Zoa's changing colors?

[oscarmeir]

This is really strange. In my dealer's coral tank, there are often single polyps growing in between the crushed coral gravel on the bottom. Sometimes little colonies, 2-5 heads.
My dealers is a nice guy and has no problem fishing out some heads when I buy stuff. - for free!
But here's the thing, Yesterday I was there, got some blue mushrooms, and he gave me these hot orange Zoas I found, total of 5 heads, a 3 and a 2. Yet today, after gluing them onto a rock, they are already opening, but in totally different colors, flat greens and reds.

Maybe its partially due to lighting, I have LEDs and he has HO T5s running, and water parameters, but I've seen this in my tank too, some heads will get separated from a colony, I'll glue them on a rock, and a week later they have a new color! Same tank...

Whats the deal?

 

[mandarinfanatic]

Lighting and chemical variances of water and nutrient levels.

 

[oscarmeir]

Lighting and chemical variances of water and nutrient levels.

And in the same tank?

 

[mandarinfanatic]

And in the same tank?

changes in nutrient level mainly

 

[mandarinfanatic]

Esp if small piece of uncured rock and it is releasing nutrients that are absorbed by zoas on it

 

[mandarinfanatic]

If you fragged and stuck on different section of same rock and they changed colour then i would be confused

 

[oscarmeir]

Ok. Makes sense I guess.
Is there a chance they will one day get their original colors back? Or only if the parameters go back to the original?

 

[mandarinfanatic]

Ok. Makes sense I guess.
Is there a chance they will one day get their original colors back? Or only if the parameters go back to the original?

either or cos there are many factors that cause corals to change colours. my points of view regarding your zoas is based on my experience in the past but your experience and specific cause may be different

 

[oscarmeir]

Ok, thanks. I cranked up the blue on the LEDs, I can see a bit more of the hot orange. I'm curious to see what will happen when they fully open.
Thanks for sharing your experience. I appreciate it.

 

[A. Grandis]

This is really strange. In my dealer's coral tank, there are often single polyps growing in between the crushed coral gravel on the bottom. Sometimes little colonies, 2-5 heads.
My dealers is a nice guy and has no problem fishing out some heads when I buy stuff. - for free!
But here's the thing, Yesterday I was there, got some blue mushrooms, and he gave me these hot orange Zoas I found, total of 5 heads, a 3 and a 2. Yet today, after gluing them onto a rock, they are already opening, but in totally different colors, flat greens and reds.

Maybe its partially due to lighting, I have LEDs and he has HO T5s running, and water parameters, but I've seen this in my tank too, some heads will get separated from a colony, I'll glue them on a rock, and a week later they have a new color! Same tank...

Whats the deal?

The deal is the spectrum. Pure light reflection because of the different light source.
They could also morph after a while because of the difference.
Make sure you don't give them too much intensity because they came from T5s to LEDs. Go slow with the adaptation process...

Grandis.