Still Alive ???

Braves Fan · Dec 30, 2009

I don't know if you can tell by a picture or not. I never see any polyp extension, unless its happening at nite when the lights are off. The first pic is when I first got the coral from the LFS about 2 1/2 months ago, the second pic is from last nite. The color on the coral is a, jmo, deep purplish color, when the MH lights are on its looks a brownish color.

sportzfish · Dec 30, 2009

Have one that looks just like it, pretty when I got it, now green 2-3 months later.

stunreefer · Dec 30, 2009

It's still alive, it has browned out.

When Acropora die they becomes a bare white skeleton.

Braves Fan · Dec 30, 2009

Well, I guess its good that it isn't dead. Will it stay this color or change color. Not sure what it means when they are brownrd out but still alive. Have a feeling I know, lol, bad water for SPSs.

stunreefer · Dec 30, 2009

Zooxanthellae that live in corals are brownish in color, and when they become more prominant in the tissue the coral takes on this color, hence "browning out". Zooxanthellae are flagellate protozoa that produce carbon compunds for the coral to feed off of via photosynthesis. Generally speaking, when the coral isn't receiving enough light, they produce more zooxanthellae in order to prodcue more food for the coral to feed off of and "be happy". Once they're recieving enough light and are "happy" they shed unecessary zooxanthellae and begin to color up. On the flip side, bleaching is caused by too much light... the coral sheds lots of zooxanthellae and turns light colored or white.

With that said nutrients do play a role in corals browning out as well. Make sure to get all your parameters in line and stable.

That coral appears to be a maricultured specimen, and it's not uncommon for them to brown out intially, but they'll eventually color up if in good conditions.