Bonsai turned orange instead of purple?

Aquaph8 · Apr 20, 2011

It still has some bright polyps but no purple. Too much light? Thoughts?

secretreefer · Apr 20, 2011

ORANGE????? pics or it didn't happen!@ :wink:

Aquaph8 · Apr 20, 2011

Trust me, its not worth a pic. Its ugly. What do you guys think? Should I move it down?

SAZAMA · Apr 20, 2011

I think you should take a pic

Reefer831 · Apr 20, 2011

Aquaph8 said:
Trust me, its not worth a pic. Its ugly. What do you guys think? Should I move it down?

How do you expect us to tell you what to do with out seeing a pic of it? There is no telling what could be wrong, you havent gave us much info on your tank's lighting, water quailty, or even how big your tank is or where it is placed. It helps when you add all thins in a help post.

Aquaph8 · Apr 20, 2011

Alright some info. Sorry pics will have to wait cause lights are out.
Vodka dosed low nutrient system. 12 x 54 watt T5 for lights. Mixed reef. Cal 400 Mag 1350 Alk 7-8
125 gallon tank 72x18x24. Two korralia 1400 evos and one K-3 for flow.
The garf was acclimated from the bottom up slowly but went from a nice purple to a brown almost overnight and has slowly lightened up to an orange color. I dont have color issues with many other corals in my tank but this one just never came back. Its been with me for about 6 months (im guessing on this) and has incrusted a little and has pretty good PE. It now resides on top of my rocks, so its pretty high up and I havent moved it in months, kinda just waiting it out to see if i got any change. Let me know if you would like to know anything else and thanks for any info you can share.

CoralReefDoc · Apr 20, 2011

Check your potassium levels, they can often be low in an ULNS. Perhaps this is the cause. HTH

CoralReefDoc · Apr 20, 2011

Keep us posted on your findings.

fsu1dolfan · Apr 20, 2011

Aquaph8 said:
It still has some bright polyps but no purple. Too much light? Thoughts?

Wow that is crazy - Are we talking about the Purple Garf? I think i need to see a pic too. I have it and it is right under the surface, middle of the tank getting blasted with my MH 150W Radium bulb...i dont think its the lights.

Akwarius · Apr 21, 2011

Sorry to hear about your bonsai, Aquaph8. Out of all my aquacultured sps, it seems to be the most sensitive. I've gotten the best results with it under very blue light, high flow, and low nutrient.

xmetalfan99 · Apr 21, 2011

I think a bonsai with orange polyps would be cool. I still think you should post some photos.

fsu1dolfan · Apr 21, 2011

Aquaph8 said:
Alright some info. Sorry pics will have to wait cause lights are out.
Vodka dosed low nutrient system. 12 x 54 watt T5 for lights. Mixed reef. Cal 400 Mag 1350 Alk 7-8
125 gallon tank 72x18x24. Two korralia 1400 evos and one K-3 for flow.
The garf was acclimated from the bottom up slowly but went from a nice purple to a brown almost overnight and has slowly lightened up to an orange color. I dont have color issues with many other corals in my tank but this one just never came back. Its been with me for about 6 months (im guessing on this) and has incrusted a little and has pretty good PE. It now resides on top of my rocks, so its pretty high up and I havent moved it in months, kinda just waiting it out to see if i got any change. Let me know if you would like to know anything else and thanks for any info you can share.

I almost wonder if you bonsai is just still trying to rebound - Maybe the orange is just a temporary color until it completely colors back up to purple. keep us posted.

Paul_N · Apr 21, 2011

fsu1dolfan said:
I almost wonder if you bonsai is just still trying to rebound - Maybe the orange is just a temporary color until it completely colors back up to purple. keep us posted.

I have one that I almost lost due to an alk drop at the end of September 2010. It is still not purple yet but getting there. I wouldn't describe it as orange but it is an odd color with a some bright green polyps. I'll see if I can get a pic.

Rockadile · Apr 21, 2011

had this happen to my first bonsai. just before it rtn . never figured out why but My new one i just got in march and it is on the bottom of the tank that has 2 150 watt mh and 4 t5. already encrusting and looks fantastic.

Akwarius · Apr 21, 2011

xmetalfan99 said:
I think a bonsai with orange polyps would be cool. I still think you should post some photos.

My guess is by "orange" he means browned out and perhaps also bleached.

Aquaph8 · Apr 21, 2011

Your exactly right, it is browned out. Not bleaching though and its getting really blasted by T5. The polyps are bright green and the flesh is orangeish. Its encrusting really well though and its starting to show some green. Hopefully its coming around. Im upgrading tanks really soon though so im sure Ill make it mad in the move and have to start over. Oh well as long as it doesn't die Im a pretty patient guy, it'll come around.

Aquaph8 · Apr 21, 2011

Akwarius said:
Sorry to hear about your bonsai, Aquaph8. Out of all my aquacultured sps, it seems to be the most sensitive. I've gotten the best results with it under very blue light, high flow, and low nutrient.

Hey man, its been a while. How have you been. You kinda disapeared. I hope the dad life is treating you well. Hows your tank?

swannyson7 · Apr 21, 2011

Akwarius said:
My guess is by "orange" he means browned out and perhaps also bleached.

I was thinking the same thing...

Rockadile · Apr 21, 2011

i would try moving it lower in the tank and shade it a little. my understanding is bonsai will grow faster in high light but look better in lower light