Help with lighting and their effects on Zoa coloration..

[~RuSh~]

I have a 29g tank and a 10g tank. The 29g is my first SW tank started back in Jan. One of my very first frags was a zoa frag that has grown into a nice looking little colony.

After a lot of research I've become somewhat hooked on Zoas. I decided to start a 10g and turn it into a small zoa garden. Around the same time I was reading about new zoas, I was also reading about LED's. I decided to power my new zoa garden with the Marineland Reef Capable LED fixture. I have to say that after 3-4 months with this fixture, I am not satisfied. It's an 18 inch fixture with 18 individual LED's. Only three are blue. The rest are 10,000k. It gives off a very warm light and makes my zoas look dull. Most of the frags in the 10g I've had in the 29g as well and they looked much brighter and more colorul under that lighting (4x 24watt T5HO - 2 10,000K, 2 actinic).

As far as growth is concerned, I can't complain. Both tanks sprout new polyps regularly. It's only the color that I am upset with.

My question is this: What would you do? Buy a different fixture all together? I don't mind the LED's but this coloration isn't cutting it. Is there another LED fixture you would recommend? Should I just go with another T5 fixture? Any help/suggestions/advice are welcome.

Thanks.

 

[KyleCT]

T5 is definetly the cheaper option but if your really want an awesome light looking at acan led lights, in my opinion it is one of the best on the market and it is manufacturered in the US right in NY. I agree the marineland reef capable is way to white, that is the biggest compalint I hear about them as well as the fact of it not have seperate swithces for the blue and white.

 

[MikeandNicole]

You could pop an ecoexotic stunner strip on there. They run about 50 bucks and are for supplemental lighting. They should give you the pop you are looking for without spending a ton of money on a new fixture. Honestly if you are getting nice growth out of it, I would look for supplementation instead of changing completely.

 

[~RuSh~]

T5 is definetly the cheaper option but if your really want an awesome light looking at acan led lights, in my opinion it is one of the best on the market and it is manufacturered in the US right in NY. I agree the marineland reef capable is way to white, that is the biggest compalint I hear about them as well as the fact of it not have seperate swithces for the blue and white.

Got a link for these Acan LED lights? Never heard of them.

 

[~RuSh~]

You could pop an ecoexotic stunner strip on there. They run about 50 bucks and are for supplemental lighting. They should give you the pop you are looking for without spending a ton of money on a new fixture. Honestly if you are getting nice growth out of it, I would look for supplementation instead of changing completely.

True, I am getting decent growth... that is definitely hard to argue with. It's just that there is limited room on the tank since it's so small and I fit the T5 and LED fixture on the tank, but barely. If I could get it all in one, I think I would be happier...

Is the Ecoexotic strip LED as well?

 

[hglumac]

x2 on stunner strips, cheap and im very impressed with mine...also you can link up to 6 off one power supply.

the stunner attaches with double sised tape, its about 1/2" wide and 12-1/2" long come in a variety of colors to make your stuff pop...

http://www.ecoxotic.com/products/modular-led-lighting/stunner-led-strips.html

 

[~RuSh~]

I'm liking the idea... would one strip be enough for the tank? What color combos do you guys recommend?

 

[hglumac]

Yes I think 1 will be fine I. Addition to your other light, try a 453nm blue, I think that's what I have. You can always add more later.

 

[~RuSh~]

Got pics of your setup? I'd love to take a peek FTS?

 

[SoFloReefer]

Build a fixture with Cree LEDs. You will get more light than you know what to do with.

 

[DallasNYC]

What did you decide to go with?
Is it just the color the light creates on your zoas, or do you see a change in the actual zos color based on the light their growing under?

Thanks

 

[~RuSh~]

I decided to stick it out for a while with the Marineland LED's but after some life changes, it turns out I might have to break down the 10g for now. The zoas didn't actually change in color, they just didn't appear as nice under the lighting. There isn't enough blue IMO which is why I thought the Stunner strips would have done nicely on the tank.

 

[DallasNYC]

Thanks for following up. Im still on the fence with LEDs and looking for people wih experience. Hope the life changes are for the better.