Purple Nana Color Change
 

Here are some interesting color changes of what I think is a Purple Tipped Acropora Nana. Previously, it came from Pocilipora's system and is now under my 250W HQI. My photoperiod is only 6-7 hours per day and nitrates are high. Looks like the side of the coral with less light has stayed the same color whereas the top that receives the full halide has darkened. This coral is on the side of the tank and is not directly under my halide light though.

BEFORE TOP VIEW
http://www.hyperdream.com/~samw/reef...52_img_std.jpg

AFTER TOP VIEW
http://www.hyperdream.com/~samw/reef...40_img_std.jpg



BEFORE SIDE VIEW

http://www.hyperdream.com/~samw/reef...53_img_std.jpg

AFTER SIDE VIEW
http://www.hyperdream.com/~samw/reef...24_img_std.jpg

Sam, that's certainly a big shift in color. How long for that to happen? And which do you prefer? :razz:

Brad, that was a timespan of 2 months.

I like the darker colour better. However, my millepora which you can see a bit of in the photos has lost its pink. Its turned brownish green (with a little bleaching on the tips) which I don't like at all.

Not sure why my other corals aren't colouring up the same way as Chuck (MtnDewMan) in Washington who has similar lights. It might be a combination of high nitrates in my tank, less waterflow, and shorter photoperiod. I added another powerhead yesterday to increase waterflow.

Sam, the one thing I am sure of is that lighting only has a small role in color of SPS. Nitrates, alk, Ca, food(amount/type), etc, all play a part. I think unless you join your tank to Chuck's, you aren't going to get the same colors. They might be better colors, but certainly different.

Just curious, why the high NO3?

Hi Brad. Overstocked tank and overfed. :razz:

Overstocked in fish? or coral? I'm just surprised, as I have tons of bioload in my tank with a less than deep sandbed, and I have no (detectable) NO3. You have a skimmer, right?

Yes, I dump in lots of fish food daily for my many fish.

just curious, i noticed your photoperiod is quite short, is there a particular reason for that?

Shao, I haven't really secured the ballast and pendant safely yet so I only light ballast when I'm home.

Brad, yes I have a skimmer but its not operating 100% because the hose going from the pump to the skimmer is really long and has a 90 degree elbow so water isn't pumped into the skimmer at 100% efficiency. This is just because I want to hide the waterpump and because I don't want the pump to be pointing upwards in case of accident that might cause the powerhead to pump water out of the tank. 2nd, I have more fish in the tank than the pics show.

ahh...
BTW, nice color change!