SPS acro color question

Lavey29 · Jun 7, 2022

I am new to SPS with maybe 20 frags in the tank for 3 months now. They all have great color, encrusting and showing growth. Today, I noticed one of my bright green frags is more of a dull green now. The encrusted base is still bright green. I don't see any bleaching or STN.

What typically can cause an acro to fade color but still appear healthy? My numbers have been stabil with no swings. I dose red sea trace once a week and last ICP 30 days ago was fine.

Sean Clark · Jun 7, 2022

People will probably say that low nitrates and phosphates or too high of lighting will cause this.

Lavey29 · Jun 7, 2022

Sean Clark said:
People will probably say that low nitrates and phosphates or too high of lighting will cause this.

Well I'm at 13 nitrates and .08 phosphate. Light has been the same for many months now.

bobnicaragua · Jun 7, 2022

New growth is often a brighter color, you may not have an issue.

Lavey29 · Jun 7, 2022

bobnicaragua said:
New growth is often a brighter color, you may not have an issue.

No the whole 2 inch frag faded to a slightly dull green now except the encrusted base is still bright green.

Some think the coral is transitioning to its true color now?

2_much_junk_in_the_sump · Jun 7, 2022

I have a mystic sunset monti that will fade right before something bad is going to happen to the other corals. It's almost to the point of invasive, but I would never get rid of it because it's so useful as a mood ring type coral. It is possible something like that is going on. I would check your nutrients and make sure PO4 did not bottom out.

Sean Clark · Jun 7, 2022

Lavey29 said:
Well I'm at 13 nitrates and .08 phosphate. Light has been the same for many months now.

How long has the coral been under those lights? Also how long have those NO3 and PO4 numbers been stable? If it is only one coral then I would not change a thing. Move the coral to a higher or lower light area and observe.

Lavey29 · Jun 8, 2022

Sean Clark said:
How long has the coral been under those lights? Also how long have those NO3 and PO4 numbers been stable? If it is only one coral then I would not change a thing. Move the coral to a higher or lower light area and observe.

Just this coral. Been in its spot 3 months. It is fully encrusted to the rocks now with a 3 inch base. Nothing has changed as far as lighting and flow. My nitrates are always 10 to 17 and phosphate around .08 and elevates slightly depending on coral feeding but never above .17 now. I just checked it 5 minutes ago and it's. 09 right now. Alk was 8.8 and cal 410.

Sean Clark · Jun 8, 2022

Me personally, I would move it to a spot with higher lighting then. They say that you kill things fast with high light and slowly with low light.

Lavey29 · Jun 8, 2022

Sean Clark said:
Me personally, I would move it to a spot with higher lighting then. They say that you kill things fast with high light and slowly with low light.

It's in the very top of the tank right under the XR15 light getting the highest par in the tank. Now I can increase intensity if that is what the experts think will help but it's probably 350 par at least there.

Sean Clark · Jun 8, 2022

Lavey29 said:
It's in the very top of the tank right under the XR15 light getting the highest par in the tank. Now I can increase intensity if that is what the experts think will help but it's probably 350 par at least there.

Well in that case I would lower it. Definitely do not change the entire tank to suit one angry coral.

Lavey29 · Jun 8, 2022

Sean Clark said:
Well in that case I would lower it. Definitely do not change the entire tank to suit one angry coral.

Can't really move it because I don't want to break it's well established base. It looks healthy but the dull color has me perplexed. I've been keeping the same routine for many months now. I can drop the light intensity slightly but figured that would be bleaching if to high.

I do have a finger leather coral on the side of the tank but I run carbon and chemipure so don't think toxins are bothering it?

Sean Clark · Jun 8, 2022

Lavey29 said:
Can't really move it because I don't want to break it's well established base. It looks healthy but the dull color has me perplexed. I've been keeping the same routine for many months now. I can drop the light intensity slightly but figured that would be bleaching if to high.

I do have a finger leather coral on the side of the tank but I run carbon and chemipure so don't think toxins are bothering it?

Pics? Are your running carbon with your leather?

Lavey29 · Jun 8, 2022

Sean Clark said:
Pics? Are your running carbon with your leather?

I can take some when lights come on. Yes always run carbon.

Roli's Reef Ranch · Jun 8, 2022

Everything seems fine to me... I'd personally wait it out. Have all the other 19 corals take a vote as to whether or not the conditions are favorable, hell, even include greeny in the voting district, and let me know!