acropora

**laurabolyard** · 03-17-2008, 06:34 PM

Has anyone heard of a Blue Slimer refered to as Tiel? Ive been waiting over a week to see this thing "color-up", but all I see is kind of an olive drab. I look VERY hard to see polyps (Tiny when I see them), they seem to be a very light blue. Is anyone familiar?

**Reefbaby** · 03-17-2008, 07:00 PM

not sure exactly what coral you're referring to. Is it a staghorn?

At any rate, coloration is based on so many factors and parameters. Many corals can become brown and drab if sufficient conditions aren't met.

When the lights go off at night - maybe an hour or so after switching off - do you see the polyps coming out? This is a good indication to me that the coral is actively feeding.

So...here's some parameters that can affect coral coloration:

flow (more likely lack thereof)
excess nutrients, such as nitrates/phosphates
calcium and alkalinity (how are your parameters now?)
magnesium levels
potassium levels (I've found this to play a huge role in coral colors, especially the blue tones. I bet if you measured your levels, you would find that they are WAY too low. Since I began dosing last fall, many of my corals have gone from a drab brown to a spectacular blue/purple!
iron has also been shown to increase green coloration!

**Reefbaby** · 03-17-2008, 07:02 PM

Just to highlight the point - this coral was BROWN 3 months ago!!!

***lReef lKeeper*** · 03-17-2008, 07:12 PM

i agree, also lighting can play a roll. to much or not enough can cause color morphs.

**Reefbaby** · 03-17-2008, 07:23 PM

forgot that one on my list! Thanks Bobby!

**laurabolyard** · 03-17-2008, 09:00 PM

yes, a staghorn. So this could be good news then. I have only had it for a week, maybe it will become beautiful one day! I havent checked potassium, but other factors are excellent. I first, want to know if anyone has HEARD of this one, or if I was being given/sold a bill of goods! My escort (Amphibious) left just a few minutes before my purchase (remember I was going to haggle with the clam guy? I think HE haggled ME a clam and this coral!)

I am trying to include a pic, but the last one I tried to upload was too large, Let me try another! Not a great pic, I'll keep trying!

***lReef lKeeper*** · 03-17-2008, 09:09 PM

i have heard of the blue slimer, if that makes you feel better about it. what kind of lights are you running over it (10k, 14k, 20k), and what brand ??

***lReef lKeeper*** · 03-17-2008, 09:12 PM

BTW ... is that frag plug black, hard rubber with a point on the bottom of it ??

**laurabolyard** · 03-17-2008, 09:15 PM

20k , bought from hello lights, dont remember brand. Yes, a black plug with point. Ive found many photos of Blue Slimer, none are this color, which is why (maybe) he was calling it teal. Do you recognise it at all? I know the pic isnt good

**laurabolyard** · 03-17-2008, 09:18 PM

BTW Ive found nothing called Tiel, no matter where I search!

**JustDavidP** · 03-17-2008, 09:24 PM

It's "TEAL" referring to the color of the acro. Note that the coralites are wide and cupped. It is a form of staghorn, but look almost millipora when older, thicker and more robust.

They like bright light and moderate flow. I've found that under "moderate" lighting, they get dull and shaggy. The color fades to a dull blue/purple and they extend polyps to "fish". Under brighter light, they extend polyps, but just the tips, and you see more of the calcerous exoskeleton, which under the bright lights, turns a teal blue/green.

Dave

**laurabolyard** · 03-17-2008, 09:31 PM

correct on tiel being a color

I have found picks of blue slimer, green slimer, ect. I was wondering if he made this color/name for the coral up himself! Underneath its kind of a copper color, flesh is olive drab, tentacles are pale (very pale) blue. My lights are bright, tetacles extend very little.

***lReef lKeeper*** · 03-17-2008, 09:41 PM

check the ORA website ... that looks like an ORA frag plug to me.

ORA - Oceans, Reefs and Aquariums | WELCOME

i bet it is one of their sweet frags, like the Stuber Staghorn (under corals on the right of the homepage) ...

**Phurst** · 03-17-2008, 09:44 PM

Sounds like an ORA plug....

I have a teal stag as well. I moved it out of my nano because it wasn't getting sufficient light in there, but it's been coloring back up nicely under the 400s in my main tank, so they like LOTS of light.

**Phurst** · 03-17-2008, 09:45 PM

Damn, Bobby out-typed me for once

***lReef lKeeper*** · 03-17-2008, 09:48 PM

ha ha ... you gotta get up PRETTY early my friend !!

**laurabolyard** · 03-17-2008, 09:54 PM

Hallelujia!! So the name wasnt made up randomly by a guy who wanted to sell me a coral. PHURST, you have one? Is the color like mine, or can I expect it to change under bright lights? Ive had it for a week.

**JustDavidP** · 03-17-2008, 09:57 PM

Yep... I'm guessing "purple people eater" (a once hot zoanthid) isn't a scientific name either *giggle*

Dave

***lReef lKeeper*** · 03-17-2008, 09:57 PM

it can take a coral MONTHS to change its colors. it depends on a wide number of things.

**laurabolyard** · 03-17-2008, 10:02 PM

I checked out that site. Mine does look very much like one he has listed as turquoise staghorn. turquoise, tiel...
So I had given it a week under good conditions before beginning to wonder. its possible it may pleasantly surprise me one day! PHURST do you have a pic of yours?

**JustDavidP** · 03-17-2008, 10:08 PM

Actually, the guy selling the coral didn't name it.. I'm sure the distributor did... Teal Staghorn Acro is popular in trade... but isn't always teal under the hobbyist's lighting or tank conditions.

I had a coral once that was called an ORA German Blue Montipora Digitata. Does it look blue to you?

It was amazingly purple. One of my favorite corals ever.

Dave

**Phurst** · 03-17-2008, 10:12 PM

Well, it DID look like that

It totaly browned out under the 150 on my nano. The tips are teal again after a week back in my 120, and hopefuly it will color back up with a little time. It was really nice looking.

***lReef lKeeper*** · 03-17-2008, 10:13 PM

it is very possible !! i notice new colors all the time in my tank.

**laurabolyard** · 03-17-2008, 10:19 PM

Thanx, I really wasnt able to get any idea of what it was supposed to look like by the info given me. I wanst able to find photos by that name either. Is it good, and would you have paid $30? And BTW How on earth were you able to ID the plug by what little was showing? (should that answer be obvious?)

***lReef lKeeper*** · 03-17-2008, 10:27 PM

i would have paid $50 for it. the ONLY reason i knew was because of the plug. ONLY ORA uses those plugs. they are designed by the guys that work there (a dream job for me). if you know what the plugs they are using look like ... it is usually safe to assume that a frag that is completely encrusted (like yours is) is on the original plug from when it was cut from the mother colony. that plug has not been in use long enough to have been recycled. i think they started with that plug about 6-9 months ago.