gary faulkner
New member
I had been using Reef Crystals but with the ULNS I have switched to Oceanic and so far it has been a really good salt.
HTH
Getting that color??
- Thread starter allsps40
- Start date
I had been using Reef Crystals but with the ULNS I have switched to Oceanic and so far it has been a really good salt.
HTH
Islander84
Reefer
Great thread allsps40! Anyone have any input for placement of GARF purple bonsai? I Have it placed about 8 inches under water and mh is about 10 to 12 inches off water...2 x 250 xm10k
BuckeyeTodd
New member
am I reading correctly that the issue was the 8 tds water?(If not what is the change that has brought about success, I've been fighting with color for a long time now as well, but no success yet)
allsps40
New member
It was that along with some 100+ tds water, bad LFS "RODI water". RODI units are the unsung hero's and the back bone of this hobby. IMO dont be so concerned with lighting or a most bad a$$ skimmer out there, a good starting water source in key. That and just keeping everything super stable. I added an ATO with kalk water and a controller to help with running the tank. It helps me keep an eye on things and has a safety net. An increase in no3 has aided in color and growth as well.
a note on the garf's... and this is only my experience... when i had mine (got rid of it to make room), it seemed to do better near the bottom of my tank rather than up higher... couldnt give you a good reason as to why that might be, but again, it was my experience only... each tank can be quite different as we all know...
anyhow, good luck allsps in your quest to better your system and colors... your on the right path i think
anyhow, good luck allsps in your quest to better your system and colors... your on the right path i think
allsps40
New member
Yeah it is coming along. I really want to upgrade my whole system and start over. I built this setup myself and it was a big improvement over my last few reef tanks. Now though there is a lot I want to change. I need a bigger tank, better skimmer, T5 lighting for supplementation, adjustable light hanging kit may changes will be made to my next build/upgrade. Now If I can just get the wife to approve a larger tank. But as the tank is now it is going good. I only have 3 sps that have not colored up or started to color up.
dzhuo
Active member
Have you measure the PAR of this bulb? Or know anyone who has?
allsps40
New member
YEp getting that color in most of my sps only my bottle brush has yet to color up.
Yes I have. I rented an Apogee meter from a LFS and tested a new Phoenix 14k and a new Oddysea 20k in the same reflector and the same ballast. The Phoenix bulb was the same as the Oddysea, the only difference was the Phoenix spread the PAR out to the ends of the tank a little better. Center mid way down in my tank with both bulbs PAR was 250-260, bottom was 180-200 and top was 320-300. Now compare the price of the Phoenix $70-80 to the Oddysea $15.
dzhuo
Active member
You started this thread almost 10 months ago and I am reading back to check up on your previous photos. I definitely see improvement whether this is due to a better camera or corals coloring up (probably a bit of both) but I feel the improvement is nowhere near what I would expected from a 1+ year old stable tank. You recently switched to 0TDS RO/DI and made numerous changes along the way so it's possible the corals are still adjusting to these changes and continue to color up. If you are happy with the result, I think that's all it matters.
Having said that, your photos always look a little weird color wise. It seems like the whole tank is completely "wash" out with a soft grey color covering everything. I am definitely somewhat surprise you are using a 20K bulb and that this 15$ bulb rival a 14K Phoenix. Initially I thought it has to be just the camera but now I am not sure. This is what you posted earlier:
which is a huge difference from what you stated here. Was the numbers (320 top, 260 middle, 200 bottom) from a new bulb? And the numbers you captured (220 top, 135 middle, 114 bottom) in the above photo from a 3 months old bulb? If so, the number doesn't seem to match up. Lots of MH bulbs would initially hold it's PAR and spectrum but quickly color shift in just a couple months of use. Are you aware of that? Do you know the PAR drop off or color shift? How long have you been running the Phoenix before switching out?
Having said that, your photos always look a little weird color wise. It seems like the whole tank is completely "wash" out with a soft grey color covering everything. I am definitely somewhat surprise you are using a 20K bulb and that this 15$ bulb rival a 14K Phoenix. Initially I thought it has to be just the camera but now I am not sure. This is what you posted earlier:
which is a huge difference from what you stated here. Was the numbers (320 top, 260 middle, 200 bottom) from a new bulb? And the numbers you captured (220 top, 135 middle, 114 bottom) in the above photo from a 3 months old bulb? If so, the number doesn't seem to match up. Lots of MH bulbs would initially hold it's PAR and spectrum but quickly color shift in just a couple months of use. Are you aware of that? Do you know the PAR drop off or color shift? How long have you been running the Phoenix before switching out?
allsps40
New member
Cool I thought I deleted that photo, thanks for that I was going off memory. Yep that is the right par numbers they where the same with the Phoenix and the Oddysea. I always change my bulbs at 6 months now. Yeah my colors are washed out in the pics I dont have a good camera. There is a much bigger difference in person and the colors continue to improve in all sps with 2 exceptions, my Miami Orchid and Blue Bottle Brush. I am actually getting colors I have not seen in sps that I have had for some time. The tank is 3 years old but has been moved once and there is all the other issues I had most of which I can be blamed for. Being lazy, not changing RO filters, running bulbs to long overall crappy husbandry. At the time I did not think I was neglecting my tank but looking back now I was, I slipped on care and my corals felt it. And I was looking at other things to be the problem not me. With all things back in order now, color and growth are following. Oh I am planning on making my light adjustable so I can lower it some. It is 12 inches above the water now and if can read it PAR at the fixture is 2850 so lowing it will get more PAR deeper in the tank. I had this plan since getting this light but I wanted to get my corals well adjusted to it, Once I get my new bulb running for about a months I will lower the light to 10 inches to see what that does.
