March 2008 POTM winner is ...

[lReef lKeeper]

!! Mysterybox's Orange Acropora !!

congrats to you, and if you don't mind, step up, take a bow, and give us a little background on the coral.

[Rob]

Great Photo.. Contgrats Mysterybox

and special thanks to the Mods for getting this going and to all those that particpate...

[Amphibious]

That is an awesome coral and an awesome photo.

Congratulations Mysterybox. A deserving winner. I'll buy the first frag.

Dick

[CarmieJo]

Congratulations Ralph!

[mysterybox]

Thanks!
(and yes, you can use that pic Bobby!)


A few months back, I was experiencing phosphate issues (Thanks for helping me Carmie!), but at the time, I thought it was flow problems.I had a phosphate reactor with ROWA in it that I was changing monthly, and I just upgraded to 2 Tunze streams with the 7095 controller. Well, with the combination of too much direct flow, and higher than normal phosphate ( >0.024), my ORA BLUE TORT took on a shape & color that was "unreal". For the record, today, it is now the standard blue with green polyps.

It was taken with a Canon XT using a 60mm Canon Macro lens. ISO 100 with a F-stop of 2.8. I always suggest ISO 100 with corals & the highest f-stop as possible.

I would like to thank everyone that voted, and a special thanks for Rob, Bobby, & Carmie who I listen to 2 x's a month for their excellent information in a fun, fact filled, interesting pod-cast.

Ralph in the ATL!

[lReef lKeeper]

so, do you think it was the phosphates that caused that color morph ?? if so ... I MIGHT HAVE TO GO GET ME SOME PHOSPHATES !! lol

[mysterybox]

I could just send you some of mine! lol!

From my observations (IMHO only), faster metabolizing corals die quicker than slower onces when it pertains to certain issues and/or conditions. For example, when I was having that phosphate issue the 3 corals that died were a ORA Blue Bottle-brush, a Nathan's Green Millie, & a Rose Millie. All were my fastest growers of acro. I was able to frag both millies, and they are now doing well! (so I only lost the Bottle-brush). The negative effect on the coral was that the tips started to RTN (the fastest part of growth). We know that phosphates stop growth.The ORA Blue Torts are notoriously slow growers, so the effects on them was very slow, not noticeable for a very long time, and it seemed to only effect a few tips. Since I was thinking it was flow, I blasted the torts, and in combination of the phosphates & blast, it seems to cause the color to lighten (bleach a bit or wear out?), change, and blobs of calcium to deposit (as if blowing in the wind). Just an uneducated guess!

[mysterybox]

please opine?

[lReef lKeeper]

i am gonna do some research on that tomorrow. i will let you know what i come up with.

[CarmieJo]

That sounds like a plausible theory but I'd like to hear the SPS experts on this one.

[Skurvey Dog]

Well done Mysterbox! It is well deserved. Can't wait to see your future submissions in the contests.

[Phurst]

Awesome job, really love that shot!

[mysterybox]

thank you very much!