Color and nutrition elements.

[MiZuboov]

Hi!
Does the color of the LPS corals depend on N P value in a reef tank?
Thanks a lot!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Hi!
Does the color of the LPS corals depend on N P value in a reef tank?
Thanks a lot!

To some extent the answer must be yes, since at the extremes corals will not thrive, but there is no agreed upon perfect values for color.

IMO, the reason there is not agreement among experts is that many other factors come into play.

 

[MiZuboov]

To some extent the answer must be yes, since at the extremes corals will not thrive, but there is no agreed upon perfect values for color.

IMO, the reason there is not agreement among experts is that many other factors come into play.

I've read that the more nitrates there are, the more zooxanthellae there are and the less the coral's own color is visible. How true is this?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I've read that the more nitrates there are, the more zooxanthellae there are and the less the coral's own color is visible. How true is this?

It is true in some scenarios, and only a part of the story. It is the rationale for ULNS tanks like zeovit tanks, but coral colors can also be great at 1 ppm phosphate and 100 ppm nitrate.

 

[MiZuboov]

It is true in some scenarios, and only a part of the story. It is the rationale for ULNS tanks like zeovit tanks, but coral colors can also be great at 1 ppm phosphate and 100 ppm nitrate.

Then I don't understand these mouse races for low No3 Po4 content..

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Then I don't understand these mouse races for low No3 Po4 content..

Here's the tank of Richard Ross with very high N and P, colors are good, but not at all like the UNLS look below.

https://reefs.com/magazine/skeptical-reefkeeping-ix-test-kits-chasing-numbers-and-phosphate/

Here's what colors might look like in a ULNS tank:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/what-is-in-zeospur2.231768/