Pocillopora reaction pics to new T5 HO's

[llebcire]

So I got this frag of Pocillopora from a local reefer a week before I had my new tank running, (it came from Double-J's tank in a round-about-way), and it appears to be reacting very well to my new lights - Catalina Solar T5's 4x54w, two 460's (didn't want 420's) and 2 10k's.

When I first got it, it was brown with minimal polyp extension, bleaching, and although I knew they exist in different colors, I didn't know it was green until under the new lights.

According to what I've read, these are medium difficulty SPS with a demand for higher lighting - their reaction gives me confidencs that I'll do fine with SPS and without halides.

Pics are unedited and I used Photobucket to re-size (not my PS3). Good thing I don't make a living with photography!!

Pic from 3-5-2009, tank up for a day, starting to see that they are green:

Today - good extension almost all the way to the base

Yesterday, the 11th

I'll keep up with this - especially if I manage to get a good pic!

 

[jmadison]

You get that from andy?

 

[llebcire]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14604346#post14604346 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jmadison
You get that from andy?

No - AJ.

 

[apjohnson]

And I got it from matthewJ who bought it and ended up with too much...so he gave me the excess and I was just passing it along.

 

[llebcire]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14606561#post14606561 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by apjohnson
And I got it from matthewJ who bought it and ended up with too much...so he gave me the excess and I was just passing it along.

It really is a beautiful speciman - thanks AJ!

Too bad I can't get a better pic - I'm thinking of moving it so it's more "photogenic"

 

[llebcire]

Fosters and Smith claim that this coral will do well under PC lighting:

The Green Pocillopora Damicornis Coral will thrive in a variety of lighting conditions, ranging from power compacts, VHO, and T-5’s up to the more intense metal halides. Alter its position in the aquarium depending on the lighting, and provide at least 3 watts per gallon using one of the lighting systems mentioned above.

And I disagree! They're still pushing the antiquated 3 watts/gallon theory - in my cube I had 48w over essentially 10 gallons in the display or 4.8w/gallon.

This coral obviously does better over more instense lighting like T5's or MH's.

On the contrary, here's a quote from Tidal Gardens

Intense lighting is recommended for best coloration and overall health. Use either Metal Halide lighting or a large bank of high output fluorescent or compact fluorescent bulbs. If not provided proper lighting, the colors of Pocillopora may fade, but worse the coral may not receive enough energy and perish.

Now - I've never had the pleasure of seeing Double-J's tank in person, but I would assume he has intense lighting?

 

[aaron1987]

You would assume correctly. He has some gorgeous green colonies of Pocillopora that he was kind enough to frag for me, as well