Why does my Acropora look brown when it arrives?

Acros usually arrive darker than their listing photo. Shipping stress and 12-24 hours in low light cause symbiotic zooxanthellae to multiply, dulling color temporarily. Most pieces return to their photographed color within 1-3 weeks with proper feeding and light.

How long does it take for SPS to color up after shipping?

Plan on 1-3 weeks with proper feeding and light. Days 1-3 are recovery — polyp extension returning, mucus production, encrusting. Days 3-10 the brown tint fades as zooxanthellae rebalance to your spectrum. Days 10-21 the original color signature reappears. Patience beats tinkering.

How do I tell STN/RTN apart from normal acclimation stress?

STN/RTN: rapid, visible tissue recession (hours or a day), bone-white skeleton exposed, peeling tissue along the edge. NORMAL stress: dull or brown color, retracted polyps for 12-48 hours, light pale tips. If you see white exposed skeleton spreading, file a 72-hour guarantee claim immediately.

Do I need to dip new corals from REEF JASE before adding them to my tank?

Every REEF JASE coral completes at least 14 days of observation and conditioning before listing. That lowers risk; it does not make any live-animal system zero-risk. Inspect every arrival and use the observation or dip protocol you trust for your reef. If you dip, follow the product label and avoid stacking stressful treatments immediately after shipping.

Do I need to drip-acclimate?

For most reefers, no. A 15-20 minute float to match temperature is sufficient before placement. Only drip (2-3 drops/second for 30-45 min) if your tank alkalinity runs notably above ours — 8.4+ dKH — so the coral can adjust gradually.

How should I light-acclimate SPS under Radion, Sky, or similar reef LEDs?

Because our corals are grown under high light, they arrive already light-conditioned — you do not need a long shaded acclimation. Start the coral in a lower or moderate-light spot for a couple of days to recover from shipping, keeping your fixture on its normal program (do not change the schedule for the rest of the tank). Then move it up to final placement over the following days. The only thing to avoid is putting a freshly-shipped piece straight under full intensity on the first day.

When should I see polyp extension after shipping?

Most SPS shows partial polyp extension within 6-24 hours of placement and full extension within 1-3 days. Thicker-based and encrusting Acros can lag a day or two behind fine-branched tenuis. Zero extension after 5 days is a signal to recheck parameters and placement, not necessarily a DOA.

What if my coral has not colored up after 6 weeks?

Audit alkalinity stability (variance under 0.5 dKH/day matters more than the number), nitrate above 1 ppm, phosphate above 0.03 ppm, and spectrum stability. Color is driven by nutrient balance and light more than anything else. Email jase@reefjase.com with parameters and a photo for a second pair of eyes.

◆ ACCLIMATION · PROCEDURE · COLOR-UP ◆

ACCLIMATING NEW CORALS

The 4-step procedure, the parameter targets we ship from, and the 1-3 week color-up timeline you should plan for.

QUICK START: Float the sealed bag 15-20 minutes to match temperature, then inspect the coral and plug. Follow the observation or dip protocol you trust for your reef; if dipping, follow the product label. Drip acclimate only when your alkalinity is above 8.4 dKH. Begin in lower or moderate light for a couple of days before moving the coral up.

THE PROCEDURE

1
Float the sealed bag to match temperature
Float the sealed shipping bag in your sump or display tank for 15-20 minutes. This equalizes the bag water temperature with your system before the coral is transferred.
2
Inspect, then place or follow your dip protocol
Inspect the coral and plug carefully. REEF JASE holds every piece for at least 14 days of observation and conditioning, which lowers risk but does not make any live-animal system zero-risk. Follow the observation or dip protocol you trust for your reef, then begin in lower or moderate light. Drip acclimate only if your alkalinity sits above 8.4 dKH.
3
Let it settle for a couple of days
Give the coral a couple of days in that lower spot with moderate flow to shake off shipping stress. Our corals are grown under high light, so they arrive already light-conditioned — they do not need a long shaded recovery, just a short settle.
4
Move it up to final placement
After those first couple of days, move the coral up to its final placement over the following days. The one thing to avoid is taking a piece straight out of a dark shipping box and putting it under full intensity in the first hours — give it that short settle first, then ramp it up.

WHERE TO PLACE YOUR NEW CORAL

Start new arrivals in the lower third of your tank for the first couple of days, then move them up. The diagram below shows the three light zones in a typical reef display.

New coral placement zones in a typical reef display. Start new REEF JASE arrivals in the lower third (cyan, bottom) for the first couple of days to settle, then move them up to final placement.

OUR SYSTEM PARAMETERS

What your coral has been living in. Match within reason and the transition is uneventful.

REEF JASE system water parameter targets for tank-conditioned SPS corals (2026).
Parameter	REEF JASE Systems	Notes
Alkalinity	7.5 - 8.0 dKH	Drip-acclimate only if your tank runs above 8.4 dKH.
Salinity	1.025 - 1.027 sg	Match by float, no drip needed if within ±0.001.
Temperature	77 - 78 F	Float bag 15-20 min to equalize.
Nitrate	5 - 10 ppm	Anything above zero is fine; SPS hates barren water.
Phosphate	0.05 - 0.10 ppm	Same as nitrate — measurable nutrients are required for color.

WHY YOUR CORAL DOES WHAT IT DOES

Why does my Acropora look brown when it arrives?: Acros usually arrive darker than their listing photo. Shipping stress and 12-24 hours in low light cause symbiotic zooxanthellae to multiply, dulling color temporarily. Most pieces return to their photographed color within 1-3 weeks with proper feeding and light.
How long does it take for SPS to color up after shipping?: Plan on 1-3 weeks with proper feeding and light. Days 1-3 are recovery — polyp extension returning, mucus production, encrusting. Days 3-10 the brown tint fades as zooxanthellae rebalance to your spectrum. Days 10-21 the original color signature reappears. Patience beats tinkering.
How do I tell STN/RTN apart from normal acclimation stress?: STN/RTN: rapid, visible tissue recession (hours or a day), bone-white skeleton exposed, peeling tissue along the edge. NORMAL stress: dull or brown color, retracted polyps for 12-48 hours, light pale tips. If you see white exposed skeleton spreading, file a 72-hour guarantee claim immediately.
Do I need to dip new corals from REEF JASE before adding them to my tank?: Every REEF JASE coral completes at least 14 days of observation and conditioning before listing. That lowers risk; it does not make any live-animal system zero-risk. Inspect every arrival and use the observation or dip protocol you trust for your reef. If you dip, follow the product label and avoid stacking stressful treatments immediately after shipping.
Do I need to drip-acclimate?: For most reefers, no. A 15-20 minute float to match temperature is sufficient before placement. Only drip (2-3 drops/second for 30-45 min) if your tank alkalinity runs notably above ours — 8.4+ dKH — so the coral can adjust gradually.
How should I light-acclimate SPS under Radion, Sky, or similar reef LEDs?: Because our corals are grown under high light, they arrive already light-conditioned — you do not need a long shaded acclimation. Start the coral in a lower or moderate-light spot for a couple of days to recover from shipping, keeping your fixture on its normal program (do not change the schedule for the rest of the tank). Then move it up to final placement over the following days. The only thing to avoid is putting a freshly-shipped piece straight under full intensity on the first day.
When should I see polyp extension after shipping?: Most SPS shows partial polyp extension within 6-24 hours of placement and full extension within 1-3 days. Thicker-based and encrusting Acros can lag a day or two behind fine-branched tenuis. Zero extension after 5 days is a signal to recheck parameters and placement, not necessarily a DOA.
What if my coral has not colored up after 6 weeks?: Audit alkalinity stability (variance under 0.5 dKH/day matters more than the number), nitrate above 1 ppm, phosphate above 0.03 ppm, and spectrum stability. Color is driven by nutrient balance and light more than anything else. Email jase@reefjase.com with parameters and a photo for a second pair of eyes.

SOMETHING NOT RIGHT WITH YOUR SHIPMENT?

Our 72-hour live arrival guarantee covers losses. File with a photo of the coral in the sealed bag and a second photo in your tank.

GUARANTEE DETAILS →