Frag tank lighting

[DrHarryLopez]

I have a 55 custom built rimless frag tank. Above it at about 12" i have 2-175W 10KK MH lights flanking a 20" LED light fixture with 5W mixed white n actinic leds.

My friend says the coral are not coloring up as much becausae its too much lighting. What do ya'll think?

My lights are on 7 hrs daily at night (reverse cycle) too much?

 

[mike_cmu04]

that is not too much lighting. I would get a 15k metal halide that should help the color.

 

[austin93]

10k probably won't bring out the best possible colors, but your nutrients could be an issue. What are your nitrate levels?

 

[DrHarryLopez]

Nitrates are undetectable, phos are 0.05. thought 10k's for growth?

 

[DrHarryLopez]

hmmm could it be that i need more actinics?

 

[mike_cmu04]

ya the 10k will give good par for growth but the color will be washed out.

 

[ruprecht]

...My friend says the coral are not coloring up as much becausae its too much lighting. What do ya'll think?

Show some pictures of coral rather than your lights.

 

[DrHarryLopez]

Show some pictures of coral rather than your lights.

 

[em9468]

The 10k bulbs will yield good growth but will not do much in the way of coloring the corals. If you are looking for color than I would agree with Mike and go with a higher Kelvin rated bulb.

 

[Stroob]

To me, the whole point of doing a frag tank is using the lower kelvin bulbs that promote better growth and less color. Don't need to worry about color if they are growing good in the frag IMO.

 

[DrHarryLopez]

I have an LED fixture with 5W bulbs, I however had them on full blast. I think i blasted the frags with too much light! I thinking thats where the colors went. hmmm?