It has always been amazing to me to watch corals morph in color from location to location in tanks. Having worked in various saltwater stores over the years, I have seen corals come from the wild, go to wholesalers, travel to the pet shops, make it to the aquarist's, and traded around. The exact same coral can look like 10 totally different pieces! The sps coral will come in to the retail pet shop from a fresh wild caught shipment. Incredible shades of three to four different colors with nice jagged coralites and fluorescing polyps. Then turn green, then turn brown, then purple. As I watch the hobbyist pick out the coral, they say, "wow, that's a nice purple piece", or "I'm looking for a nice purple". I never know quite what to say- "Um, you should have seen it when it first came in". Well, that was at some pet shops I have worked at. Here at Coral Fanatics, we strive to keep the coral just as it was when we first got it.

Most all hobbyists all want the brilliant colors. So how is this achieved?

Most of this will be my personal theories: Corals in the wild, are use to very few changes. Some salinity, and some temperature. Water conditions stay the same, and VERY consistent. Conditions may be different in different parts of the ocean reefs- but consistent. As soon as the coral is moved, it has to adapt to the new environment. As it adapts, it changes. I have seen wild caught brown acropora, or Millipora, make it to my aquarium, and get colorful blue or purple tips. Not all corals from the wild will get "uglier". Once a coral has morphed, it will seldom go back to its original state. Though I have never seen a coral morph and then go back to the wild where it came from. The best we can do is provide optimum conditions that are very consistent.

Some aquarist's focus on lighting (which can play a big factor) or hardness of the water, or water flow, trace elements etc.. And have all these factors in big expensive aquariums, and still loose colors in their corals when their conditions change all the time, week to week, or even once in six month period. It is depressing and sad to see a hobbyist change their halide bulbs after over-extending their life and watch their acro's bleach or change colors. Corals just hate the change and either adapt or die.

What are the optimum conditions? This is usually a topic of debate but there are basic parameters.

The larger the system, the more stability. High oxygen levels and excellent biological filtration. Intense lighting of a broad spectrum (see lighting theories), except for corals that come from deeper water or lower light. (It is always wise to research where your coral came from and what lighting and water flow it is use to). Nutrient poor water i.e. water low in dissolved organics, nitrates, phosphates, copper, heavy metals, and trace elements is a biggie. You want to keep your water as pure and close to the ocean as possible. Water flow that matches where the coral came from or what it likes. Consistently changing currents can give excellent results. Consistent hardness levels of 3.5 to 4.5 meq. alk. or 10 to 12 dkh and calcium levels of 450. And plenty of food for the coral to eat on a consistent basis.

Chris Conk-

More To Come.....

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