lynchmob3000
New member
Slowly ramp them 3 or so percent a week and see what happens. Won't hurt
Problem with color
- Thread starter ReefTankHunter
- Start date
ReefCowboy
New member
I'm sure led/hydra users will disagree with me, but I use three hydra 26's over a 36" tank with three actinic t5 bulbs. I run blues/violet at 85% and UV at 40%. My whites are only 7% and I noticed that has been where in the past I've made mistakes on. I used to keep the whites at 50-70% and also had dull colored sps. If I were you would check on lighting first, since it seems you have stable params. Try lowering the whites and replace the t5 coral plus with an actinic... You should see within a month some coloring improvements.
Nutrients are also the other "half" of the coloration puzzle, so you could also look into it, but I run GFO, do ok skimming and also know many people doing this same procedures with insane colors. Gotta always tweak things and watch closely.
My acros are in their best coloration ever. Growth is ok but color is very good.
Last edited:
rovster
New member
Interesting. I don't agree with it but I don't doubt this is working for you. I run 4 Radions over my reef and I made it a point to have at least a few hour period where the corals are seeing 12k or something close to it. I feel acros need that super high intensity of "white" light for growth and color. I have nothing to back that up other than personal experience and the fact that with halides that holds true. I don't particularly like the "look" of that period so I programmed it early in my schedule when I'm usually at work.
I think too many people fall into the trap of programming LEDs to what they think looks good as opposed to considering what the corals need. Just food for thought. I don't think I have the best colors, things can always be better but I challenge anyone to say my colors suck lol.
ReefCowboy
New member
I agree with you, the thing with LEDs is there is still so much to learn. I had never though of using some hours of the day lighting on the lower 10-12k temp...that could work.
To be honest I always liked the whiter look, and sometimes when taking pics of the tank, I crank up whites and go "wow" because of how pleasant the whites of leds are when bringing the shimmer of the reef.
I learned the whites were contributing on keeping my coloration away when I noticed all LPS started to also look dull especially some favias that I love. My tank isn't tall(21"), so I tried lowering the whites while keeping the blues up. I had slowly acclimated the tank to LEDs over almost a year, so I knew it wasnt due to too much light or not, but tweaks on color temp.
I then replaced a blue + bulb by an actinic and that was when in a short few weeks the acros exploded with color. Some are still improving but I was so happy with the actinic/blue dominance that I added two more actinic T5's and never ramped the whites again. Color has been great since. I'm sure as I stated before growth could be improved with maybe lowering the overall K temp, but I guess I'll see where the current setting will tank the tank for now.
Halides are another box of secrets IMO, where you only have an "on"or "off" switch, but corals have great afinity to its output, which is whiter in temp so go figure.:crazy1:
Last edited:
rovster
New member
Keep in mind those t5 tubes offer a pretty good spread of spectrum, no matter how specialized. It is possibly your white LEDs were frying things, I never said you had to run them full intensity. At least with Radions, lots of users complain of some of the program's heavy in the blue. They say corals look awesome but don't grow. I think that white end of the spectrum is very important it's just hard to dial in with the LEDs. If your growth is not where you want it consider adding that blue+ back and maybe a coral+ or AB special. I plan on doing that myself. I'm going to use a blue+ and coral+ to help to round out my white and middle spectrum to see if that gives a bump in growth. Sounds backwards because t5 is often used for actinic, but they also provide spectrum and spread you just can't get with LED! Just my opinion....
ReefTankHunter
Member
Ok guys,very good post.After testing nitrates they are not the problem. I'm convinced its in lighting, not saying that I'm not going to work on nutrient export,will work on it.
As for lighting. I'm thinking the hydras are a little weak for a 48"×24" tank.Even though i have 2 t5s supplementing. What bulbs could i add to the ati blue +and the coral+.
Was going to add 2 more.
ATI-purple
KZ figi purple
Uvl-super actinic
Some info found on the actinic-
As for lighting. I'm thinking the hydras are a little weak for a 48"×24" tank.Even though i have 2 t5s supplementing. What bulbs could i add to the ati blue +and the coral+.
Was going to add 2 more.
ATI-purple
KZ figi purple
Uvl-super actinic
Some info found on the actinic-
Last edited:
biggles
Premium Member
Hi mate, are your colors there but washed out or deeper and just 'off' looking as if dirty. Don't suppose you have a pic as an example or a pic of someone else's acro that has the same look you're describing.
Did you order the new bulbs yet btw.
If you have color on most stuff even if it's drab or dull color then it's highly likely the problem is with your water much more so than lighting being the main issue imo.
Did you order the new bulbs yet btw.
If you have color on most stuff even if it's drab or dull color then it's highly likely the problem is with your water much more so than lighting being the main issue imo.
