Brown coral recovery progress

**Phurst** · 03-10-2010, 01:12 PM

So, I though this might be an interesting thread. I just picked up 8 colonies from Blue Zoo Aquatics. They sell off colonies that have browned out for one reason or another pretty cheap. A couple of other club members have gotten them and had some turn into really nice looking corals. I got 4 medium and 4 large colonies. I thought it would be cool if I posted pictures every week to see how they're progressing. Colors are pretty good in my 150 currently, so I figure I have a decent chance at coloring them up. If for some reason they are just brown corals, then oh well...

They showed up last Friday morning, and have been on the bottom of my 150 acclimating. I'll post pics every week until they've either colored up, or I've decided they'll stay brown forever.

I took front and top down pics and will try to update in the same manner.

This is how they looked Friday night:

**Phurst** · 03-10-2010, 01:15 PM

Here's the next set:

**Phurst** · 03-10-2010, 01:18 PM

And the last of them:

**CarmieJo** · 03-10-2010, 09:42 PM

This will be interesting Pearson.

**PhotoJohn** · 03-11-2010, 12:22 AM

they dont look all that bad, most seems to have some color still

**rayme07** · 03-11-2010, 01:08 AM

I agree with John most of them look pretty good. This is going to be a cool thread I will be following.

**Phurst** · 03-11-2010, 11:17 AM

Well, colony #1 began RTNing last night. I noticed some tissue loss around the base when I got home last night. By the time I finished dinner and got the kids to bed, the entire base was gone, so I ended up cutting off the base, and back into healthy tissue. Ended up wit 2 frags and the remainder of the colony. All are in the frag tank now to keep an eye on them.

**Phurst** · 03-11-2010, 11:17 AM

Well, colony #1 began RTNing last night. I noticed some tissue loss around the base when I got home last night. By the time I finished dinner and got the kids to bed, the entire base was gone, so I ended up cutting off the base, and back into healthy tissue. Ended up wit 2 frags and the remainder of the colony. All are in the frag tank now to keep an eye on them.

**Phurst** · 03-13-2010, 12:33 AM

One week in. Here are the new pics:

**Phurst** · 03-13-2010, 12:34 AM

Set number two.

**Phurst** · 03-13-2010, 12:34 AM

Last of them.

**rayme07** · 03-14-2010, 02:26 AM

Cool Some of them have some great color to them.

**Phurst** · 03-19-2010, 09:29 PM

I'll get back to the regular side/top format next week, but tonight I'm going to post comparison pics. First, how they looked when they arrived, then how they look tonight. Unfortunately, my camera skills leave a little to be desired, especially in the capturing correct color department, but whatever. here we go.

**Phurst** · 03-19-2010, 09:30 PM

The next set:

**Phurst** · 03-19-2010, 09:30 PM

The last of them:

***lReef lKeeper*** · 03-20-2010, 02:20 AM

looking good bro !!

**Amphibious** · 03-20-2010, 09:18 AM

Hey Phurst,

Nice find. I think you should frag them in two and send me one group so I can help you “save" them.

**Phurst** · 03-20-2010, 10:53 AM

Dick, they were SO cheap, you should definitely look into getting some as seed corals for your aquaculture setup. Buy them cheap, color them up, then sell or frag them.

V · 03-20-2010, 11:30 AM

the one closest to the left wall has made the biggest transition of the lot.

sweet thread bud.

**Skurvey Dog** · 03-20-2010, 09:35 PM

I know you must be well pleased so far. You can certainly see their progress and they look like they are going to have some very nice colors to them. And those weren't bad pics either. I didn't see one of your fingers in any of them. Lol J/K Looking good.

**cg5071** · 05-26-2010, 01:40 PM

where is this brown out section? what is your basic savings over a "good" coral? i could use some larger corals, i am just starting out with some frags of sps. thanks.

**Phurst** · 05-26-2010, 02:01 PM

They're currently showing out of stock, and the prices have gone WAY up (though still comparatively cheap). For the 8 corals I got, I would have paid anywhere from $50-$100+ each at the LFS once they were colored up.