Anyone else using the JF method of all actinic?!?!?

[hoover86]

I just watched a video of a presentation done by Jason Fox and was really surprised that pretty much all of his tanks are T5 all actinic and blue Reefbrites. It makes sense given most of his corals are deep water but is anyone else using and having this success with their corals?

I don't plan on taking a 2nd mortgage to buy all JF corals so I'm wondering if the majority of corals we find in the hobby would have similar results? I'm setting up a 125 with G4 Radions and 2 T5's for supplement personally. I talked to JF at RAP in Orlando this past spring and he's actually the reason I picked up T5's to supplement as he said he feels they give much better coloration.

He did say he has LED over one of his propagation tanks but only runs white at 5-10% a couple hours a day and runs Reefbrites for 12 and T5's for 10 (I may have the Reefbrites and T5's transposed but it's basically actinic nearly all day).

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

Many places run the blues all day because corals respond better to the blue spectrum.

 

[Bronx19]

Funny you start this thread. After watching his video, I ordered 4B+ and 2TA to replace my 3B+, 2C+, 1P+. I couldn't help but wonder if there would be any difference, so I'm going to find out.

 

[Potatohead]

Funny you start this thread. After watching his video, I ordered 4B+ and 2TA to replace my 3B+, 2C+, 1P+. I couldn't help but wonder if there would be any difference, so I'm going to find out.

I've kind of thought about this but I bet the corals don't look very good. Keep us updated :beer:.

 

[hoover86]

Keep us updated for sure. I just wonder how the rest of the corals in the hobby would respond. It makes sense the deep water corals he collects would benefit from so much blue since they are at such a depth. Like I said, I won't be having a tank full of his deep water corals so curious how other corals behave.

 

[Ron Reefman]

They will do OK. Blue or actinic will feed the coral and produce some good color. But corals do use other spectrum to produce other pigments and chemicals the coral uses. My bet is JF cares a lot more about fast growth and a lot less about long term health as he moves them through his system.

When I have an algae issue I don't do 3 days of lights out. I do as long as it takes of all blue and violet. I've done up to 14 days and the corals polyp out just like normal (and fluoresce). Eventually the algae goes away and the corals look as good after as they did before.

 

[Bronx19]

If I remember correctly Jason said almost all wild corals entering the trade are collected at more than 5m of depth and it entirely blue spectrum. When you think about it, 5m is bugger all in an ocean, its our systems which are tidal pool deep.

Could put one C+ in a 6 bulb fixture to hit the red spectrum.

 

[Potatohead]

If I remember correctly Jason said almost all wild corals entering the trade are collected at more than 5m of depth and it entirely blue spectrum. When you think about it, 5m is bugger all in an ocean, its our systems which are tidal pool deep.

Could put one C+ in a 6 bulb fixture to hit the red spectrum.

In mine I have tried one actinic, five blue, one coral and one purple. It was really blue and red and purple corals looked bad. I only tried it for like a day I may just have to get used to it.

 

[knap_123]

All blue, uv sb reeflite 2 Ati t5s. Corals look great and seem to be growing well.

 

[Ron Reefman]

If I remember correctly Jason said almost all wild corals entering the trade are collected at more than 5m of depth and it entirely blue spectrum. When you think about it, 5m is bugger all in an ocean, its our systems which are tidal pool deep.

Could put one C+ in a 6 bulb fixture to hit the red spectrum.

5M is just 15 feet. There is a lot more than just blue spectrum at 15 feet... even at 30 feet.

 

[hoover86]

Most of the corals JF collects are around 80' if I remember correctly.

 

[oreo57]

Most of the corals JF collects are around 80' if I remember correctly.

 

[Bronx19]

They collect them and then put them into shallow water holding for export.

 

[hoover86]

They collect them and then put them into shallow water holding for export.

Correct. But the reasoning he uses blue light is because that's what light the corals get where they are collected. That's why I was wondering how the other corals we get that are more shallow water would react to this lighting scheme.

EDIT - I also see why you posted that now Bronx when I see oreo's picture. The link was broken at first LOL

 

[Mishri]

as others said, many growers use only blue for maximum growth speed to maximize their profits. I don't think it looks good at all. I certainly wouldn't use it on a display tank.. if you have a frag grow out tank then no problem. I would be surprised if it's the ideal spectrum for overall long term health.

 

[FullBoreReefer]

Didn't JF lose his boat and gear? I thought I seen a gofundme started...

 

[Bronx19]

Bulbs arrived, running 3B+, 2A, 1P+. Very different look, creates a lot of fluorescent greens. Nice dawn/dust look with just the actininic morning and evening. Took PAR readings and it down, but still near the 250 butter zone.

 

[AddictReef]

y

Bulbs arrived, running 3B+, 2A, 1P+. Very different look, creates a lot of fluorescent greens. Nice dawn/dust look with just the actininic morning and evening. Took PAR readings and it down, but still near the 250 butter zone.

Update?

 

[urban_s]

Following

 

[d2mini]

To answer the OP, no.
I'm not in the business of growing/selling coral. My tank is for my enjoyment and seeing nothing but actinic is not enjoyable to me.