Bleaching or color change?

[T-J]

I picked up this Frag as a “unknown tri-color” for $15. When I got it, it was a horrible brown. Since then, it’s lightened up considerably and has amazing green and white polyps. Extended during the day and crazy extensions at night.
I took a pic and noticed that it was “splotchy”. Is this bleaching or it is shifting colors due to lighting and tank conditions? I won’t have my par readings until Thursday, so I was going to just leave it until then.
First pic is when I got it. Second pic is from today.
Thoughts?

 

[Jeff Jarry reef]

It's hard to tell with blue lights. But if the tip are white it's probably new growth.

 

[DesertReefT4r]

It's hard to tell with blue lights. But if the tip are white it's probably new growth.

This.

 

[T-J]

It's hard to tell with blue lights. But if the tip are white it's probably new growth.

I’m looking at the main body not the tips. You can see the brown spots and much lighter around it.

 

[T-J]

I circled the areas of concern.

 

[Jeff Jarry reef]

I circled the areas of concern.

I circled the areas of concern.

What's your parameters and Phosphates and nitrates. Because if your water might be to clean if color is dull.

 

[T-J]

Most recent results are 0 phosphates and around 2.0 Nitrate. Looking at the coral it’s defiantly not white, but I just noticed how the old brownish color is almost gone and now it looks more blueish.

 

[Jeff Jarry reef]

Most recent results are 0 phosphates and around 2.0 Nitrate. Looking at the coral it’s defiantly not white, but I just noticed how the old brownish color is almost gone and now it looks more blueish.

It wouldn't hurt to have some Phosphates in there.

 

[Jeff Jarry reef]

My P and N were at zero some corals were looking dull and started dosing P and N and now my SPS dominant tank is doing great. Dark colors too

 

[T-J]

My P and N were at zero some corals were looking dull and started dosing P and N and now my SPS dominant tank is doing great. Dark colors too

I’ve been trying to raise nitrates lately by over feeding. Is there a single solution to raise both nitrates and phosphate? I can kill the skimmer for a day or two and see if that raises nitrates.

 

[Jeff Jarry reef]

I’ve been trying to raise nitrates lately by over feeding. Is there a single solution to raise both nitrates and phosphate? I can kill the skimmer for a day or two and see if that raises nitrates.

Feeding will work. Used ATI P and N additives. Now it's been stable for awhile now.

 

[T-J]

Feeding will work. Used ATI P and N additives. Now it's been stable for awhile now.

I just started using reefeoids, and I’ve read that can raise phosphates and nitrates. I’ll see what happens over the next week to see if they go up at all.

 

[Jeff Jarry reef]

I just started using reefeoids, and I’ve read that can raise phosphates and nitrates. I’ll see what happens over the next week to see if they go up at all.

That should do it and aminos will help too.

 

[T-J]

That should do it and aminos will help too.

Dosing Polyp lab polyp booster too.

 

[Jeff Jarry reef]

Me too I was kinda wondering if it really works and it does great in my acans for sure.

 

[C. Eymann]

Those dark specks make me think a type of parasite actually, do they move? black bugs?
could also be halofolliculina sp.

very unusual if those dark specks are actually the corals pigments.

 

[SliceGolfer]

Reef Roids will raise P for a period of time. Fish poop raises N.

 

[Pennywise the Clown]

My garf bonsai was completely brown until I upped my light intensity by 50%.
It is now I gorgeous purple blue.
Maybe it was under far less light in its previous home to what it is in your display.

 

[Graffiti Spot]

Those dark specks make me think a type of parasite actually, do they move? black bugs?
could also be halofolliculina sp.

very unusual if those dark specks are actually the corals pigments.

Exactly what I saw. Make sure the dots are not moving. A better close up would be very helpful in this case. I haven’t seen areas like that on acros that are not pests but I guess something could have settled on it. It looks healthy and like it’s growing otherwise though but if those are bugs that will change somewhat quickly.

 

[T-J]

Exactly what I saw. Make sure the dots are not moving. A better close up would be very helpful in this case. I haven’t seen areas like that on acros that are not pests but I guess something could have settled on it. It looks healthy and like it’s growing otherwise though but if those are bugs that will change somewhat quickly.

When I get home tonight I'll turn off all the pumps and take another pic for comparison. Hopefully it looks just like the first pic!