Noob Question!

Isoprene · Dec 18, 2012

Alright IDK if this is normal or not or if im not getting enough light to them or if they just do this when they get into a new tank. Some of my sticks, 1 or 2 out of the 6 or 7 I have now. Have browned out at the base, where they are "shaded" by the branches (small ones) above them. One is a nana and the other I have no clue to be honest both are acros tho.

Is this normal? The tips of everything look fantastic, showing really good color and good polyp extension. And most of my sticks have held all of the color they came with from the LFS or friends. Just one or two seemed to have browned out a bit at the base. Is this common, I get paranoid a lot about color so im just checking

thanks in advance!

Flipside · Dec 18, 2012

How long have had them? This can be normal if they are fairly new. They are adjusting. Make sure your parameters are in check (Ca/Alk/Mg/pH) and just leave them be. Browning-out is not typically a sign of low light conditions. Bleaching is (at least in my experience).

I think you're fine, but I'd still keep a sharp eye on them. What lights are you running, and what are your tank's dimensions? Also, how high are the lights off the surface of the water?

ReAVeR · Dec 18, 2012

When most SPS are shaded and absent from direct light, the xooxanthelle begins to retract its color (thinking it wont be exposed again/it has become an underside) and sets forth its energy onto an area that is getting illuminated. As long as the brown area doesn't extend further than the shade, you're fine, as this is part of the corals growth cycle.

Isoprene · Dec 18, 2012

I have a 55 bow front, running 24 chip LED's 2 drivers white/blue/royalblue, my lights are 9 inches off the water surface and my sticks are on a flatish surface about 9 inches below that in my tank. All my frags are no more than 3 to 4 months old (im brand new to sps). Some of them are a couple of weeks old. The ones that have shown browning are the older ones so im worried the newer ones will follow. I test my water weekly at the LFS are record all my stats. I keep everything in check with where it should be. Never had anything bleach or even go mildly light. Will the brown in a newer tank until they settle in? They have good polyp extension and the tips are showing really good colors.

Isoprene · Dec 18, 2012

is a FTS

Here are some close ups but my corlas look like crap with this awful digital camera i have.

This last picture is the only coral I have that is almost completely browned out. Has never had its color to begin with to be honest so I dont even know what it looks like. The others are pretty colorful.

Sorry these are the best photos ive got. The picture above is the coral im talking about, the one towards the back its got multiple colors (green/purple/brownish) but the brown is only in the more shaded areas, the areas that are hit directly with light (even tho this picture sucks) are SUPER purple.