Pastel Colors Under T5's

[Rickyrooz1]

Why do SPS corals look pastel under T5 only tanks? Is there a way to fix this such as raising the lights higher than 6-8" off the water surface or adding more actinic bulbs?

 

[BrassMonkey]

from my experience i think its the t5 actinic that make it look like that.

right now using abs and blue+ i dont notice pastel lookin corals.

 

[Rickyrooz1]

The ATI Blue Plus is an actinic bulb that peaks at 450nm.

 

[Poseidon]

I have T5's and did have the pastel reef, but since switching bulbs to include a UVL 75-25, the colors have REaLLy saturated. Then I took out the 75-25 in favor of ATI Blue +, and the colors remain very deep and rich.

As with MH, I think finding the proper combination of bulbs is paramount to success with T5.

 

[CLINTOS]

I have a combo of geisemen,KZ and it is beyond believe so natural

 

[CLINTOS]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15043983#post15043983 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by CLINTOS
I have a combo of geisemen,KZ and it is beyond belief so natural

 

[Reefyz]

Pastel color sps is not dude to T5 lighting. That is related to ULNS tank. sps will have low in symbiotic algae in the tissue, so that the color will more bright and lighten up.

 

[Rickyrooz1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15216129#post15216129 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reefyz
Pastel color sps is not dude to T5 lighting. That is related to ULNS tank. sps will have low in symbiotic algae in the tissue, so that the color will more bright and lighten up.

Not all T5 lit tanks are ULNS, even metal halide lit tanks that are UNLS have the pastel look. I have seen some T5 lit tanks have the pastel look even without being a low nutrient system.

 

[hpglow]

Generally I think the pastel look that most associate with T5 lamps has to do with the wrong combo of lamps or cheap lamps. Nobody I know with all ATI lamps has a pastel looking tank.

 

[Aqua Keepers]

Not all T5 systems have pastel colors. Not all ULNS systems have pastel colors. Also, I have seen metal halide lit tanks that do have pastel colors. Sunny's tank is both a ULNS and T5 system, and has no sign of pastel colors.

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