Secrets to getting a birdsnet to become "hot pink?"

[Zstriker]

I have some great fiji pink birdsnest corals, that upon purchasing had a nice bright pink color to them. However, after roughly 2-3 weeks, this color appears to fade (still faded 1 year later). Don't get me wrong, these corals are still pink and look relatively nice, but I know their genetic background, so would like to see them as they were, when purchased.

What is your secret to those of you who have vivid pink birdsnest? Love to see pics too...

Things that may be of interest as you guys think of advice...

-My tank and the tank the coral was purchased from have same lighting

-Phosphate is 0.03 (using hanna), nitrate undetectable

-I've had the coral for over a year now, growth is nice, polyps extend well

-Pink is simply faded, coral is not brown, polyps are more pronounced now, whereas before, the skin of the coral was bright pink it was hard to notice the polyps

-Don't dose anything specific - other than big three: Alk 8.4, Ca 410, Mag 1350 (B-ionic)

-Lighting is MH/t5 combo - run a ATI purple plus over the birdsnest to accent the pink, but the guy I bought the coral from only used aquablue specials (as his t5 bulb) and had magnificent pink, it seems I am having to cheat to get the color!

-Waterchange water - red sea coral pro

-Run a fuge, skimmer, GFO/GAC (when needed)

-Feed a frozen cube mysis a day, spectrum pellets daily as well

Think that sums it up....I appreciate anyone's advice or expertise!

 

[Zstriker]

Here are a couple pics to show you the difference- hopefully you can see how the polpys appear more pronounced, because the skin color lost its pinkness...it really looks purple in the pic, because my iphone makes the tank look more blue than it is, but was more deep pink in person. Any help is appreciated on how to get its skin color back! Especially, if you have been successful with getting the pinks to pop!

After a couple months....still looks this color to this day, just more growth

 

[rodneyri]

I grew this one from a tiny frag smaller than a finger to a big colony. I found the higher the light the brighter pink - this was under a MH/T5 combo - 250w Phoenix 14k, 2 b+, 1 ABS and 1 fiji

 

[tdb320reef]

.

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+1 to Higher light. Also you might want to feed more. I noticed with mysis and pellet combo my corals were not getting enough food and the color was not great. Since then I use Oyster feast and the colors are crazy!

 

[Zstriker]

Great pics - Thanks!

I will see if I can raise mine up in the tank. Perhaps I should try a lower kelvin t5 bulb, like a ge6500k, as my MH is 250w radiums....

I will also try to feed the tank a little more.

Do you think there is any benefit in doing some potassium dosing? Perhaps a zeo additive?

 

[GSMguy]

An ATI purple plus will help bring out the pink.

 

[tdb320reef]

Great pics - Thanks!

I will see if I can raise mine up in the tank. Perhaps I should try a lower kelvin t5 bulb, like a ge6500k, as my MH is 250w radiums....

I will also try to feed the tank a little more.

Do you think there is any benefit in doing some potassium dosing? Perhaps a zeo additive?

Nope - I have never dosed it and below is a shot of the tank. You just need to feed as much as you can with keeping your phos .05 or lower.

 

[tdb320reef]

Double post.

 

[accordsirh22]

i pollute the ****** outta my tank with 4-5 small daily feedings of ~10 things mixed together. all my stuff has colored up GREAT and seems to grow pretty fast too. thats just my .02

 

[Denadai]

The secret is there is no secret

 

[Zstriker]

so it seems the consensus is feed more - will do

I have some oyster feast, I hardly ever use and some aminos I will try out....seems like it is going against everything I was taught, but perhaps my tank is nutrient starved.

tbd320reef- I am diggin your colors, I like how they are nice and deep, with great pop. Do you mind sharing your lighting and another other routine practices you utilize?

denadai- beautiful pink birdsnest, I guess you have no secrets to share, but there has to be something you are doing that I am not...

Thanks all!

 

[Blueline12]

What is your Potassium level? Some salts are low in Potassium. If you have the right level of potassium it would help your reds/pinks.

 

[tdb320reef]

As mentioned -

Heavy Feeding - Feed Mode apex
Calcium Reactor SRO 5000 dual
WC every two weeks 20% - Neomarine salt
For light I have 10 120 LED fixtures and 4 48" Stunner strips for a Est 1300 watts all at 100% 12 hours Blue 8 hours white and multicolors
Very stringent dipping and QT process Monitor regularly
Biopellets,GFO,Carbon
Medium Skim SRO 5000
Lots of flow 2 MP60 2 MP40 2 tunze 6105 2 tunze wavebox the big ones.
Neptune Apex Controller
Kalk reactor via ATO

Spot on Params

CA 440
MG 1320 - 1400
ALK 8-8.5
PH 8-8.3 with 8.3 most of the time
TMP 79.5
Trates < .02
Phos < .05

so it seems the consensus is feed more - will do

I have some oyster feast, I hardly ever use and some aminos I will try out....seems like it is going against everything I was taught, but perhaps my tank is nutrient starved.

tbd320reef- I am diggin your colors, I like how they are nice and deep, with great pop. Do you mind sharing your lighting and another other routine practices you utilize?

denadai- beautiful pink birdsnest, I guess you have no secrets to share, but there has to be something you are doing that I am not...

Thanks all!

 

[DannerX]

Zstriker
How did this ended? Im very curious about to find the secrets to pink too!
Please post an update.

 

[shaggss]

It is a fine balance to keeping your parameters in check and feeding as much as your tank will allow. I think people are too scared to feed their tanks.

1. Higher intensity lighting
2. Feed more while keeping parameters in check.