Pink birdsnest not all that pink

[Jettareefer]

I have a pinks birdsnest that's grown for a two branch frag to a 6 inch round colony in 8 months. I would consider it to be happy I give it plenty of light(500 watts of xm 10ks with super actinics), flow, and stable parameters. From the beginning it's been a brown/red with purple polyps with some strong pink in areas but nothing impressive, the mother colony was very pink. I have several acros that are very blue and green in the same area right around the birdsnest. I'm puzzled to why I can't get it pink the growth rate is substantial. Anyone have tips for me ?

On a side note all my pink corals including my red planet, bubble gum milli, rose milli are pink but it not rich like Ive experienced in the past with other tanks. Maybe I'm having a problem with low levels of minor trace elements ? Or bacteria? I used to do large water changes 30% weekly but I've backed off for the last 2 months to 10% now I'm definitely getting better colors out of greens, oranges, blues, and yellows. My tri-color valida is also cumbersome for the first time in 4 months it's getting light purple tips it's directly under my halides I've had it for a year with good growth as well just the colors not there I'm at a loss. I also have a red dragon that's perfectly colored bright pink/red with blue tips it's supposed to be most difficult while valida is a recommend start acro. It makes no sense��

Current parameters
Alk 8
Ph 7.8-8.1 morning/night
Calcium 400
Mag 1350
Nitrates undetectable by Api
P04 .06 measured on Hanna meter it's been lower but I've better color with it elevated.
Salinty 1.0025

[Wazzel]

I have no idea. My pink birds nest started out really pink and has gotten a purple tint now.

In May
http://wazzel.smugmug.com/Other-2/Reef-19-May-14/i-7Tzkq5G/0/M/birds%20nest-M.jpg

In Nov (look to back)
http://wazzel.smugmug.com/Other-2/16-nov-14/i-zqZmL8H/0/M/DSC_6075-M.jpg

[Jettareefer]

I'm jealous I wish mine what that color!

I tested my nitrates with salifert profi kits and on the low range it registers .20 ppm

[Wazzel]

Thanks. Where is it in you tank? What is your light? Mine is about 10" from the surface. My initial placement was not good. It stayed pale and www actually looseing tissue on the tips. I moved it to where it is now and recovered quickly.

[Jettareefer]

It's 12" down I have a Ora borealis that's super blue right next to it. Generally speaking if the acropora is colorful the birdsnest should be to hah.

[Jettareefer]

Any takers ?

[cwiebs0518]

My Pink Birdsnest is white compared to Wazzel's coral. Whats going on? Parameters are good now. I have a Reefbreeder Photon 16 about 8 inches from the water and the coral to the right 12 inches from the water line. Should I leave it there for a month or so or move it for the 4th time?

[dps2280]

My pink birdsnest is orange.

[Jettareefer]

Good to see I'm not the only one with this problem, are you guys getting decent growth ?

[nemodan]

Hi new in the forum and reefcentral. I was reading this thread and could be these postings have some answers. I am a member at Reef Sanctuary too.

Read this posting and the following:

http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/red-sea-max-owners-club/93322-corals-turn-brown.html#post1278882

Daniel

[Uglyman]

I find light levels effect my pink birdsnest quite a lot, my colony has thrived under low light and stayed pink. I have tried it under high light levels and it tends to brown/pale.

[toothman]

The first picture the coral is bleached, the second it is healthier. Also look like phosphates are too high by algae on rocks, that can darken sps quickly.

[Wazzel]

The first picture the coral is bleached, the second it is healthier. Also look like phosphates are too high by algae on rocks, that can darken sps quickly.

The algae comes and goes. I kind of ride the edge of over feeding. Corals are animals and they need to eat in addition to getting the correct light. A little algae here and there does not bother me.

[ampemployee1]

http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/ee435/ampemployee1/066_zpsec780e3f.jpg .
The color really is pink. The LED lights give everything a blueish hue, and the iphone doesn't really take the best pix.

My LED fixture is about 12" above the water surface and the birdsnest is about 10" down from the water's surface. For my light, it seems to be the optimum spot for the pink coloration. Lots of flow, placement, and low phosphates seem to be the key to the pink color. I feed my fish a ton, so I do weekly 10% water changes, run GFO, and 1x per week dose Lanthanum Chloride (precipitates phosphate from the system) into a 10 micro filter bag. There are a bunch of threads on this topic. GFO tends to be expensive! A lifetime supply of Lanthanum Chloride is about $30.

[bigchris7226]

I would check your phosphates & nitrates-you've got alot of algae on the rocks. this is my pink birdsnest in a 40br about 5" from 6 ATI bulbs. it's in md flow. 2nd pic in 75g 8" from top & in very high random flow which makes the branches tighter. I always start my corals at the bottom & slowly move them up-they seem to adjust better that way.

[dps2280]

After a couple of days mine is coming back to pink from orange.

[Jettareefer]

Mine has a tinge of pink for almost a year like I said in my orignal post I have high end acros that are colored perfectly surrounding it.

I started randomly dosing redsea's coral colors trace elements it seems to me I have seen some improvement in color nothing crazy by any means though.

[Robster84]

Mine has never been pink despite good colours on surrounding corals

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd313/robster84_2007/corals/DSC_0443_zpspfervusu.jpg (http://s227.photobucket.com/user/robster84_2007/media/corals/DSC_0443_zpspfervusu.jpg.html)

[Macscale]

That's a beautiful color, thats probably the only Birdsnest that doesn't grow in my system.

[morty]

I have also heard that adding potassium can positively affect the red coloration of corals. It might stand to reason that insufficient potassium may negatively affect reds. (And it's certain that not all salts are created equal in their trace element makeup.)