Need Your Thoughts on Coral Coloration

[Dana Riddle]

As many of you may know, coral coloration has been a favorite topic of mine for a number of years. I’ve written about a dozen articles (totaling over 200 pages) on the subject, referencing peer-reviewed journal articles along with experiences of hobbyists.

There are non-fluorescent proteins (often blue or red, with quite a few intermediates due to mixing) and fluorescent proteins (ranging from violet to red.) Lighting plays an important role in promoting some of these. However, other things can play a part – such as metals. Iron is known to increase the fluorescence of some red proteins, while other metals can reduce (‘quench’) fluorescence.

There are many supplements commercially available. Some make claims that I know for a fact are absolute nonsense, but this shouldn’t discount the potential positive effects of some metals.

I’d like very much to hear of your experiences with supplements and coloration, light intensity, and other factors.

 

[thewasho]

I use a local australian companys supplement range, they have a coral farm and use it themselves for maximum growth, Sustainable reefs coral essential range (im led to believe they will be available in the USA soon)
I use their Trace elements ABC as well as amino acids and vitamins and since starting trace elements/aminos reigime i have noticed an increase by 30% of my Alk/Ca consumption and my colours are off the charts, excuse the bad phone pictures
also colour change in a brown monti to lime green in 4 weeks
I only use 2 AI primes at around 60% intensity for lighting a 60cm cube

 

[jda]

What type of coral?

Are you talking about actual color, or illumination?

I only keep acros and one Leng Sy cap, but color is best under high intensity Metal Halide with NSWish parameters with no supplements of feeding. When parameters get higher, colors get deeper and more saturated, but lose contrast and white stalks turn greenish.

Iodine, iron did nothing for me. I briefly tried zinc, but stopped almost instantly... just could not stand the thought of semi-poisoning my corals for slightly better color... even if the euros do it a lot.

 

[Abhishek]

This is gonna be interesting. There have been numerous claims with so many companies producing so many supplements . So many people claim with elements helping them with coloration of acros or even sometimes stopping tissue necrosis with dosage of strontium . However I believe I have never seem any studies where only one element was dosed over a period of 6-12 months , observations were made and then stopped the dosage and again observation was made .

Dana , are you planning for some experiments in effect of trace elements with coral coloration?

Regards,
Abhishek

 

[reefwiser]

What I have found Dana is the trace elements are taken up by the corals. Corals then will display fluorescent colors when presented under blue lighting.
Like you I have used many commercial supplements and found them wanting.
But I have always looked for other hobbyist’s with interest in coral health and have found some really trace elements from fellow hobbyist.
Lighting is what let’s our eyes see the up take of the trace elements into the corals. The problem most hobbyist have is that they do not look at long term only short term. The addition of trace elements can take a couple of month to show their effect. As corals had been with out the trace element they had needed for a while in many cases. Some corals can get by with out additional elements added to the tank water but some need it and while they may live they don’t show their true colors till they get the elements to make them shine. [emoji3]

 

[ZaneTer]

Hi Dana
I only have one experience that I can speak of. I dose iron for my macroalgae. I miscalculated and added far more than I should have. There were no detrimental effects but many of my corals turned a wonderful green. I don’t just mean a green shimmer.
One coral really caught my attention and that was a red staghorn. The majority of the base turned green yet the top of the coral receiving more light managed to retain its red coloration. It showed a really nice colour transition.
This got me thinking that trace elements may be a catalyst for colour change but this can be inhibited with very high par.

I would appreciate your thoughts on this

 

[John3]

I saw a forum thread somewhere a while back where s guy was adding trace elements into his corals food. He was then feeding this food to the polyps of chalices. This was not off the shelf trace element supplements, this was actual pure elements. Almost instantly the chalice would significantly have a streaked color change. The chalice would look like some of the crazy multicolored chalices on the market. I think the tissue turned green from red. The downside was that in a few days the areas that changed color(turned green if I remember right) would die off.

This guy was then saying he thought he gave them too much at once and was going to try cutting back in hopes he could cause the color change without killing the tissue.

Can’t remember where or how I found this post. But it has intrigued me since reading it.

 

[Dana Riddle]

What type of coral?

Are you talking about actual color, or illumination?

I only keep acros and one Leng Sy cap, but color is best under high intensity Metal Halide with NSWish parameters with no supplements of feeding. When parameters get higher, colors get deeper and more saturated, but lose contrast and white stalks turn greenish.

Iodine, iron did nothing for me. I briefly tried zinc, but stopped almost instantly... just could not stand the thought of semi-poisoning my corals for slightly better color... even if the euros do it a lot.

Any type of coral (soft, stony, soft) or anemone with apparent (due to lighting) or true color changes (due to parameters such as lighting, supplements.) Acroporas belong to Clade B proteins, while Montis can be from Clade B or C, so your observations suggest iron and iodine did not influence coloration. I completely agree that zinc should be added carefully, if at all, since Wijgerde's recent paper talks of toxicity issues. Thanks for sharing!

 

[Dana Riddle]

I saw a forum thread somewhere a while back where s guy was adding trace elements into his corals food. He was then feeding this food to the polyps of chalices. This was not off the shelf trace element supplements, this was actual pure elements. Almost instantly the chalice would significantly have a streaked color change. The chalice would look like some of the crazy multicolored chalices on the market. I think the tissue turned green from red. The downside was that in a few days the areas that changed color(turned green if I remember right) would die off.

This guy was then saying he thought he gave them too much at once and was going to try cutting back in hopes he could cause the color change without killing the tissue.

Can’t remember where or how I found this post. But it has intrigued me since reading it.

Thanks! Interesting observation. Chalice corals possess Clade D proteins which are known to mature from green to red. Reversal isn't known to occur (according to known research) but that doesn't mean it can't happen. I'll try to track that thread down, would really appreciate if you could point me in the right direction.

 

[Dana Riddle]

Hi Dana
I only have one experience that I can speak of. I dose iron for my macroalgae. I miscalculated and added far more than I should have. There were no detrimental effects but many of my corals turned a wonderful green. I don’t just mean a green shimmer.
One coral really caught my attention and that was a red staghorn. The majority of the base turned green yet the top of the coral receiving more light managed to retain its red coloration. It showed a really nice colour transition.
This got me thinking that trace elements may be a catalyst for colour change but this can be inhibited with very high par.

I would appreciate your thoughts on this

Good observation - thanks! Iron is known to influence coloration and has only been described in peer-reviewed literature in DsRed proteins (a sub-type that can be found in all protein clades.) DsRed matures normally from green to red. Could you share the types of corals that turned green? Thanks!

 

[Dana Riddle]

What I have found Dana is the trace elements are taken up by the corals. Corals then will display fluorescent colors when presented under blue lighting.
Like you I have used many commercial supplements and found them wanting.
But I have always looked for other hobbyist’s with interest in coral health and have found some really trace elements from fellow hobbyist.
Lighting is what let’s our eyes see the up take of the trace elements into the corals. The problem most hobbyist have is that they do not look at long term only short term. The addition of trace elements can take a couple of month to show their effect. As corals had been with out the trace element they had needed for a while in many cases. Some corals can get by with out additional elements added to the tank water but some need it and while they may live they don’t show their true colors till they get the elements to make them shine. [emoji3]

Thanks Ed! One issue I have is that artificial salts often have elevated 'trace element' concentrations, and feeding (especially fishes) could add these as well.

 

[Dana Riddle]

This is gonna be interesting. There have been numerous claims with so many companies producing so many supplements . So many people claim with elements helping them with coloration of acros or even sometimes stopping tissue necrosis with dosage of strontium . However I believe I have never seem any studies where only one element was dosed over a period of 6-12 months , observations were made and then stopped the dosage and again observation was made .

Dana , are you planning for some experiments in effect of trace elements with coral coloration?

Regards,
Abhishek

Yes, especially iron additions. There are a number of claims that this element influences coloration, and Phil Dorr claims iron supplementation can prevent bleaching. I'm especially interested in hearing of iron concentrations since it is easily tested for in seawater. Yet, I haven't heard of any supplement maker making specific recommendations for iron concentrations. I'm convinced that strontium incorporation into coral skeletons is a 'mistake' as Sr is so similar to calcium but it has been suggested (not by me) that it could be a 'tonic' - but forget that - I don't want to hijack my own thread.

 

[Dana Riddle]

I use a local australian companys supplement range, they have a coral farm and use it themselves for maximum growth, Sustainable reefs coral essential range (im led to believe they will be available in the USA soon)
I use their Trace elements ABC as well as amino acids and vitamins and since starting trace elements/aminos reigime i have noticed an increase by 30% of my Alk/Ca consumption and my colours are off the charts, excuse the bad phone pictures
also colour change in a brown monti to lime green in 4 weeks
I only use 2 AI primes at around 60% intensity for lighting a 60cm cube

Beautiful - thank you! Is there a link that describes these Aussie supplements - I'd like to take a look. Amino acids need a close look - certainly a nitrogen source is needed for coral, anemones, etc. to make the colorful proteins. I tested some AA supplements a few years ago, and found a couple of things, including concentrations can vary wildly, but, nore importantly, IMO, that the amino acids are apparently quickly degraded by bacteria. But that doesn't need the nitrogen disappears by any means - it is incorporated into bacteria tissues, and many corals feed to bacteria (or protozoa that feed on bacteria.)

 

[reefwiser]

Thanks Ed! One issue I have is that artificial salts often have elevated 'trace element' concentrations, and feeding (especially fishes) could add these as well.

I try to keep my levels at NSW. Problem I have found is corals suck down the trace elements just like alk and cal when they start to unitize them.

 

[Porpoise Hork]

I have found that since adding an additional atinic LED bar to my setup that the PH and ALK levels have started to drift lower. They used to stay around 8.2-8.3 and after a couple months of updating my lighting pushing color temp higher my PH has slowly dropped to 7.8-8 and Alk used to ride at 11 is not 8-9. I never used to have to dose to keep ALK up but now I have to in order to maintain the levels. Color intensity and florescence in the corals has definitely increased as well but I cannot say if it's the change in lighting or that I also started spot feeding the corals with reef-roids two times a week.

 

[John3]

Thanks! Interesting observation. Chalice corals possess Clade D proteins which are known to mature from green to red. Reversal isn't known to occur (according to known research) but that doesn't mean it can't happen. I'll try to track that thread down, would really appreciate if you could point me in the right direction.

I tried looking for that thread. I can’t remember what forum I saw it on. I was trying to gather info on coral morphing, color pigment transfer, and grafting. I came across it googling. The guy who posted was hypothesizing that possibly some of the high dollar multi colored chalices were just normal chalices but were fed specific pure elements to different mouths to create different colored areas. I can’t remember if the chale was solid green or solid red but he fed it I believe pure iron(can’t remember form) and sure enough it would change color overnight drastically around the fed mouths. It would last a few days and then the tissue that changed color would die presumably from an overdose. He said he was trying to lower the dose so the color would change slower and not die. Unfortunately the guy said he was getting out of the hobby and that’s when he revealed what he was doing. Sorry I don’t have the link and only what I remember.

 

[John3]

I don’t know if you remember this thread I made back in Dec about corals maybe transferring corals. I still wonder if that was the case. The polyps that turned neon green have remained while all others are just white. It’s been 3 more months now.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/can-corals-transfer-colors.346334/#post-4312641

Here’s a pic of it today. My lighting is very blue but the polyps that look very green are, the others just white.

 

[mike werner]

i'm an aquaforest guy.i use the component 1-2-3 as well as the micro e trace elements and the amino mix.i have gotten growth and coloration in corals ive had for 10 plus years like never before.it's only been 3 months but the change has been incredible to say the least.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yet, I haven't heard of any supplement maker making specific recommendations for iron concentrations.

Red Sea makes a specific and incredibly high iron recommendation. I’ve sometimes wondered if it was that high just to be detectable with their kit. [emoji23]

 

[CherBear811]

I have limited experience with trace. I'm using the red sea trace right now, and I have noticed significant improvements in color. My tank is a nano FULL of coral. But I tend to run very high nutrients. For the most part, IME, this has resulted in outstanding PE, often even when the lights are on. But, a while back, bvefore I started the red sea trace, I had been really lazy with regard to water changes for a while, not so.ething you can do when you're feeding corals etc. Well, nutrients skyrocketed. Nothing died but many corals browned out. Here is where it gets impossible to assign causation. At the same time that I did a series of large water changes to get nutrients back under control, I also upgraded lights to 10x the wattage I had before. Over a few months I slowly increased intensity, no more than 3% every few weeks. At this time I started using the red sea trace. So, it could be any of the 3 factors. But the corals not only improved, for the most part they either returned to original coloration or in a few cases morphed or surpassed the color intensity they started from.

Now, my previous experience was with brightwell. That tank had 3x 250w 20,000K metal halides. But the water was chronically high in nitrate. 50+. No matter how many large water changes I did, it stayed high. However I lost no fish, in fact they thrived. And my sps coral had blinding colors. This was 10 years ago. Had a tri color valida with purples so intense it was like looking at the moon through a telescope - I got slight headaches if I stared at it too long. My anemones did not thrive in that tank, but the fish and most of the coral did. The brightwell product I used was Koralcolor. I can't help but think it worked based on results.

In my current tank, I keep nitrate around 14 and everything, including my nems, thrive.