Mirror

[Canadian]

Troy,

I'd be interested to see Jerel's results. The potential exists that while he may experience increased coral growth (skeletogenesis), he may also experience color changes in his corals. As of yet (at least to the best of my knowledge), the debate regarding what causes color changes in corals has not been resolved. I know that Richard Harker has commented that his ability to use natural sunlight on his new reef set up has caused many of his darker colored corals to move from brown shades to more tan shades, and that the other pigments (blues, pinks, etc.) have intensified. So while corals may in fact have to expend energy to protect themselves from prolonged exposure to high energy light waves, that same protection may be what causes the corals to manifest the colors that we desire . . . might be a slippery slope where we have to choose which of the two evils we prefer.