How to tell if SPS aren't getting enough light...?

[ihooklow]

Supposed I started with very healthy (colored up, showing encrustment) frags.

I know the signs of too much light. What are the signs that the coral needs more? Slowed growth would be one, I know, but that would take weeks / months to manifest.

This is a hypothetical. I have no issues currently, but just got a bunch of new frags.

Thanks in advance.

[Rick55555]

SPS sometimes turn brown when they do not receive enough light.

Rick

[mikey3165]

i thought that they turn brown when they have to many nutirents in the water

[douglam]

your both right

[rreed]

Or not enough nutrients. Can brown them as well.

[finksmart]

Below is an excerpt from Steve Tyree's article (http://www.reefs.org/library/talklog/s_tyree_110198.html) on Reef Building Stony Corals - The Natural Physical Environment on reefs.org. It pretty much sums it up.

A coral that is slowly turning white on areas receiving direct light, while remaining dark brown in low light areas is probably recieving too much light. A coral that is turning dark on areas recieving direct light, while turning white in low light areas is probably not recieving enough light. These slow to develop changes in color are due to photoadaptation.

[scaryperson27]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14521545#post14521545 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rreed
Or not enough nutrients. Can brown them as well.

I thought not enough nutrients would make them pale due to the fact that the coral cannot release the proteins that color it, and that it can't symbiotically support enough Zooxanthellae.

[ihooklow]

Exactly what I needed. Thank you.

Anyone know how long photoadaptation takes? Days? Weeks?

- Mg

[elijaher]

I like to know when brown is poly out or not?

[stunreefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14522745#post14522745 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by scaryperson27
I thought not enough nutrients would make them pale due to the fact that the coral cannot release the proteins that color it, and that it can't symbiotically support enough Zooxanthellae. So far everything stated is right IME, depending on other conditions, parameters in the tank.

I've seen SPS go brown, and/or pale-brown in the situation you describe.

There are just too many factors to give a "generally speaking" statement.