Do acros colors get lighter before coloring up

[Reef-_-Noob]

The piece is some rainbow tenuis. The small piece is when I first got it really colored up nicely. It has grown quite well but was completely green. I added an ai blade on top of it and the coral started getting lighter like if it was bleaching. But it hasn't bleached, I am starting to see some picks coming thru.

I must admit its hard to envision this coral getting that original color back when it was a frag, that color seems quite dark compared to now.

Is it a thing for corals to get lighter as they start to get color back??

 

[Reef-_-Noob]

Recent picks with some pinks showing thru

 

[Evil1]

It has been my experience with SPS and Even LPS that their color will vary in intensity and overall pigment depending on the parameters of the tank. Meaning there is no guarantee that what you purchase will grow out exactly as you saw it prior to purchase. It seems like it is growing fine and good polyp extension so I wouldn’t worry.

 

[PhishEDELIC]

What kind of lights do you have on the tank and how long have you had the coral for? Keeping coral alive vs getting the right colors to pop is two different challenges.

 

[Red_Beard]

Nutrient poor water usually gets them pastel colors, sometimes light. What is your NP situation, in tandem with what do you feed them, if anything? You can get a lot deeper richer colors dosing ammonium for a nitrogen source.

 

[Reef-_-Noob]

Ive had the coral almost 2 years, the coral is alive and growing this is about color. I was running ai prime 16 and last month bout the Ai blade glow 12 inches. Placed it right above this coral so its getting blasted now

 

[Reefer Matt]

I recommend taking a look at the flow. Get a turkey baster and blow air into a wavemaker a few times to see the pattern around the coral in question, then increase if necessary. It sounds like light intensity was increased without increasing flow.