Red Planet Question

[Defect]

Alright so here it is. I have an acro that was sold to me as red planet I am not sure if it is or not but it was fully green when I got it and just wanted to confirm. My questions are....#1 does this look like red planet? #2 The changing in color I assume is a good thing or does it look like its bleaching rather then changing color? Just want to make sure it looks healthy. It was a fresh cut when I bought and you can notice that it is starting to encrust over the glue.

Thanks in advance,

Aaron

 

[3Twinklets]

The Red Planet will be more to the red side on lower light and more to the green side in higher light.

 

[Pete polyp]

It looks like one to me, but I'm no expert. The corallites and polyps look just like mine

 

[Defect]

I guess I am concerned because its more yellowish then red or green. Want to pull more red out of it but the frag has only been in my system for 2 weeks so I cant expect it to much yet....Got some nice looking color on the one you have there Pete. I thought having more light brought the red out and less brought the green out?

 

[Pete polyp]

I believe you're correct. It took about a month for the reds to really start showing with my frag. It was white with pink tips on the corallites when I received it. I will try and pull up an old picture

 

[Pete polyp]

May 16

May 27

June 6

June 12 top down

 

[Defect]

Well heres to hoping that I can get the reds out of this acro. Maybe turn the light up on it. Thanks pete

 

[Nano sapiens]

The Red Planet will be more to the red side on lower light and more to the green side in higher light.

The vast majority of people have found that lower light will promote the green color, higher light will promote pink/white/red. This is exactly what has happened to mine as lighting went from 150 PAR to 260 PAR.

Of note is that there are many Acropora that are called 'Red Planet' and look similar to the ORA 'Red Planet' The ORA Red Planet species is believed to be A. anthocercis, but many of these 'Red Planet's could also be A. hyacinthus or possibly other Acropora species. Point is, with the possibility of different species involved some could show more green in higher light environments.

 

[Pete polyp]

No problem. I think it will color up in the next couple weeks for you. As you can see mine was kinda yellow about at the same time as yours

 

[3Twinklets]

You are all correct of course. I realized that I had that backwards after hitting the send button but could not get back quickly to fix my mistake. I stand corrected.

 

[Tahoe61]

If it was sold as an RP then it probably is. Looks like one to me.

 

[Pete polyp]

The vast majority of people have found that lower light will promote the green color, higher light will promote pink/white/red. This is exactly what has happened to mine as lighting went from 150 PAR to 260 PAR.

Of note is that there are many Acropora that are called 'Red Planet' and look similar to the ORA 'Red Planet' The ORA Red Planet species is believed to be A. anthocercis, but many of these 'Red Planet's could also be A. hyacinthus or possibly other Acropora species. Point is, with the possibility of different species involved some could show more green in higher light environments.

I often wondered why it looked different than a hyacinthus. I was under the impression ora was also. Thanks for that contribution

 

[Nano sapiens]

I often wondered why it looked different than a hyacinthus. I was under the impression ora was also. Thanks for that contribution

You're welcome. This is one coral that I had a very difficult time with, so I spent many, many nights scouring the Internet threads for any tidbits of information. I started with a 3/8" mini-frag under lower light and after 1-1/2 years of slow encrusting growth to 2" in diameter it has finally started branching when I increased light intensity. Right now it's a totally weird combo of green, yellow, pinkish-red and a lot of white in the growth tips. From what I've read, this is normal and it will morph to more solid colors as it matures.

 

[Defect]

You're welcome. This is one coral that I had a very difficult time with, so I spent many, many nights scouring the Internet threads for any tidbits of information. I started with a 3/8" mini-frag under lower light and after 1-1/2 years of slow encrusting growth to 2" in diameter it has finally started branching when I increased light intensity. Right now it's a totally weird combo of green, yellow, pinkish-red and a lot of white in the growth tips. From what I've read, this is normal and it will morph to more solid colors as it matures.

Sounds like a fun acro to own. Thanks for the info guys/gals

 

[Nano sapiens]

Alright so here it is. I have an acro that was sold to me as red planet I am not sure if it is or not but it was fully green when I got it and just wanted to confirm. My questions are....#1 does this look like red planet? #2 The changing in color I assume is a good thing or does it look like its bleaching rather then changing color? Just want to make sure it looks healthy. It was a fresh cut when I bought and you can notice that it is starting to encrust over the glue.

Thanks in advance,

Aaron

It's not loosing flesh and it's encrusting the base, so it's good. Can't say exactly what it is with those colors, but general form and polyps look right. Like many Acropora this one can look quite different in different tanks, color wise. It's not as picky as some Acros as far as water goes (mine is growing and branching in an unfiltered mixed reef nano), but like all Acros needs stable parameters. Good lighting (spectrum, intensity and duration) plays a big role in this coral's success and pigmentation.

 

[Pete polyp]

You're welcome. This is one coral that I had a very difficult time with, so I spent many, many nights scouring the Internet threads for any tidbits of information. I started with a 3/8" mini-frag under lower light and after 1-1/2 years of slow encrusting growth to 2" in diameter it has finally started branching when I increased light intensity. Right now it's a totally weird combo of green, yellow, pinkish-red and a lot of white in the growth tips. From what I've read, this is normal and it will morph to more solid colors as it matures.

Wow.... This is the fastest grower I have right now. It has even been outgrowing a green slimer that I received at the same time.

 

[Pete polyp]

It's not loosing flesh and it's encrusting the base, so it's good. Can't say exactly what it is with those colors, but general form and polyps look right. Like many Acropora this one can look quite different in different tanks, color wise. It's not as picky as some Acros as far as water goes (mine is growing and branching in an unfiltered mixed reef nano), but like all Acros needs stable parameters. Good lighting (spectrum, intensity and duration) plays a big role in this coral's success and pigmentation.

I think the reason it doesn't have the colors you think it should is because frags are usually taken from new growth on colonies.

 

[watchguy123]

In my experience this is also an aggressive acro. It generally out stings and outgrows any acros it comes in contact with. The color on the colony as it matures is breathtaking and can change from deep red to a flourescent red almost. It is a stunning coral and will add some very spectacular brilliant color to your tank

 

[Nano sapiens]

Wow.... This is the fastest grower I have right now. It has even been outgrowing a green slimer that I received at the same time.

That's good to hear! Since there are at least a few 'Red Planet' types, some may grow quickly and others more slowly. The one I have is very likely not of ORA lineage. My nano tank is a mixed reef with a majority of 'Shrooms, so getting any Acro to grow from a tiny mini-frag to a branching mini-colony in this environment, no matter how long it takes, is alright by me

 

[Nano sapiens]

In my experience this is also an aggressive acro. It generally out stings and outgrows any acros it comes in contact with. The color on the colony as it matures is breathtaking and can change from deep red to a flourescent red almost. It is a stunning coral and will add some very spectacular brilliant color to your tank

You are absolutely correct, but it's not just Acros that have difficulty with the RP. I have a small mini-colony of Nuke Green Palys near the RP that are continuously being burned. Acans are on the other side and even they get stung, but they do fight back so now they have a 'truce line' between them.