Coloring up Acans

[Lockhartia]

I have a 24x24x24 cube with 10x24watt T5s. Currently I'm running 5 actinic and 5 "white". It's mainly a mix of UVLs and Coralvues. I just can't quite get the color I'm looking for and my acans seems to be browning out a bit.

I'm just curious if I should go heavier on the actinic, or white, to try and bring the color back. Say 6actinic and 4 whites, or vice versa. The bulbs are about six months so it's not quite time to replace them yet.

The acans are healthy and growing like weeds, they're just not that colorful. Thanks!

 

[philosophile]

I dunno... I always thought 6 months was a pretty good time to change t5 bulbs...

Blues will bring out the colors that you want usually. Whites (reds) will bring out browns in your corals, which aren't the most attractive.

 

[jmski333]

i've heard t5's last 12-18 months. I would add some ATI Blue + bulbs and some KZ fiji purples into your bulb combo. Also some LED supplementation would really help too

 

[organism]

T5 bulbs last like 14+ months. If you want amazing color you're going to need more blues, here's a bulb combo that will guaranteed give you phenomenal acan color. It's the one a ton of wholesalers and high end retailers in LA use and you wouldn't believe the colors that pop from them:

1 ATI Blue Plus
1 ATI Blue Plus
1 KZ Fiji Purple
1 ATI Blue Plus
1 ATI Aquablue
1 ATI Blue Plus
1 ATI Aquablue
1 ATI Pure Actinic
1 ATI Blue Plus
1 ATI Blue Plus

 

[organism]

Wait, I just re-read that, you have 10 T5's over a 24" tank? 6 would be more than enough... 4 ATI Blue Plus, 1 KZ Fiji Purple and 1 ATI Pure Actinic...

 

[Lockhartia]

Yeah 10 is maybe a tad overkill, but it's a pair of 5 bulb units. I had only one for a while but the spread was not quite enough for a two foot wide tank, so I added the second fixture.

I'll mess around with the bulbs I have now (I have about six extra of different wavelengths, but mostly actinics). When replacement time is up in January I'm going to give the ATIs a whirl. Thank you for the help!

 

[organism]

Once you try those ATI's there's no going back, no comparison

 

[Reef Bass]

While at first I raised an eyebrow at 10 bulbs, his tank is 24" deep. Acans could probably be fine with 6. SPS would probably appreciate the extra bulbs. I usually have 4 bulbs on in my 6 bulb fixture (4 ati blue plus, a giesseman purple and a 10k) over my 12" deep lps tank. I turn on the outer set of ati blue plus when I have company. Even with all 6 bulbs going, I only get about 250 par on my sandbed. My point being that 6 bulbs over 24 inches deep would be substantially less par.

You will have some poppin colors with the bulb combos organism recommends. The ATI blue plus really lights 'em up.

 

[Brando457]

Ati blue is one of the best bulbs for acans. If you look at cherry corals they use/used a similar setup that organ posted. I based my t5 off of it when I had my 180.

 

[Lockhartia]

Yup! Have my ATIs arriving Friday ;-) I hope they live up to the hype!

 

[Zuska]

Once you try those ATI's there's no going back, no comparison

Hahaha thats so true. once those ati are on you get that color back

i have the same size tank actually putting together as we speak. and im not sure if 4 bulbs will be enough for only LPS such as chalices, acans, hammers, tourches, rbta and other invert. 96w total? or should i look for a 6 bulb?

 

[Lockhartia]

I would do the 6 bulb. I have a pair of Aquactinics TX5s on my tank (5 bulb fixtures) and the spread with 5 was just not enough for a 2' wide tank so I added the second fixture

 

[organism]

Hahaha thats so true. once those ati are on you get that color back

i have the same size tank actually putting together as we speak. and im not sure if 4 bulbs will be enough for only LPS such as chalices, acans, hammers, tourches, rbta and other invert. 96w total? or should i look for a 6 bulb?

+1 on 6 bulbs, especially for the RBTA and some euphyllias

 

[Zuska]

+1 on 6 bulbs, especially for the RBTA and some euphyllias

Yea I just got my 6 bulb Ati fixture in a few days ago. tank is cycling now and i need to order a good combo of bulbs myself. Each bubl is 24in long and 24w. Looking to get a good dayish color like i get from my mh on my other tank 10-14k look and at the same time for some nice color to pop out for my chalice and acans and other lps... Looking at ati and Korallen Zucht Bulbs. Can you guys help me out on a nice light combo?