Coral Growth

[DChemist]

Is this fast coral growth or normal? The picture on the right was taken 13 days after the photo on the left.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a173/dchemist/montiporadigitata2weeks.jpg

[Michael7979]

Digi's can grow in spurts at least they have done so for me.

[R-3]

Digis grow pretty quickly and like Mike said in spurts. Looks good though. As long as they are growing you must be doing something right. LOL. Later Ryan

[DChemist]

Cool. I wasn't expecting to see any noticible growth this quickly. I thought they were "just pretty sticks".

[impur]

Digis grow like weeds!! They typically encrust in a week or less in my tank. Gotta love the digis!!

Looks like its gotten some nice color to it too. Good pics.

[DChemist]

Looks like its gotten some nice color to it too. Good pics.

Thanks. Here's a follow-up question...

It has similar growth over the same period of time. Is this one 'bleached' or just 'lightening up'? Should I be concerned?
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a173/dchemist/montiporadigitata2weeksii.jpg

[Michael7979]

That one to me looks like a dislike of the light it is recieving. Either too much or not enough. Did you move it since the first shot was taken?

[DChemist]

The first shot was taken a day after the frag was added to the tank. The frag wasn't moved between photos.

The frag is placed about 8 inches under the T5 lighting. Just an inch or two lower than the other digis.

I appreciate any advice.

Darren

[impur]

I'd move it lower and see how it does.

[DChemist]

I've moved them down... I'm curious how soon I'll see a difference or an improvement?

Sorry for all the newbie questions...

[Fenmere]

Personally, I think it looks good. I don't think it looks like bleaching. It could simply be the difference between an unhappy coral (because it moved) and finally getting adjusted to the new tank. We have had corals in the new tank that start out with very little polyp ext, or are really dark and within a week color up ot the original color when they are happier.....Just my 2 cents..

Ang

[Michael7979]

Are you sure they are digi's? They almost look like birdsnests'. Sorry to go off topic. You should see something in the next month. I have had corals take as little as a week to show color improvment and up to 8weeks.

[impur]

I've moved them down... I'm curious how soon I'll see a difference or an improvement?

Sorry for all the newbie questions...

Probably a 7-10 days you should see something.

[impur]

Are you sure they are digi's? They almost look like birdsnests'. Sorry to go off topic. You should see something in the next month. I have had corals take as little as a week to show color improvment and up to 8weeks.

Looks like a green birdsnest to me too. The polyps are certainly bleached out.

[Lowman]

what kind of light were they under where you bought them?

[DChemist]

They were a couple of frags given to me in a trade. I was told they were digis- I had no reason to believe otherwise. I don't know what kind of light they were under originally- I'll try and find out. I didn't think my 156 watts of T5 could bleach them out.

I'm looking for a concensus- I've already moved them down... should I leave them or move them back up?:confused:

[DChemist]

what kind of light were they under where you bought them?

They were under XM 250w 15k bulbs.

[Lowman]

I would leave them where you moved them for a couple of weeks unless they are stressing. Sometimes corals will change to a different color after adding them to your tank. I have several that have done that.

[rude944]

I think you are doing everything alright. The lightness of the corals is very desirable thing, especially considering the polyp extension. Keep it up.

[DChemist]

Thanks for the feedback, everyone. Since they've been moved, there is no sign of stress. Color may be darkening- but its too soon to tell. My plan is to give it another week, takes some more comparative photos and post them for everyone's feedback.

Thanks

[DChemist]

Gowth and polyp extension has still been great, even at the bottom of the tank. Here it is after 2 more weeks. It is darker. Today I moved it back up (where I actually want it) to see how it does.

What do you think?

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a173/dchemist/montiporadigitata4weeksii.jpg

[Michael7979]

Looks like it is doing fine. Keep us updated.

[DChemist]

Still growing well... seems to like where its at.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a173/dchemist/montiporadigitata7weeksii.jpg

Darren

[Michael7979]

Looks very nice. Keep it up! Thanks for sharing.

[funstarfish]

I had a colony of that in a shaded area low in my tank, and a frag up high. the colony was a darker green, the frag turned that flourescent color and lightened up. Look for it to darken up in 10 days or so.

[Krux]

in many cases, corals will seem to darken due to an increase in the density of zoox, which is usually because the coral is not etting enough light. This can be because of shading, having the coral too deep in the tank, or from less than clear water.

in the case of that stylo, i think that it is actually healthier in the later shots. while the lightening may not always be to our liking (if we bought a coral for its dark color for example) as long as it is growing, and has nice polyp extension, you are most likely making the coral happier with its new placement/arrangement.

looks great to me.

[DChemist]

in the case of that stylo, i think that it is actually healthier in the later shots. while the lightening may not always be to our liking (if we bought a coral for its dark color for example) as long as it is growing, and has nice polyp extension, you are most likely making the coral happier with its new placement/arrangement.

looks great to me.

Thanks Krux- I appreciate the feedback. I didn't buy it for the color it was- it was given to me. I was more concerned that I was doing it harm. Doesn't seem to be the case.

[DChemist]

Here it is after 7 more months...
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a173/dchemist/Stylophora.jpg

You can see the digi's from the first post of this thread in the background.

[reefboy]

Looks alot like the ora b-nest i have loves the light
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e56/45077/reefsystemacro011.jpg

[reefboy]

beings its doing well frag it put a frag higher see what it does mines neon green under halides

[DChemist]

You're right, it did look alot like that when I first got it. Unfortunately, I can't put it much higher in the tank.

[reefboy]

oh well at least you know what it is possibly

[DChemist]

I wonder if someone who has some halides would be interested in a frag to see if it colors up like your ora b-nest. Might be a fun experiment.(scratch)

[dippin61]

that looks kinda like my neon green stylo pistallata frag i got from travis up at upscales. i have it kinda high and in decent light, and it seems to have lightened up as well.. polyps arent bleached or washed out, they extend real nice, and its growing. so ive been watching it as well. glad i stumbled on this thread. under 250w 14k hammy, about 8" from the surface.

bout to get brighter too, got some reeflux 10k's on the way.. should be here in a day or two.

[DChemist]

that looks kinda like my neon green stylo pistallata frag i got from travis up at upscales. i have it kinda high and in decent light, and it seems to have lightened up as well.. polyps arent bleached or washed out, they extend real nice, and its growing. so ive been watching it as well. glad i stumbled on this thread. under 250w 14k hammy, about 8" from the surface.

bout to get brighter too, got some reeflux 10k's on the way.. should be here in a day or two.

Dippin61, do you have a photo you could post?

[dippin61]

ill snap a new one tomorrow when the lights come on

[DChemist]

I almost forgot about this... Did you ever snap a photo of this?

[dippin61]

I almost forgot about this... Did you ever snap a photo of this?

lol.. i DID forget about this.. i'll go do it now.. good time too, MH's about to power off..

although since this thread, it has kinda darkened back up a bit.. not much.. but a bit.. brb

[dippin61]

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p132/dippin61/stylo-1.jpg

not as dark as i see a lot of the stylos.. when i first replied to this thread, it was a bit lighter, darkened a bit, but not much

also..its still on the plug i got from travis.. but i had cut it off to a stub, and mounted the frag, the other frag didnt make it through my tank's downfall for a few months, but this one did. its basically all new growth

[DChemist]

Thanks dippin'. I don't miss how dark the frag was- but I do wish it still had that fluorescent green. Even under actinics, it doesn't fluoresce like it had (or like your photo shows).

[dippin61]

np

yeh.. mine was kinda puzzling. when i first got it, i. real dark with bright green polyps. then it lightened for a long time, and has settled on this color. PE is great, and so is the polyp color.

and no, i dont miss the dark color either :p

[dippin61]

ahh.. found a old pic of the frag i broke off.. didnt realize how much it actually changed. i guess the polyps have lightened.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p132/dippin61/stylo2.jpg