Question about Stylophora

[justthewife]

I have a purple stylophora that is getting pretty large. It has been in my tank for two years. My question is: When a stylophora gets large is it common for the base and stalk to lose it's color and only the top branches retain the color? It seems like the branches are preventing the light from reaching the bottom of the coral. I have never really seen a full grown one other than the one in my tank.

 

[markalot]

I have a purple stylophora that is getting pretty large. It has been in my tank for two years. My question is: When a stylophora gets large is it common for the base and stalk to lose it's color and only the top branches retain the color? It seems like the branches are preventing the light from reaching the bottom of the coral. I have never really seen a full grown one other than the one in my tank.

Yes, and the color can be restored by moving or trimming to let the light onto the base. I've trimmed mine twice and it needs trimmed again. Extremely hardy and fast growing SPS.

Here's mine before a second trim.

Here is more recently after moving it around. It's still regaining color on the bottom, but the darn thing seems to grow faster the more it gets trimmed!

 

[Tweaked]

Ya.. they can get big can't they lol. Very normal to loose color on the bottom/base as its shaded.