This is going to be a pretty wide question....
I got a Acro a couple weeks ago, It had a green base and Purple tips. It maintained its color for a couple days then started to turn brown, I also have a Bali Acro that I have had for over a month now that was completly brown when I got it, now it has blue color but only on the new growth.
ok now for the question.....
Do SPS color brown due to high nutrients?
If you were to get a brown Frag like I did how long in good tank conditions would you expect to see color?

My current tank stats are

Ammonia 0
Nitrates 0
Nitrites 0
Phos 0
Salinity 1.025
CA 420
Dkh 9.8
Temp 80-81 F
90 gallon display with 2 250W Reflux MH 12k
4x 48w T5 Antinics

This is the Bali... before it had blue tips. I cant get a good picture with it now.
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i273/bmwaaron/tricolor0818.jpg

its is speculated (maybe proven, but im not sure) that acros will tun brown due to stress or excess nutrients.
this can be a tuff one to answer. getting good coloration is kind of an art, one im still working on learning fully.
but to start addressing the nutrient issue, if you are dealing with any algae issues this might be an indicator that you might have excess nutrient build up, but again, its a big if.

another thing, have you tried repositioning the coral, lower light, higher light, more or less current, all of which can have an affect on coral health.

im sorry i can give a more direct answer, maybe someone else has better ideas or thoughts on this.

Well the only place nutrients would come from would be food right? I am trying not to overfeed but I am thinking I maybe although I dont have any bad algae problems or Cyno. I get a slight green algae on the glass every day or everyother day.

are you adding anything to the system as coral food?

Well the only place nutrients would come from would be food right?


Excess nutrients can come from high fish population, if something dies, your water, sand bed, any additives you use, etc...

Excess nutrients can come from high fish population, if something dies, your water, sand bed, any additives you use, etc...
all good points gwen, thanks.. :D

Yes I am feeding the SPS, I have reef roids, Phyto, and DT oyster eggs

couple of questions:
are your acros growing?
and what are your phosphate levels.

in my experience browning acros are due to nutrient levels and well, high phosphates. this has happened to me before. high phosphate levels led to browning of corals and growth retardations. just my 2 cents. good luck

I am getting growth out of them. The new growth in fact has color. I cant detect any phosphate with my Salifrert test kit. I am running phosbane and carbon just in case though.

This is going to be a pretty wide question....
I got a Acro a couple weeks ago, It had a green base and Purple tips. It maintained its color for a couple days then started to turn brown, I also have a Bali Acro that I have had for over a month now that was completly brown when I got it, now it has blue color but only on the new growth.
ok now for the question.....
Do SPS color brown due to high nutrients?
If you were to get a brown Frag like I did how long in good tank conditions would you expect to see color?

My current tank stats are

Ammonia 0
Nitrates 0
Nitrites 0
Phos 0
Salinity 1.025
CA 420
Dkh 9.8
Temp 80-81 F
90 gallon display with 2 250W Reflux MH 12k
4x 48w T5 Antinics

This is the Bali... before it had blue tips. I cant get a good picture with it now.
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i273/bmwaaron/tricolor0818.jpgYour tank parameters are perfect. That indicates, to me, that it's not high nutrients causing it to brown. I don't agree with the high nutrient theory in the first place, unless it's extreme. Then other factors would come into play like excess algae growth. It's evident in your picture, that's not the problem.

In my experience, when Acros lose color, it's caused by a change in lighting. I have found that by moving the frag higher or, in some cases, lower in the water column colors reappear in a few days. I'd move it toward the lights a couple of inches and watch it carefully for a couple of weeks. I would not take it to the top because that much change all at once could cause a different problem, bleaching.

ok I have moved them a little closer to the light.
So what your saying also is that if I had excessive nutrients I would have problems with Alage and Cyno right? I havent had problems with either. I do get a slight green film on the glass where the light hits it during the day but I was told that if u have high lighting this is normal.

ok I have moved them a little closer to the light.
So what your saying also is that if I had excessive nutrients I would have problems with Alage and Cyno right? I havent had problems with either. I do get a slight green film on the glass where the light hits it during the day but I was told that if u have high lighting this is normal.Yes. I can see by your photos you are not having that problem. Yes, it is normal to get a light coating of algae nearly daily. Your tank looks good.

Well the only place nutrients would come from would be food right?.

nope, tap water also, things you may be dosing... what else....hmm

nope, tap water also, things you may be dosing... what else....hmm

Well I use RO/DI water and dont really dose anything besides Seachems Reef plus

how is it now that you raised it to the light?

how is it now that you raised it to the light?

Im going to give it a couple weeks and see what happens, there is no bleaching going on so thats good I guess.