Keeping Rainbow Acans Colors

[teddyb]

I recently received some very nice rainbow acans but in the weeks that I have had them in my tank they are losing the amazing color they originally have. I had them 20" under a 4x39w Geissemann T5 (midday, pure actinic, aquablue plus, actinic plus) and recently I have moved them so they are partially shaded.

It seems to help but they still are not as vibrant as when I first got them. However, they do look pretty good when just the pure actinic and actinic+ are on. Is putting them under 20k MH's the only way to keep the amazing rainbow color? What do you guys think? Any advice?

 

[kase]

Less light is the key, and some will change color no matter whay you do.

 

[crsaz]

add another pure actinic, the actinic spectrum is what brings(to an extent) the rainbow colors, my rainow have lost some of their appeal over the last few months, they started out amazing an has faded to orange with only a hint of rainbow

here is how they started

and now,

 

[teddyb]

I guess actinic seems to be the key... that is the light spectrum they are accustomed to in the wild.

On another note; do acans need rock to encrust over or can they build their own skeleton and grow on the sand like a chalice?

 

[amore169]

Low light that's how I keep mine but still they have change in color.

 

[crsaz]

IME they will turn int a "ball" on the sand bed and stop growing, if you give them a rock to grow onto they will spread much faster.

 

[nanotank]

Put a set of blue reefbright led's on your tank and you will be blown away.

 

[poposherry]

light is the key to keep the colour, i been try many light t5 blue works better.
the best way is open less time(4hr-6hr), but no matter what you do still change colour, the best i can do is keep 80% of originally.

 

[nanotank]

I see fauna marine is coming out with an acan food. I am definitely going to try it out.

 

[ericung]

my rainbow is becoming less "rainbow" too.

I have been putting it under the shaded area as you can see. I feed my corals with oyster feast sometimes and I feed my fishes regularly.

 

[Sheol]

Hmm, still looks pretty darn good, if you ask me!

Matthew

 

[nikesb]

yeh still looks great

 

[ARealmsLLC]

add another pure actinic, the actinic spectrum is what brings(to an extent) the rainbow colors, my rainow have lost some of their appeal over the last few months, they started out amazing an has faded to orange with only a hint of rainbow

here is how they started

and now,

The first photo looks like it is under 14k or 20k with actinic supplementation.

Your second one looks like you took the photo with a flash camera.

You can't compare those two photos. Sure, is the second one it isn't going to look like the first photo. A flash is around 6K. NOT the 14-20K + Actinic lighting spectrums.

I would bet if you took a photo under the right lighting conditions...that coral would look great!

 

[E.intheC]

Put a set of blue reefbright led's on your tank and you will be blown away.

+1. These LED's make my acans POP

 

[mscarpena]

Some change for the better and some for the worse. I agree some times there is nothing you can do. Water parameters, flow, and lighting can change the colors.

 

[Underwaterparadise]

IME once acclimated my Aussie pieces get better color with more light. The key is acclimating them to the light first.

 

[soulsigma]

So the general consensus is that they will morph no matter what?

 

[scooterb]

I would say some will morph

The green and red larger sized in this picture has morphed to this.

Have moved it to a higher light area and it is morphing again.

In my experiance some like higher light some lower light. You have to pay attention to them after you get them and adjust until they are happy.

 

[Cptn Spaulding]

they can also transfer zooxanthellae between different pieces of acans. my pink acans are next to my orange ones and the pink ones are turning a bit orange

 

[coralville]

Crsaz, teddyb, and scooterb,

What's your nitrate level? Just wondering if this was a factor too, not just the change in light