Sps Spotlight: Oregon Tort

[returnofsid]

Here's mine. When I purchased this colony, it had been growing quite well under 2X150MH, about midway in a 90 gallon. I was amazed at how well it was growing under that light. In my 200, it's under 10X54 T5HO, about 10" below the lights, and growing amazingly well, Oregon Tort is known as being a slow grower but I'm of the opinion that once it reaches a 'critical mass' size, it's actually a pretty fast growing coral.

Recently, I had an issue with low Alk and did experience some tissue loss with some of my SPS, including this one, unfortunately. In the past, when I've experienced similar issues, the SPS rarely recovers. Fortunately, my Oregon Tort did recover and the tissue recession stopped. Unfortunately, I did have to cut more than I'd have liked, to stop the recession...

 

[darryl_v]

wow....awesome pictures everyone. I want this one badly. One of the last on my must have list.

 

[myzislow]

Almost 100% certain the ORA blue tort is just the ORA Cali blue tort. They list the Oregon tort as ORA Oregon tort. I love the Cali tort too and I have not seen ORA offer any of the 2 in a long time.

Yes, ORA blue tort is just the "cali" tort.

Cuna's is def an oregon, you can tell by the coralite structure. I have seen OT straight from ORA have a very overwhelming green hue to inner branching just like his. Reefe831 has an awesome chunk of OT going that is exploding and his has slight greenish hue to it as well, and his is 100% def the real deal as it came from local reefer REEFSMAC(TOTM RC). He has a colony so large, you could combine all of the pieces in this thread and his would still dwarf it lol.

 

[myzislow]

This is so sick!! Awesome colony!

 

[Nuocmam]

Wow! I hope mine grows up some day to be like that.

 

[spsboss]

Heyy what happened to tis brother the cali tort lol sick loking pictures

 

[impur]

Awesome pics everyone!!!! This is one of my fav SPS, I have had it in every tank I have had. But it has NEVER turned completely blue for me like all the pics So frustrating. Its always brownish blue at the base, but the tips get the nice blue color

 

[larryl]

Nice one of my favorite sps!

 

[CUNAReefer]

An updated pic of my Oregon Tort. I have seen less and less green in the base as time progresses.
6/24/12

8/5/12

Today 10/6/12

I hope you enjoyed the pics.
Warmest Regards,
James

 

[Ike]

I've been familiar with both the cali and oregon tort since they've come out in the hobby and I'd be shocked if that really was an oregon tort. The coloring, the growth structure, and even the polyps and polyp extension don't add up to Oregon Tort on that one... I think something got mixed up in your ORA shipment... To further support this, I've seen dozens of these come from ORA and they're always about the smallest, often single branch frags ORA releases.

An updated pic of my Oregon Tort. I have seen less and less green in the base as time progresses.
6/24/12

8/5/12

Today 10/6/12

I hope you enjoyed the pics.
Warmest Regards,
James

 

[SteezySPS]

Ike, oregon torts can get that green on the body

 

[Ike]

Ike, oregon torts can get that green on the body

It's the first time I've seen it. When stressed or coloring up I've seen them get pale blue almost bleached looking and I've seen them brown out, but not the green...

 

[snipersps]

We're rolling out the old school Oregon Tort for this weeks Sps Spotlight!

It may be old news but it is still one beautiful sps piece that is desired by many sps aquarium enthusiast.

Please share your photos and the best lighting, flow, and placement that you have found that provides optimal growth and color.

image Glassbox Design

Wow very nice !!!!! That pic bring me a good memory when I had tha colony of the pic on my tank back on 2006 cause that's my pic and coral


Tank of the Month - March 2006 - Reefkeeping.com

 

[SteezySPS]

It's the first time I've seen it. When stressed or coloring up I've seen them get pale blue almost bleached looking and I've seen them brown out, but not the green...

I was surprised too when I first saw green on my oregon frag and then I assumed every acropora has the ability to turn green just as all sps can brown out. original Purple monster can turn green too

 

[Nuocmam]

No doubt it can turn green. The OT has this weird melted wax kinda appearance like in snipersps's pic.

 

[swissgaurd]

nice pieces,oregon tort was always one of my favorites along side the cali tort.i imagine the oregon is just as hardy as the cali


vic

 

[CUNAReefer]

I've been familiar with both the cali and oregon tort since they've come out in the hobby and I'd be shocked if that really was an oregon tort. The coloring, the growth structure, and even the polyps and polyp extension don't add up to Oregon Tort on that one... I think something got mixed up in your ORA shipment... To further support this, I've seen dozens of these come from ORA and they're always about the smallest, often single branch frags ORA releases.

Hi Ike,

Thank you for your comments.

Just want to clarify a couple things. This coral did not come directly from ORA. It came from a LFS owner who purchased the coral directly from ORA. He gave me a very nice frag of it

The green base was the predominant color when I first received the coral. To eliminate this color, I dose ZEOSpur2. The ZEOSpur2 causes the coral to shed excess zooxanthallae to show the beautiful color pigments below. I have a couple more doses to go, but I should be able to get the true ORA Oregon Tort coloration. My Cali Tort reacts to ZEOSpur2 by having a brighter green base and brighter purplish/blue coralites. The big difference between my ORA Oregon Tort and the Cali Tort when I dose Spur is the amount of green in the coral. The green increases in the Cali, while the green decreases in the Oregon.

On a final note, there is a very good thread on RC that delves into the lineage of the OOT and the coloration variances. I hope that this helps answer some your questions regarding the green coloration. Sorry for posting a link to another forum, but I think it really helps our thread out.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1784128

Warmest Regards,
James

 

[CUNAReefer]

Hello Everyone,

This morning I had to turn the coral due to growth. This side of the coral was receiving brighter light from a pair of ATI Aquablue bulbs. There is no green coloration too this side of the coral. The only colors are blue and purple.

 

[J&O'sdad]

I noticed in another picture your Hawkins is a little on the green side to. The real deal for sure.

 

[CUNAReefer]

I noticed in another picture your Hawkins is a little on the green side to. The real deal for sure.

Hey Jason,

Great to hear from you!

Its pretty cool to be able to see the changes in coloration my coral gets under certain lighting conditions. My hawkins is now under a PAR of 300. The tips of the coralites are starting to turn a lighter blue with just a touch of purple. I'll let this bad boy grow for another month and then post some growth shots. Thanks again for your comments!

James