Monti cap color question

[John3]

I noticed just recently that my orange Monti Caps have a really nice bright orange color around the edges to about a half inch in. Then the older growth has more of s brown orange color to it. Is that normal or do I have something going on?

Thanks
John

 

[John3]

Pic for reference.

 

[John3]

Bump

 

[Surfzone]

Looks healthy to me. I have found that orange caps will be a nice bright color on the outer edges but get a darker color on the older growth.

 

[taricha]

If you look closely, most of what you described as color difference is actually a texture difference. In the center there's more ridges and wrinkles, presumably created by the coral to adjust the flow around the polyps, and help them capture nutrients better.

 

[John3]

If you look closely, most of what you described as color difference is actually a texture difference. In the center there's more ridges and wrinkles, presumably created by the coral to adjust the flow around the polyps, and help them capture nutrients better.

I didn’t notice that until you said it. The original piece I bought was shaped like a pyramid and I could light all sides. So I broke off small pieces to grow out and gave the rest away. I just don’t remember the middle looking as dull and brown. By naked eye it appears a little more brownish than the pic shows.

 

[DesertReefT4r]

I would say that is pretty common. Older caps will generally be a darker color in the middle and lighter or a different color all together on the younger growth. I had a green cap that had a bright blue rim, neon green polyps and gaded to a darker green in the center. Also an orange cap that was dark orange on the rim and almost a red in the center.