meteor shower cyphastrea not coloring up?

[Ding2daDong]

I bought this meteor shower cyphastrea a few months ago and can't seem to get the base to color up. The red polyps are bright and out but the base is just an off white color.

I currently have it 20" away from a 150w MH in my solana. I heard they need lower light to really bring out the colors. Should I shade it even more?

All my water parameters are fine.
calcium 430ppm
alk dkh 9.6
pH 8.2
nitrates 0
nitrites 0
phosphates 0
magnesium 1380

Water is stable and lights are on for 8 hours a day.

Any help from people who own this coral would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

-Matthew

[gskidmor]

when I got mine, it was very similar - a beige base, but it's been slowly coloring up over the past few months and I haven't done anything special other than keep the the parameters good and stable - I hate to say it since it's not too helpful, but I think you're just gonna have to be patient.

[Merfin70]

I have mine about 20" away from a 150w MH as well however its way off to the side and partially shaded by a LR ledge. Very happy and a nice teal blue base. When it spreads the base is beige. Only once it ages does the base turn blue.

http://i508.photobucket.com/albums/s330/merfin70/20080911_0499.jpg

[Ding2daDong]

Thanks for the help guys.

I will try another spot and give it time.

-Matthew

[photobret]

Yes defintely a low light coral. I have one under PC's and its still too bright, had to put it in the shade. A good one to put in the shade and forget about for a while, once settled this thing grows real quick.

[Amazon4]

Definitely a low light coral. Ours is on the bottom of the 180 on the sand, slightly under a ledge. So I'd say it's at least 30" below a 250mh. The color is great.