Zoas changing colors

[Fanof49ASU]

I moved this from my 12g to a small 'zoa' tank. I've noticed the zoas changing colors under the new lighting. Not just visibly changing under different lights, they are slowly changing to a new color. You can see in the photo, they are starting to take on a yellowish green center, from their original beige center (see lower polyps).

Are they sick or is this normal?

 

[geekdafied]

Different lighting brings out different pigments in their coloration. I am willing to bet those glow under actinics.

 

[DMBillies]

It is very normal for zoas to change colors drastically under different lighting. This is one of the reasons that naming zoas and palys is so difficult. I'd say as long as the polyps are open, there are no signs of a fungus growing on them, and the skirts don't look chewed up (everything looks fine from the picture), that your color change is just a function of the lighting and maybe different nutrient levels in the different tank.

 

[loyalty]

i've had that happen as well. now i *try* to buy zoas from people with something close to the lights i run. it's a real bummer when you get a crazy color morph, only to have it go drab on you a few months later

 

[SRT80]

I had some zoas that was bright orange when I got them. Not sure of the exact time, maybe a couple months, they ended up turning to a darker orange/browner color. I wonder if I changed to t-5 lighting if they would color back up or only halides would do it? Here's the pics...

When I got them...notice all the red slime. Used some chemi-clean (I think what it was, c_stowers hooked me up with some and it cleared it up)

And now...

I know they are fine because they spread like weeds...

Steve

 

[SRT80]

just noticed the asterina star in the pic. Those things seem to be poppin' up everywhere now...

Steve

 

[ct_vol]

Those zoas look healthy to me... What lighting are you running???

SRT60~ WOW!!!! What a difference... What's the color of the Paly's up top now???

 

[SRT80]

they are still green, but have been takin over by the brown zoas that was on the rock with it.

Steve

 

[Fanof49ASU]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9135001#post9135001 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ct_vol
Those zoas look healthy to me... What lighting are you running???

I think this question was for me.....

First, let me say, I upgraded my lights in my nano 12 from 48 to 96watts (50/50 on half.....actinic on the other half). I noticed some change in color at that point. When I moved them to a 2.5 gallon, I had various lights and I'm unsure of the wattage. The main light was 20 watt.

Now, I'm experimenting with a newly purchased coralife 36 watts (50/50) fixture on the same 2.5 gallon tank. I realize it's way too much, but I do have some distance between the lights and corals.