Good growth, not so good color.

[All__talk]

I'm new to SPS, just added two small pieces about 3 weeks ago, I don't remember the exact names but both are ORAs, one green stylo and a purple acro (fill me in if you know what they are). Growth rates seem very good, specially the stylo. I wish I had taken pictures when I put them in there has been a notable difference in just the three weeks. But, they don't seem to be doing as well on the color.

They were under a 20K 400 watt MH at the LFS and I'm running 2 X 150 10K MH with 2 X 96W PC actinic, so part of it could just be the light color, they both look better under just the actinic. The stylo has good polyp day and night but just seems a little pale and maybe a little brown. The acro's polyp extension seems to be better just after lights out and was a more consistent pale color at first. Now the main body has faded some but the tips and base are much brighter. Looking for some pointers on bringing out better color.

Setup info, 46G Bowfront, 25G sump/fruge, two Korilla 3s, Mag 7 return, Aquamedic skimmer, light fish load (3). Photo period, 6 hour MH with actinic on an hour before and after (8 hours). 100% kalk on ATO, no other additives, DI/RO "“ 0 TDS. 10% water change weekly or by weekly depending on my schedule, and I skim pretty wet and add some salt water to replace it through the week (IO salt). My water peramiters stay pretty stable, so much so that I haven't been testing as often lately but I'll test later this week. Typical numbers are: SG= 1.025, Temp = 79F, PH= 8.4, Am=0, Ni=0, Ca=460, KH=9, Po=0, Mg=1425. API test kit so the true Ni and Po are probably not 0 just less than 5PPM.

Excuse the out of focus pic of the acro but it showed the color best.

Thanks
Gary

 

[rireuter]

Your acro looks like a tri color, and seems to be coloring up just like it is suposed to, the base usually is light and the tips usually nice and bright colored with some other color fadeing from the base color to the tips. I would have to bet it's all to do with running 10k, you get great growth from them, just not the best color, if you like the way the 20k looks at the LFS I would go that route, if too blue go with 14k, just my .02

 

[ZurichOne95]

10K washes out color. Get phoenix 14K great color and par readings

 

[All__talk]

So you guys think is more the viewing color than the corals color?

I do like a slightly bluer color and figured I'd go with the 14K phoenix next but the current bulbs are only about 3 months old.

Related question, as long as I'm getting good growth should I consider my SPS healthy? Or put another way, if my corals are growing than my tank is doing well?

Gary

 

[ChicagoReefOne]

It's both the coral color and the bulb color, the corals look a little light on color and the bulb is washing them out.

I just recently switched from a 10K to a 15K and I'm not going to go back to a 10K again, the color on corals has improved immensely and some pieces look totally different.

And, yes, if your corals are growing well the tank is healthy. I've read that 10K is better for growth and if your corals are healthy, the bulb switch would only improve the color.