kcsnook
Member
Ok so here it is Reef Central Lurkers..
I have been contemplating making a change to my tank.
I have a custom 154 Coast to Coast Aquarium and love it however I have struggled to get more vibrant colors in my tanks dating back to my original 72 bowfront and 90 gallon after that then I went to the custom. Growth has always been good it is more so colors like pinks, reds, purples.... I know most will argue trace elements but I would argue that based on dosing and water changes currently performed. Some corals like montis have great coloration, some SPS have great coloration and others lack. So there is no rhyme to reason for me, if all my coral was brown and that isn't the case then I would be more prone to hear the trace arguement.
Now before everybody starts chirping in on parameters let me preface I personally do not feel this is my issue and I understand phosphates and nitrates are two of the biggest color inhibitors and again I stress that my parameters are in check. Test kits are LaMotte, Hanna Low Range Phos, Hanna Alk. I do dose Calc, Alk, Mag, Vodka and also do 20% water changes every two weeks. I also understand dosing Carbon does strip trace elements but I believe I have this under control.
I was speaking with Rogergolf at a TBRC meeting and we started discussing Calcium Reactors and this got me thinking. I have seen a lot of amazing tanks and the most amazing tanks I see have one or two things going Mogul Base Metal Halides and/or Calcium reactor.
So I started researching Calcium reactors and decided to make the plunge but this weekend I started thinking again and held off. If I am dosing via GHL and have Tunze ATO things are what I would consider consistent as far as parameters etc go.
I read Keefkeeping articles comparing Dosers to reactors etc...
My thought is getting a new Fixture with mogul based MH's.
I am currently Running a Geisemann Infinity 2 x 250w DE Metal Halide w 4 x 54w T-5. Geisemann T-5 lamps and Normally Phoenix 14k but recently changed to the ESV 250w DE lamps which is supposed to be the closest thing to a DE Radium if they existed.
I love this light but I am thinking I want to give the Mogul base a run.
I am considering a Sfiligoi XR6 2 x 250w and T-5 fixture that will accommodate a mogul lamp particularly radiums.
Last night I had a conversation with a guy who had both my fixtures and is now running ATI fixture.
I am not a big fan of T-5 based purely on the look but that may be the lamp configuration I am used to but his pictures looked amazing.
So I open this discussion to you guys and your opinions.
Before you all go LED crazy on that azzz, please know I have LEDS on my frag tank and I am not interested in them on my display.
I would prefer to hear the discussion on the lighting.
Thanks in advance! :beer:
I have been contemplating making a change to my tank.
I have a custom 154 Coast to Coast Aquarium and love it however I have struggled to get more vibrant colors in my tanks dating back to my original 72 bowfront and 90 gallon after that then I went to the custom. Growth has always been good it is more so colors like pinks, reds, purples.... I know most will argue trace elements but I would argue that based on dosing and water changes currently performed. Some corals like montis have great coloration, some SPS have great coloration and others lack. So there is no rhyme to reason for me, if all my coral was brown and that isn't the case then I would be more prone to hear the trace arguement.
Now before everybody starts chirping in on parameters let me preface I personally do not feel this is my issue and I understand phosphates and nitrates are two of the biggest color inhibitors and again I stress that my parameters are in check. Test kits are LaMotte, Hanna Low Range Phos, Hanna Alk. I do dose Calc, Alk, Mag, Vodka and also do 20% water changes every two weeks. I also understand dosing Carbon does strip trace elements but I believe I have this under control.
I was speaking with Rogergolf at a TBRC meeting and we started discussing Calcium Reactors and this got me thinking. I have seen a lot of amazing tanks and the most amazing tanks I see have one or two things going Mogul Base Metal Halides and/or Calcium reactor.
So I started researching Calcium reactors and decided to make the plunge but this weekend I started thinking again and held off. If I am dosing via GHL and have Tunze ATO things are what I would consider consistent as far as parameters etc go.
I read Keefkeeping articles comparing Dosers to reactors etc...
My thought is getting a new Fixture with mogul based MH's.
I am currently Running a Geisemann Infinity 2 x 250w DE Metal Halide w 4 x 54w T-5. Geisemann T-5 lamps and Normally Phoenix 14k but recently changed to the ESV 250w DE lamps which is supposed to be the closest thing to a DE Radium if they existed.
I love this light but I am thinking I want to give the Mogul base a run.
I am considering a Sfiligoi XR6 2 x 250w and T-5 fixture that will accommodate a mogul lamp particularly radiums.
Last night I had a conversation with a guy who had both my fixtures and is now running ATI fixture.
I am not a big fan of T-5 based purely on the look but that may be the lamp configuration I am used to but his pictures looked amazing.
So I open this discussion to you guys and your opinions.
Before you all go LED crazy on that azzz, please know I have LEDS on my frag tank and I am not interested in them on my display.
I would prefer to hear the discussion on the lighting.
Thanks in advance! :beer: