Mushroom Coral Loosing Colour

[walleye]

Hello,

I recently added a blue mushroom coral to my marine tank. I've noticed when the lights are on the coral expands and turns from this fantastic blue colour to this drab almost brown/dull purple colour. Is this normal for mushrooms? Once the lighting is turned off the mushrooms shrink to a much smaller size and the brilliant blue colour returns.

My tank is 240 litres and lit by two 54w T5HO with reflectors. The mushroom coral is placed on some rock an inch off the sandbed. I'm running one 15k and one actinic bulbs.

Apart from the change of color the coral seems to be happy.

Has anyone seen this before with mushroom corals? Or is this normal behaviour?

My tank stats are

Ammonia: 0ppm

Nitrite: 0ppm

Nitrate: 4ppm

Phosphate: 0.08ppm

Ca: 400 ppm

Alk: 9 dKH

Mg: 1480ppm

SG: 1.025

PH: 8.2

Temp: 25

Thanks In Advance

[Adrienne]

My blue mushroom relocated and is doing brilliantly well tucked under some rock. When it was out in the open it was turning more purple.

[walleye]

Thanks Adrienne, I've moved them to the side of the tank where they have more shelter. Will see how that goes.

Cheers

[Jellymeat]

It could just be your lighting, corals look different under different lights, your lights may be washing the colour out.

I have had many corals that i have purchased that look a lot different when in my tank compared to when i got them but they usually look better which is lucky.

on another note you need to lower your nitrates and raise your calcium by 25ppm.

[phoenix44]

Shrooms don't like toom much light.