SPS color

[leesanhua]

how do you keep SPS stay on their color. i just bought a pink acropora sp. it changed the color from pink to brown. why?

 

[jeffbrig]

Water parameter/quality issues, inadequate lighting, shipping stress, or probably any number of other factors. If anything isn't to the coral's liking, it can brown out, bleach, rtn/stn.

 

[leesanhua]

temperature 82.. do you think it will affect the color too?

 

[Salty Brother]

Just like jeff said. SPS can be kinda tricky. I dont think 82 will have anything to do with it, unless its a temp spike, that will stress it out. What kind of lighting do you have, do you add anything to your tank?

 

[jeffbrig]

82 isn't the problem, my tank runs a constant 81-82 and my SPS are doing fine. Are you getting good polyp extension? That can be another clue if a coral is happy or not.

 

[leesanhua]

how long does it take them to have polyps extention?
im setting up my 90 gallon tank. and im testing and see whether i can deal with sps. the sps that i keep now is in a 30 gallon tank. i keep only one sps. it's sitting at the top of the rock. the lighting is 150w 20K.
the acropora sp. that im having right not is my avatar. it's pink but now looks like brown to me.

can someone please help me?

 

[OCCFan023]

150w k what

 

[Salty Brother]

im guessing 150w 20k mh. it could take a day or two to get polyp extension, just because it was moved. I dont think sps are that hard to take care of, just a little more time involved. Do you dose calcium? that is a vital. I would also suggest some trace elements, and I also really like the kent expert series coral food. In the 90 I would suggest to get some actinics along with mh's. you will pull out a lot more color.
Good luck, anymroe questions?
Oh ya, it also could be that you have the coral right by the light right away, you should try to acclimate it, move it up a little over like a 3 day span.

 

[leesanhua]

oh... now i know wht's the meaning of polyps extension. yes it has good polyps extension but it just that the color has change from pink to brown.
will the color come back?

 

[Peter Eichler]

It might or it might not, no one can really give you a definitive answer. How long have you had it?

 

[bubblethumper]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8033935#post8033935 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by leesanhua
oh... now i know wht's the meaning of polyps extension. yes it has good polyps extension but it just that the color has change from pink to brown.
will the color come back?

You really haven't provided enough information to do anything but make a wild guess as to the odds of recovery. It is however possible to regain color with proper care

 

[leesanhua]

what kind of information you need? let me know.

 

[buzzee]

Yes, the colour will return, but your water quality will need to be top notch.

You will need 5ppm of nitrates or less, zero phosphate and heaps of light, preferably metal halide or t5's/t8's.

Feed sparingly and frequent water changes, coral food, lots of current and big skimmers.....

Here are my SPS.

 

[skeeter-doc]

and you also need good flow if you want to see your polyps too, ...

BTW, nice looking pic buzzee

 

[GMAX]

A Kiwi tank! Nice looking mate.

 

[skeeter-doc]

whats a kiwi tank?

 

[GMAX]

New Zealanders call themselves Kiwis. A nickname.

 

[iamquockie]

I've seen some sps look green for example, after bringing it home it will turn to brown, and then purple or vice versa---it is reacting to the combination of nutrients and light to the new home.

 

[RichConley]

you've got too much nutrients, and too little light. 150w 20Ks really dont put out much light.

 

[Salty Brother]

Ya, you still havent givin us enough information to help you.
Do you dose anything, is there high flow on the acro? And other questions from above. Also I agree that a 150mh isnt that much, if you plan on keeping this tank i would reccommend a 250Wmh