ORA corals... Has anyone ever had one keep its color?

[Garage1217]

Is it just me, or does every ORA coral I buy and every ORA coral others around me purchase totally change colors after 3-4 weeks and look absolutely nothing like it did straight from ORA? I honestly cannot recall a single one from any members tank locally or in photos that look like they first do when a store gets them in. Maybe I am just nuts or cannot even come close to replicating the environment they grow their coral. I have also had two that looked totally different in the store, end up looking 100% identical after a month or so. What the heck is that all about.

[seminolecpa]

Every ORA coral I have ever bought seems to hold its color very well. In fact way moreso then anything else I ever buy. To me this is one of the best things about buying their corals and others that have been widly aquacultured.

[Znut Reefer]

Same here. Never had any problems with the ORA's holding their color.

[Garage1217]

Interesting. Wonder how long they were in the sellers tanks. Seems like the day they get them in, they are spectacular looking, 2 weeks later they fade and loose the super vibrant colors. Ah well, glad to know you guys have had good luck! Must just be me.

[seminolecpa]

Rose milli

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b214/seminolecpa/Top%20Downs/20100506-DSC_0797.jpg

Red Planet

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b214/seminolecpa/Top%20Downs/20100505-DSC_0720.jpg

Pearl Berry

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b214/seminolecpa/Top%20Downs/20100505-DSC_0750.jpg

Purple Plasma

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b214/seminolecpa/Top%20Downs/ORAPurplePlasmaTopDown11-18-09.jpg

Hawkins

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b214/seminolecpa/Top%20Downs/ORAHawkinsBlueEchinataTopDown11-18-.jpg

[Garage1217]

yeah saw those pics on a website a bit ago. Those are your colonies? Anything special you do? Foods, water etc....? Higher light? lower light? Most all of my corals have stunning color except my ora pieces. Makes me wonder if they go into some sort of shock in my uln system or they are getting to much light.

[seminolecpa]

Yep they are my colonies. Have them all in assorted positions in my tank. Red Planet lower to keep more green in it. Rose Milli is near the bottom. Pearl Berry up very high. Hawkins and Purple Plasma are mid tank.

Just light, flow, and fish poop. I occasionally feed my tank with Reef Nutrition Oyster Feast.

The other nice thing about ORA and other aquacultured corals is that they tend to be very hearty and not prone to major changes in the tank.

Here are a few I took about 15 mins ago

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b214/seminolecpa/June%202010/20100620-DSC_0881.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b214/seminolecpa/June%202010/20100620-DSC_0884.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b214/seminolecpa/June%202010/20100620-DSC_0887.jpg

[luvdiving]

Ora usually keeps their colors.that's why people love them.

[dixiedog]

Not in my tank they don't.:(


(T5's, lotsa fish poop but no other food)

[CMcNeil]

i love ORA corals,i can easily color them up and grow them.usually they will color up to full potential in about a month or so depending on your tank parameters.

[Elan L.]

ORA in my opinion are the easiest to keep their color + even improvement in it

[SDguy]

The only ORA coral I ever had a problem with was the German purple polyped green acro. It never looked right in my tank.

[scrapz]

The only ORA coral I ever had a problem with was the German purple polyped green acro. It never looked right in my tank.

you mean the German Polyp Blue?

when i first got my frag it looked amazing. The structure was very distinct. It's now blanded into a ugly metallic smoother green acro. It's pretty hardy at least?

Is your's in low or high light? Mine is all the way up top.

[CMcNeil]

here is my ORA german blue polyp acro,holds great color for me.i have it about midtank under a 6x36 t5.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b239/checkinhawk/57%20rimless/ORAgermanBGmacro2.jpg

[Shadowramy]

I love that fall of 2008 selection they had.

Couple of my ORA

Bellina
http://www.shadowramysreef.com/images/phocagallery/sps_jan09/thumbs/phoca_thumb_l_ORA-Bellina.jpg

BOP
http://www.shadowramysreef.com/images/phocagallery/sps_sep09/thumbs/phoca_thumb_l_corals5.jpg

German Blue
http://www.shadowramysreef.com/images/phocagallery/sps_oct09/thumbs/phoca_thumb_l_germanGreen.jpg

Red Planet
http://www.shadowramysreef.com/images/phocagallery/sps_may10/RedPlanet2.jpg

Roscoe
http://www.shadowramysreef.com/images/phocagallery/sps_may10/Roscoe.jpg

Pearlberry
http://www.shadowramysreef.com/images/phocagallery/sps_may09/thumbs/phoca_thumb_l_DSC_0100.jpg

[scrapz]

here is my ORA german blue polyp acro,holds great color for me.i have it about midtank under a 6x36 t5.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b239/checkinhawk/57%20rimless/ORAgermanBGmacro2.jpg

thanks, I'll move it down today and see what happens.

[MCCOOL]

Doesn't ORA grow their corals out under natural sunlight? I'd imagine that might be the reason for the initial color shift, although I agree with everyone else that their corals are some of the easier to color up.

[jtrasap]

For the most part, my ORA corals have held their color, but, my Borealis has lost most of the blue from it's tips.

[the-fishstore]

all ORA corals are grown in a huge greenhouse using the sun. so your tank lights are a diff. spectrum and power. they should color up in your tank. ORA is about 6 miles from my shop in FL.

[dan223]

As big a factor or maybe bigger than the lighting change is they use ocean water so there nutrient levels are always perfect or ULNS as we say. I wonder if the oil will be a problem with their farming.

[werdlone]

I think the ORA corals do very well keeping their colors. There have been a few that seem finicky...the Bellina seems to be a little more touchy and the red planet wants to turn all red. other than those, I have had great color and growth.

Here is my pearlberry
http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p148/werdlone/pearlberry11-09.jpg

and my hawkins
http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p148/werdlone/april%202010/DSC_0242.jpg

[ryshark]

Is everybody who posted pictures of nice Pearlberries blasting them in high light?

[SDguy]

you mean the German Polyp Blue?

when i first got my frag it looked amazing. The structure was very distinct. It's now blanded into a ugly metallic smoother green acro. It's pretty hardy at least?

Is your's in low or high light? Mine is all the way up top.

Well, the polyps have always looked purple to me, so that's what I call it :lol:

Yes, yes, and actually, yes, to your comments/questions :). I've been meaning to try a frag lower down... just been lazy.

[scarpart1984]

I know most other websites u buy frags from usually keep there corals under 20k lights. So if r using 10k bulbs your obviously going to loose color in your colonies

[werdlone]

ryshark: Is everybody who posted pictures of nice Pearlberries blasting them in high light?

Mine is right up high under a 250 watt HQI phoenix bulb. Loves the light. My hawkins is about 4-5 inches lower than the pearlberry.

[prospectclmt]

My ORA bellina has been holding it's color under t5's

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a372/ProspectCLMT/0e63e657.jpg

[stayhuman]

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/oo261/jonfairplay/6-23-10reef008.jpg

[stayhuman]

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/oo261/jonfairplay/6-23-10reef008.jpg

O.R.A. RedPlanet

[stayhuman]

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/oo261/jonfairplay/07-25-10_2146.jpg


several O.R.A.s

[CleveYank]

yeah saw those pics on a website a bit ago. Those are your colonies? Anything special you do? Foods, water etc....? Higher light? lower light? Most all of my corals have stunning color except my ora pieces. Makes me wonder if they go into some sort of shock in my uln system or they are getting toO much light.

I was having the same thing with most of my more recent higher end acquisitions.
It was water parameters plain and simple. Once I redid entire system with kicking carbon dosing to the curb, more flow, two daily ca/alk sources and rigid water change schedule things turned around completely. Some things to where I have better colors than when some of the higher end stuff arrived. When they're no longer pathetic little frags/micro colonies I'll post pics of them.

But if you are experiencing the same thing I'd look at the system for low or high nutrient issues/fluctuations, flow and or water chemistry/care possibilities. Rethink your drink and dial it in.

[Ralph ATL]

you have to have more than enough light, and keep nutrient levels low. IMHO.

[poolkeeper1]

:idea:I was having the same thing with most of my more recent higher end acquisitions.
It was water parameters plain and simple. Once I redid entire system with kicking carbon dosing to the curb, more flow, two daily ca/alk sources and rigid water change schedule things turned around completely. Some things to where I have better colors than when some of the higher end stuff arrived. When they're no longer pathetic little frags/micro colonies I'll post pics of them.

But if you are experiencing the same thing I'd look at the system for low or high nutrient issues/fluctuations, flow and or water chemistry/care possibilities. Rethink your drink and dial it in.

What did kicking Carbon dosing achieve in the whole scheme of thing do for you? Sounds like your Issues were with water quality plain and simple. Your statement makes no sense IMHO.
Bill:idea::hammer:

[Tripel_Hornet]

my fav ora

joe the coral
http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq359/ewm1205/SPS/IMG_1614.jpg

woolley green acro

http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq359/ewm1205/SPS/IMG_1717.jpg

[tuberider]

If anything, IME, ORA corals only get more colorful over time. I remember the MI Lavender came in brown as *you know* and turned pastel green with pink coralites and white polyps, I'm glad I snagged that one while it was available....

[seminolecpa]

I am too :)

[ryshark]

Whats the MI lavender? Sounds nice, any pictures?

[seminolecpa]

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b214/seminolecpa/June%202010/20100620-DSC_0886.jpg

[CleveYank]

:idea:

What did kicking Carbon dosing achieve in the whole scheme of thingS do for you? Sounds like your Issues were with water quality plain and simple. Your statement makes no sense IMHO.
Bill:idea::hammer:

My colors with carbon dosing were washed out and terrible. And on my nicer stuff in particular. It took more tinkering than I care to bother with to try to force them back. And the whole idea of dosing another thing to resolve another thing that was intentionally changed from something else "dosed" doesn't add up for me.

The Alk sensitivity was causing my water PARAMETERS (NOT QUALITY BILL) to fluctuate. It was an 18 month exercise of tail chasing and for my SPS system it was a joke. I went through more test kits and malarkey than I have in 5 of the 21 plus years I've been in the hobby. Statement makes plenty of sense Bill. And since I charted all the changes and issues and will be charting the current status I will have data in 11 more months to justify the move over just my opinion or merely swimming with the tide.

I do not believe in the IN TANK carbon dosing circus for MY SPS systems and I will most likely never try it again. And my refusal to stress my corals intentionally and increase alk sensitivity intentionally should not cause you enough alarm to want to bring the :hammer: down on me. :lolspin: If it's working for you wonderful, it's not for me.

And since kicking it my system became much more stable and the colors are great.
And the lack of dosing still left an issue of nutrient control, which it's become far easier to just pump out and replace 4, 8 or 12 gallons of new system water than play with dosing vodka, testing phosphates, nitrates, daily Alk monitoring during adjustments. And making sure I have MB7 onhand for daily dosing or feeding more, or aminos, or iodine or iron or potassium. Too much malarkey, for me at least.

-----------------
Ya know I just thought of something, I wonder if ORA direct carbon doses their SPS grow out systems? ;)

[dvanacker]

I doubt it ...they use natural sea water.

[Dave71]

Rose Milli is near the bottom.

I thought millis like a good bit of light. Am I incorrect?

[seminolecpa]

The only ORA coral I have had that really needs to be pounded with light is the Pearlberry. The rest seem to hold their original ORA color in lower light just fine.

that said I do run 2x 400W radiums so even the bottem gets a decent amount of light.

[tqpolo]

Maybe because you're using LEDs.

[OneReef]

The only ORA coral I have had that really needs to be pounded with light is the Pearlberry. The rest seem to hold their original ORA color in lower light just fine.

that said I do run 2x 400W radiums so even the bottem gets a decent amount of light.


True that. I have a Pearlberry midlevel in the tank, and one right up near the surafce. The one near the surface has better coloration and thicker, better looking branches. The one midlevel in the tank is darker and thin branches. The Pearlberry loves high light.

[njhcnwk]

Pearlberry took a long while to color up for me. The whole frag turned green and all new growth was the blueish color.

[SDguy]

That's an ORA coral?

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b214/seminolecpa/June%202010/20100620-DSC_0886.jpg

[OneReef]

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/oo261/jonfairplay/6-23-10reef008.jpg




I love how much green yours kept. That is rare.

[Ycore]

Garage,

I have the same light fixture as you (Maxspect G2-160W) and am having the same problems with my ORA corals.. My red Planet is a light pink, and my Ora Borealis has beome a washed out light blue. Great PE, it's just the color that sucks..

I'm starting to think too much light.. Those 30W LED's pack a hell of a punch, especillay since my SPS is near the top of the tank maybe 6" from the fixture. I am going to try letting the 30W go dormant for awhile and see if it makes a difference.

The ONLY SPS I have that have kept their color well under my light fixture are some ********** SPS frags.