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In the wild, there are a number of environmental factors which cause coral bleaching (loss of color). In home reef aquariums however, the usual cause of fading coral colors is a change in lighting. Most frequently, reef keepers observe coral bleaching with newly obtained corals.

Color Changes in New Corals

Changes in the coloration of newly introduced corals are not always due to sick corals. They are most likely due to changes in lighting. Corals endure a lot of stress during shipping. Even a short trip from one environment to another, where the water and lighting are, in all likelihood quite different, can provoke the coral into ejecting zooxanthellae cells or changing their chlorophyll content.

There are several ways in which light affects the appearance of corals.

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15y ago

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