Skirt length/color

[Fishindude88]

The color on my zoanthids are great, I can't complain. But when it comes to the skirts, wrong! I see pictures of what they should look like, and I understand that some pictures are off a little but my skirts are WAY off. I tend to have longer skirts on my zoas and the colors (I am assuming as a result of the length) are also tainted. I think the length is due to high flow in my tank, but would this affect the color as well?

[geoxman]

I think the length is due to high flow in my tank, but would this affect the color as well?

1. yes
2. many reasons including light, chemistry, nutrients...etc..good luck

[Fishindude88]

Given lower flow the skirts would go back to normal and then look like what they should? (given the light, chemistry etc. is in check)

[geoxman]

the long skirts will not effect the polyp's health and should have zero effect on the color. What color polyp's are you talking about, what is your lighting and where in the tank do they reside?

[Fishindude88]

For example I have rainbow palys that have the correct color on the polyp itself but the skirt are more yellowish instead of blue/purple. They are in my tank which is a 20 long lit with 65 watts of 10k and 65 watts of actinic PC lights. They are more on the actinic side. Thanks for the help!

[SIR PATRICK]

^ sounds like a morph to me. Pics would be great! (even if they arent the greatest)

As said, zoa morphing can be very little- totaly different from what it started due to differences in lighting, parameters, chemistry.

Could be you have some parameter affecting your skirt colors, or you have zoas that resemble somthing named, but just a bit different. Very common. Glad you are getting great colors! That is where it really counts.

[Fishindude88]

It is tough to get a good picture of these, but I do have one I'll upload tonight sometime. Unfortunatly, if it morphed I think it morphed for the worse... they aren't bad looking at all, still one of my favorites, but I would rather see the bluer skirts.

[Fishindude88]

Here they are...


http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/196206Rainbow_Paly.jpg

[geoxman]

Pinks in general like really, really bright light. In the picture they look dull and browned out, which could be lack of light, high phosphate or a cruddy pic. That polyp in general has tendency towards longer skirts. They do look healthy..good luck with them

[Fishindude88]

This picture is not a great picture, these are at such an angle in the tank where it is difficult to get a good picture, but lighting could be an issue. They are about halfway up (6'' from the surface) under my PC lighting. The skirts are maybe a little brighter and the polyps are more bright orange in reality.