How long does SPS take to color up after acclimation?

[Brah02]

I bought some new SPS frags, and received them yesterday. One is looking pretty good but it was already a larger piece. There are a couple others that are just looking brownish pink meh. I can see a little PE but thats about it. How long does SPS take to color up?

 

[Arkayology]

That is highly dependent from system to system. Each tank is different and will have different times to get SPS acclimated and beginning to look their best. In my experience, it can take 6 months or more to get them looking good as long as you are hitting your target params, keeping things stable, have proper lighting and flow, and your tank has an established microbiome.

 

[reefpaul]

Compré este acro y así ha cambiado en 2 meses.

 

[Catawba_Valley_Reef]

I agree with several months. On the opposite end they can go from looking great to not good in a short amount of time.

 

[X-37B]

It can take awhile. I got a frag almost a year ago of BC Last Super Nova. It has tripled in size but is still a drab green with tiny white polyps.
This is what it's supposed to look like and mine. Time will tell.

 

[bradreef]

Weeks to a year plus. Depending on system and individual coral.

 

[Reginald Reefer III]

Keep an eye on trace elements while acclimating. Can make the difference in a couple of months to a year+.

 

[Reefer Matt]

A lot of them will shift color and intensity depending on water and light, quality and quantity. I’ve had some acros for over five years just now start to change color because I changed the flow. That’s part of the fun, as there is no recipe for color success that is widely agreed on. Some sps like leptoseris and pavona, are more stable in their colors.

 

[Reginald Reefer III]

A lot of them will shift color and intensity depending on water and light, quality and quantity. I’ve had some acros for over five years just now start to change color because I changed the flow. That’s part of the fun, as there is no recipe for color success that is widely agreed on. Some sps like leptoseris and pavona, are more stable in their colors.

It wasn't until I got serious with acros and Moonshiners that my SPS have exploded. I'm a firm believer now in that method. Watching a frag I got 6 months ago do nothing, to literally put on 1/2" of new growth in a month has opened my eyes.

May 2025:

June 2025

 

[Science/G]

Some acros never skip a beat. I have a Tri-color Valida that looked great from day one. My TSA Bollywood just started coming around after 4 weeks, and has a way to go yet. It really depends on the Acropora.

 

[VintageReefer]

I’m done with buying browned out, bleached, or pale acros.

Thai is how mine arrive. Got these on Thursday last week, these pics are right out of the bag, dipped in kcl for 20 min, and going in the tank

Then 2 days later I took follow up pics

Im sure in time they will color up more as they grow but they did arrive bright and colorful with nice golds and greens

 

[Miami Reef]

I’m done with buying browned out, bleached, or pale acros.

Excellent photos! Dang, those are nice pieces.

I’m with you on the brown acro part. I used to buy maricultures and hoped they’d change.

All I got were brown doodoos and eventually flatworms

 

[VintageReefer]

Excellent photos! Dang, those are nice pieces.

I’m with you on the brown acro part. I used to buy maricultures and hoped they’d change.

All I got were brown doodoos and eventually flatworms

I’ve done that too. And had good results in time. But that first month they can improve or completely nose dive.

i can show pics from other orders, everything I’ve bought over the last year comes in vibrant. The seller taking the clipping and giving time to recover before shipping is a huge difference.

These ones arrived dec 12, photos from Dec 13

Maybe I’ve become spoiled but this is what I expect when I get sps frags. I want to take them from a 7 or 8 to a 10. Not a 0 or 1 to a 10

Few weeks ago

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It wasn't until I got serious with acros and Moonshiners that my SPS have exploded. I'm a firm believer now in that method.

What were you dosing before moonshiners that you are comparing to?

 

[Reginald Reefer III]

It wasn't until I got serious with acros and Moonshiners that my SPS have exploded. I'm a firm believer now in that method.

What were you dosing before moonshiners that you are comparing to?

Typical 3 part Alk/CalMag with a weekly Trace. When I went fully to MS, I wasn’t persistent and kinda slacked in dosing. Now that I’m consistent with monthly ICPs and daily dosing, things have started growing very fast. No doubt there are many ways to the same result, but I enjoy the habit and schedule of MS Method.

 

[bubbgee]

Typical 3 part Alk/CalMag with a weekly Trace. When I went fully to MS, I wasn’t persistent and kinda slacked in dosing. Now that I’m consistent with monthly ICPs and daily dosing, things have started growing very fast. No doubt there are many ways to the same result, but I enjoy the habit and schedule of MS Method.

Did you buy the bottles from MS? I am considering this route as I have barely any growth with my SPS.

The ICP showed why, I am just correcting my zinc first before dosing anything since I am using polyfilter to remove zinc and other heavy metals. I still have another week before I remove polyfilter and start dosing.

 

[Troylee]

Did you buy the bottles from MS? I am considering this route as I have barely any growth with my SPS.

The ICP showed why, I am just correcting my zinc first before dosing anything since I am using polyfilter to remove zinc and other heavy metals. I still have another week before I remove polyfilter and start dosing.

Get your ph up they will grow! It has nothing to do with trace elements if you ask me! I don’t dose any trace and I have some very large colonies after 18months.. 1” frags are now about 16” colonies across lol.

 

[bubbgee]

Get your ph up they will grow! It has nothing to do with trace elements if you ask me! I don’t dose any trace and I have some very large colonies after 18months.. 1” frags are now about 16” colonies across lol.

pH is already 8.0 to 8.4 and using kalk all night and 2 part all day. Alk is at 8.5-9.0

I've been stumped on growth until ICP indicated lack of Se and Chromium. But I can't dose until I get rid of the heavy metals (zinc and aluminum) from a rusted nut that fell in the display.

 

[Troylee]

pH is already 8.0 to 8.4 and using kalk all night and 2 part all day. Alk is at 8.5-9.0

I've been stumped on growth until ICP indicated lack of Se and Chromium. But I can't dose until I get rid of the heavy metals (zinc and aluminum) from a rusted nut that fell in the display.

My corals have never grown faster! My alk was ranging 6.8-7.5 but I’ve bumped it to 9.3 currently to push the limits lol.. that one spike is when I refill my top off and slurry get dosed.

 

[saltyfins]

It wasn't until I got serious with acros and Moonshiners that my SPS have exploded. I'm a firm believer now in that method. Watching a frag I got 6 months ago do nothing, to literally put on 1/2" of new growth in a month has opened my eyes.

May 2025:

June 2025

LOVE Moonshine! it's saved my corals twice! Once with Dino's and another with idk what yet....