Rejuvinating a brown frag

[ScottT1980]

I gave a blue millepora frag to a buddy of mine a while back, worried that I just couldn't keep it under my VHOs. Well, 6 months later, I look at his tank and the frag, although seemingly growing, has turned very brown from its beautiful carolina blue color. I managed to snag a few pieces in order to try to bring its color back...

Any suggestions as to how or if this can be done? Obviously, it probably would be easier under halides but I figured it was at least worth a shot in my tank. What causes this? A UV light issue? Zoxanthelle release? Sorry if this is in another thread, I am admitedly being lazy.

Thanks
Scott t.

[Woodstock]

So it went from VHO's to what type of lighting? MH?

How deep was it placed in your tank & what type of bulbs do you have?

How deep was it in his tank & what type of bulbs is he using?

[LuckyInk]

Originally posted by ScottT1980
from its beautiful carolina blue color.

Go 'Heels!

[Woodstock]

I work there!

[ScottT1980]

Well, to be honest, the frag originally came from Chad at Reefscience. So, there, it was under the usual 400W halides (I can't remember how many he has, it was in his prop tank). I picked up a frag and put it under my 440W VHOs and it grew well for about 6 months and kept the same color. I had an SPS have some funky necrotic "thingie" and so I purged every single one of my SPSs just to be on the safe side. The buddy who got this frag has 400W halides as well, I think 3-4 on a 300 gallon. I can't remember the kelvin but it looks pretty blue. He started the frags low and moved them up. Now, the entire colony is brown.

I didn't ask to many questions because I didn't want to insult the guy, I just mentioned that I might want a frag (hoping to bring back its color). I also gave a frag to Chad and we will see what he can do with it under his halides...

Anyway, that is the story in a nutshell...

Thanks
Scott t.

[Woodstock]

Ahhhh.... very interesting. This may be a great way to learn about the different kelvin for MH and how they affect corals! Please update this thread periodically! It would be nice to know the age and kelvin of your friends bulbs.

Btw.. i believe chad has 2x 400 watts over each of his prop tanks?

[Cosmic]

It's fully possible that the coral will slowly regain it's former coloration.
Any time a coral undergoes a different lighting scheme, there is a good chance of bleaching or coloration. This is especially true with SPS corals.

I'll let you know that almost every sps coral that I have acquired is now, or was shortly after acquiring, a different color than the day I got it. Some of my acros went brown over a year and a half ago and STILL haven't re-gained coloration. Some that were brown when I got them are turning blue-green, while a few have remained thier "true" coloration all along.

I think the coloration is due to many factors, but among the most important is the amount of UV they receive (PAR), as well as the color (Kelvin) rating of that particular bulb. The color of corals is due to the zooxanthellae found in them. These zooxanthellae will flouresce when barraged with specific colors of light, making them turn a coral a specific coloration. It is strongly believed that the higher color (Kelvin) bulbs bring out more coloration, meaning the heavier the blue spectrum, the more coloration in the coral.
I recently read an article stating that there is even a difference among various actinic blue bulbs. The difference being wether they spike in the 420nm range or the 460nm range. One is reported to gain coral coloration while the other is said to be more "look" than utilitarian. Sorry, I don't recall which is which

In any case, when the lighting regimen is changed for a coral, it's fully possible for the zooxanthellae to vacate that coral completely in search of a more suitable environment. That leaves a coral empty (bleached) and vacant for a more suitable type to occur. This would then change the coloration of that color.

As far as trying to entice one color vs another color in a particular coral, I'm not sure that enough is understood about these animals yet for a decisive answer to that question.

-HTH-
Cos

[TDEVIL]

great post, Cos, thanks

keep us posted Scott

td

[ScottT1980]

Cosmic, glad to see your face more and more!

THanks for the info! I am trying to find a few pictures what it looked like originally. I also need batteries for the camera. Nevertheless, I will keep you guys up to date...

Take er easy
Scott T.

[brian_e]

o man u could have let me try

[ScottT1980]

I might end up letting you...I will let you know

[brian_e]

i have some frags that where purple when i go tthem they went brown now 6 months later one is going back purple and the other is going baby blue

[Imperial]

that happend to my green slimmer it turned brown after 3 months and now 6 months later its turning green again

[ScottT1980]

Lets see, its been about 2 weeks and I can already see a massive transformation. The frag is almost back to its original "luster" where the brown has turned into a violet/purple and the tips are now that familiar carolina blue. Amazing little creatures these things are...

Wish I could take an authentic picture but my camera turns everything either too blue or too pink.

So for those looking to revive the colors in SPSs, well, it can be done.

Take er easy
scott t

[Woodstock]

Good for you!! I wonder what Kelvin rating the bulbs were over your friends tank..... They are obviously not a good kind. Call him up and ask him Scott so we'll all know!