Coloration of JF Enchanted Forest Birdsnest

[ekandler]

This isn’t my first SPS but I’m not an SPS expert, so hopefully you guys can help me. Got this beautiful JF enchanted forest birdsnest last week and it had an amazing yellow color on its skeletal structure behind the polyps but they’ve faded some, the branches are becoming pale.

I Started low on the tank to try and acclimate it to light but i don’t know what JF had his frags in. This discoloration, I have a few theories,
1) nutrient imbalance (currently 0.02 phosphate and 11 nitrate)
2) too high/low light
3) too quick acclimation
4) nutrient/light difference from JF and it just needs to adjust

Any thoughts? I know SPS sometimes just needs to adjust to new tanks, and maybe it’ll go back to all yellow in a few months…?

before:

After:

 

[ekandler]

Pictures might not do it justice, but to my eye the yellow is fading ha

 

[ekandler]

.

 

[Cali Reef Life]

My sps usually get some color fade from shipping and new system. I would let it get used to system and as long as it has polyp extensions and not bleaching worry about it after a month or 2.

 

[Oregon Grown Reef]

In my experience, corals (SPS especially) can change colors quite a bit at first before settling in. Keep parameters stable, watch for signs of tissue damage, and you should be good to go.

 

[ekandler]

Appreciate the replies! Thanks!

 

[ekandler]

Update on this, let it acclimate to light some and then moved it to the rock in the upper third. Seems to be doing well. Still has strong yellow color in the base with less so on the branches, but hopefully it comes back strong. Seems to be happy nonetheless!

 

[Oregon Grown Reef]

Update on this, let it acclimate to light some and then moved it to the rock in the upper third. Seems to be doing well. Still has strong yellow color in the base with less so on the branches, but hopefully it comes back strong. Seems to be happy nonetheless!
View attachment 2862178

Still looks great. I'd be incredibly happy with this coral if it were in my tank.