

[Bdimas]

Whats your phosphate testing at? IME Purple bonzai is one of the toughest sps to get colored up and stay that way, they like consistency in water params.

 

[jakester]

very true from my experience with keeping them.

 

[ryshark]

I have had a purple bonzai frag for about a year now, and it is an ugly brown. It encrusted the rock I glued it to and then nothing. It has grown very little, if at all, in the last year. The polyps extension is minimal and not the bright green/yellow it is supposed to be. More of a whitish color. It had nice bright green polyps for a while then faded. All other corals in the tank have good color and growth. Water parameters (ph,alk,ca,nit,mg,) are all fine. I test once a week and nothing changes. Any ideas? How do I get this coral to color up? My lighting is 3-250 watt 12k reeflux and the coral is high up in the tank. I had it lower, but made no difference. Where in the tank should I have it?

I have mine placed very low in a 24" deep tank, but right under the reflector. That is it in my avatar.

 

[Finland]

Phosphates test 0. The fact that my chaeto in the refugium grows very slow leads me to believe that I have a nutrient low tank. It is an sps dominant tank, and all other corals have decent color. Just the bonzai. Maybe I will lower it. Right now it is right at the top of the rock directly below the bulb.