Aussie Micromussa Crazy Color Change

[Fish.Bum00]

Hey all,

Im lucky enough to live two miles away from @CherryCorals. Got a small Aussie Micro from them about 10 days ago.

I have 2 black box LEDs over my 75g, 20L sump.

I understand different tanks, different lighting, different chemistry. Polyps are slightly extended during the day, fully extended at night, and eating well, but is it normal for the color difference is red to orange, purple to green. The center eye, mouth looks cool. Like a light blueish purple with bright yellow, but I want the red and purple.

CC tank and lights

And my tank and lights

I've read a decent amount of info and understand high end lighting is far superior, but is there anyway, with black box to get those colors? Is there a chance the coral is just settling in still?

Tank Parameters
Salanity 1.26
Ph: 8.0
Alk 10.2
Ca 450
Mg: 1350
NO3: 5-10
PO4: 04

Thank everyone. Stay safe.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Micromussas are finicky as heck when it comes to colors under LEDs. I tried black boxes and gen 1 radions and they all looked bad. It wasn't until I got the gen3 radions that they colored up and looked like they're stopped to.

 

[Tahoe61]

Just bought this coral from Cherry as well. I will update once I get mine this week. Very excited.

I have Micromussa sitting under a black box. Blue 100%, White 1%. Sitting on the bottom growing well with good coloration.

Yours should be a beauty once acclimated.

Following.

 

[Fish.Bum00]

Appreciate the feedback. I recently added two t5s, and likely adding two more in the near future. It might have just been timing and coincidence but my colors have been better and sps finally encrusting.

I'm sure the colors wood be much better with the high end lighting but I'm not yet ready to drop $900+ for lighting my 75g, and if/when I upgrade to 180g $2k. That's just for lighting.

There's a bunch of videos and blogs about reaefing on a budget. They make it sound affordable.

I feel slightly tricked, because cheap this hobby is not. The key word is budget. They don't say cheap lol. I've done a lot of second hand and diy on my first build, and it still is a costly endeavor Love the hobby none the less, but dang.

 

[Tahoe61]

Micromussa do not need intense lighting.
Have you tried decreasing the white on the black box, or even running no white light on the box since you are running T5, or adjusting your T5 bulb choice?
You will loose coloration if you blast the coral with light. You do not need high end LED to grow and keep coloration for Micromussa.

But the weather is holding my frag for a day or two.

If I lived next to Cherry Corals, you would have to put an ankle monitor on me.

Oh and I reef on a budget trust me.

 

[Fish.Bum00]

Agree that those lights will do much better, just a cost thing.

I thought CC ran t5s and xho blue strips. Havent even had a chance to study the lighting closely. Always looking at the eye candy. Curbside only right now.

CC were the first corals ever put in my tank. Won one of there pre-sale $100 gift cards drawings. Had no clue what I was doing. And zero experience with aquarium keeping. Not that I have any clue right now either, but I have a lot more knowledge and experience than I did 10 months ago.

I've noticed in some of their micromussa photos, the frag looks similar to mine with more orange and green than blue and red. Its definitely the lighting.

As soon as I get that $$$$$ I'm sure I'll spring for the best of the best. Right now I'm rolling black box, Jebao pumps, diy sump and stand and canopy, and and and . . .

 

[Tahoe61]

It is do able on a budget, much harder to control that coral buying urge. No high end equipment my tank. Got to work with what you have and be incredibly patient.