Another SPS question from a newbie

[jkeithh1969]

I noticed on my branching Montipora frag that i am getting some hair algae growing on the tips of some of the branches. What can I do about it? It is on the frag that is closest to the metal halide. The one that is a little farther away from the halide bulb doesn't have this. Should I remove the tips with the algae on them and then move the frag a little more away from the halide? Not sure what to do and since these are my first attempt at SPS, I don't want to lose them.

As always, thanks for putting up with us newbies and answering our never ending questions. : )

[Poseidon]

My understanding is, if you are getting algae to grow on the tips, then the coral is not doing well. The only time I had Algae growing on my SPS was when it was fading away. Something must be wrong with either the specimen OR something is lacking in the tank. Maybe Ca and ALk are low, or Nitrate to high? I would suggest a line of tests first, then just remove the algae with a turkey baster. I would NOT stress the coral in an attempt to remove the algae...

[jkeithh1969]

My understanding is, if you are getting algae to grow on the tips, then the coral is not doing well. The only time I had Algae growing on my SPS was when it was fading away. Something must be wrong with either the specimen OR something is lacking in the tank. Maybe Ca and ALk are low, or Nitrate to high? I would suggest a line of tests first, then just remove the algae with a turkey baster. I would NOT stress the coral in an attempt to remove the algae...

I looked again last night with a magnifying glass and determined it isn't algae, but it seems the coral is changing to a green color. Is that normal for corals to change colors under different types of lighting? I think I had read on here somewhere that someone else had seen this happen.

[Poseidon]

Absolutely! Corals will change quite a bit under different types of lighting...

[SueT]

All sps corals/frags will change colors and sometimes even growth shapes to acclimate to their environment. About the most sure way of staying as close to color from one reef system to another is getting frags that come from like environment. Say same lighting etc.

That said color morphing is something that most of all us sps keepers go through. Sometimes it's also for the better sometimes it's not.