Blue Based Montipora Danae always Turn Brown (Rainbow, Superman, Poker Star) while others like Sunse

[that Reef Guy]

Blue Based Montipora Danae (Rainbow, Superman, Poker Star) always Turn Brown on me.

While all the Non-Blue Based Montipora (Sunset, Purple Haze, Jedi Mind Trick, Season's Greetings, Chili Pepper, True Undata) keep their Color and Look Amazing.

Why is that?

Of course the Blue Montipora are my favorite too.

But without fail I keep buying these awesome Monti's only to have every single one turn Brown.

This has happened like 12 times with all three (Rainbow, Superman, and Poker Star).

Any other Montipora does great in my Aquarium (Not just Danae but others like Plating Montipora do great as well)?

Does this happen to anyone else?

P.S. I added Two Pictures.

Please Double Click on them to see them Larger.

The Poker Star and Superman up Front look much more Brown in Person.

Note the Sunset, Jedi Mind Trick, and True Undata in the Background and how they have not lost any Color whatsoever.

 

[jgraz]

Brown can be an indication of not enough light. All my blue montis get a ton of light. In fact they are the same three your having problems with. All mine are within 8" from top under 8x54 watt t5 which is only 4-5" off the water.

 

[bct15]

IMO montis are the best indicators of something off in water chemistry and I recommend anybody looking to get into sps to have one as a water quality indicator. Browning of montis is generally from low light or high nitrates or high phosphates.

Pale colors, low alk

Bleaching high alk

Color washing mag is off...

 

[that Reef Guy]

Brown can be an indication of not enough light. All my blue montis get a ton of light. In fact they are the same three your having problems with. All mine are within 8" from top under 8x54 watt t5 which is only 4-5" off the water.

Mine get tons of Light and Flow.

All my Montipora are on Frag Racks about 4 Inches Down from the Top of the Aquarium.

Why don't the Sunset and other Montipora ever turn Brown?

Only the Blue ones turn Brown.

 

[that Reef Guy]

Brown can be an indication of not enough light. All my blue montis get a ton of light. In fact they are the same three your having problems with. All mine are within 8" from top under 8x54 watt t5 which is only 4-5" off the water.

I also have 4 T5HO plus 2 Stunner Strips.

So I have more Light than you and Mine are 4 Inches under the Light.

Yours are 12 to 13 Inches away from the Light also giving mine more Light.

So it is not Lack of Light.

Any other ideas?

 

[jgraz]

I also have 4 T5HO plus 2 Stunner Strips.

So I have more Light than you and Mine are 4 Inches under the Light.

Yours are 12 to 13 Inches away from the Light also giving mine more Light.

So it is not Lack of Light.

Any other ideas?

Well the stunners are not really giving any useable light. The 4 bulbs can't come closet to comparing to 8 even at that distance. What light fixture are you using. IMO sunset would be orange in no light. The blue montis really do need a ton of light. Much more then any other. IMO

 

[that Reef Guy]

Sorry thought you had 4 Bulbs for some reason.

But my Fixture sits right on the Aquarium Glass (It is not on Legs or Suspended From the Ceiling like most people's Fixtures) and the Corals are 3 to 4 Inches under them.

I do not see how I could get any more light honestly.

Anybody have any recommendations?

 

[jgraz]

Sorry thought you had 4 Bulbs for some reason.

But my Fixture sits right on the Aquarium Glass (It is not on Legs or Suspended From the Ceiling like most people's Fixtures) and the Corals are 3 to 4 Inches under them.

I do not see how I could get any more light honestly.

Anybody have any recommendations?

Tough call your light should be plenty. Like someone stated above montis are good indicators of water chem. I would look at high nutrients maybe.

 

[that Reef Guy]

Tough call your light should be plenty. Like someone stated above montis are good indicators of water chem. I would look at high nutrients maybe.

I understand that Monti's are good indicators of water quality.

But 9 out 10 Monti's do Amazing in my Aquarium.

I would say that it is my Most successful Coral.

It is just the "Blue Based Poker Star, Superman, and Rainbow" that turn Brown.

I never said that all Monti's turn Brown.

It is something specific to these 3 Monti's.

What is that Problem?

That is what I am trying to figure out.

No one has explained that to me yet.

Someone has to know or have the same Problem.

 

[that Reef Guy]

Someone told me that they have to have Metal Halide Lighting only and will always turn Brown under LED or T5 Lightning no matter what the other conditions of the aquariums.

Is this True?

That seems very strange.

 

[jgraz]

I understand that Monti's are good indicators of water quality.

But 9 out 10 Monti's do Amazing in my Aquarium.

I would say that it is my Most successful Coral.

It is just the "Blue Based Poker Star, Superman, and Rainbow" that turn Brown.

I never said that all Monti's turn Brown.

It is something specific to these 3 Monti's.

What is that Problem?

That is what I am trying to figure out.

No one has explained that to me yet.

Someone has to know or have the same Problem.

You were given a few things to look at. You insist that you have enough light and you seem unwilling to comment on chemistry. What more would you like.
I said before and I will say again. Blue montis require a LOT of light. 4 T5's is not gonna cut it. Sunset in particular is a very easy monti to light and does well in low light conditions as well as less quality water conditions. I have found that green montis are quite similar to the orang/red.

As to the metal halide question, someone lied to you.

 

[that Reef Guy]

Someone also told me to Dose Potassium.

They said that Potassium brings out Blue Pigments.

Is that True?

If so can you Test Potassium so you do not Overdose?

I have never heard of a Potassium Test or anyone Dosing it for that Matter.