Purple deaths question

[KafudaFish]

Could someone provide me with preferences for PDs such as lighting, placement and flows?

Thanks.

 

[MUCHO REEF]

What is a PD? Do you have a picture?

What are the issues that you are having?

Zoas and Palys will adapt to most any type of lighting but they will fare much better in MH, LED's, T5's, PC to VHO and they all prefer med to high flow. Each lighting scheme has their own characteristics. Stating what it is you are trying to achieve might get you more responses I think. Just trying to help.

Mucho Reef

 

[jefathome]

They will do well in many environments, but I have noticed the the lower the light, the more purple you will get. Also, the higher the "K" of your tank the more purple. REALLY strong 10K MH will make them more brown.

 

[SLove1104]

I'm tagging along... I have a frag of 2 medium and 5 small heads and I've had them for about 4 months and see NO growth whatsoever... It's in semi shade as I don't want to bleach them under my halides... It's on the sandbed under a 400w MH that's hung very high (19" above water line)... It's kept its color... just no growth...

Glad they're not dying... but neither are they growing... What's up with that... I moved them out into the light more last night... we'll see how that goes.

 

[KafudaFish]

No issues so to speak except I don't have them atm. I am thinking of getting some soon and was wondering about their requirements.

Thanks.

 

[MUCHO REEF]

No issues so to speak except I don't have them atm. I am thinking of getting some soon and was wondering about their requirements.

Thanks.

If you purchase them, as I have seen many people here in town with them, this is what I would do.

1. If the picture you posted above is exactly the colony or frag you are buying, ask them what type of lighting they are in currently when this picture was taken.

2. What size and depth of the tank they are in currently?

3. What are the parameters, including, SG, PH, ALK, CAL, NITRATES and MAG? If I don't know the reefer of the LFS or OLS, I ask these questions. If they don't know or can't answer them, then I won't buy them. Prior to 2005/2006 I wasn't as particular, but if you are going to pay anything over $ 25 or $ 30 for a frag, I need to know as much as possible.

4. Ask the owner how long have they had them and did they take this picture or will you be getting one like this?

5. If it is a frag, how recently were they fragged? If they were fragged within 72 and being shipped, Don't buy them. More frags have perished from excessive and/or premature fragging. Anything fragged needs time to recover from the stress.

6. The polyp will brown out, bleach or fade quickly if it endures any light shock in your tank. I've seen it more than once. Starting it off as low in the tank as possible will make a world of difference. Current is a must, med to high and random. And I personally never run my daylights until the second or 3rd day with any new arrivals, actinics only.

7. I agree with Jefathome, I have seen them brown out under 10k's quickly.

Good luck

BTW, what type of lighting do you have?

 

[KafudaFish]

Thanks Mucho. It is good to see you helping others as always.

I will probably be getting them during a frag swap so local pick up only. I know the guy's tank and he has always been more than fair and honest with his sales.

I am thinking of putting them in a 5.5 with 2 x 18 50/50 PC for now and may upgrade to a 70 Watt MH down the road.
Flow would be a MJ1200 and possibly an AC HOB.

Nothing fancy honestly I just have something in mind that I want to try and these guys are one that I have always been interested in. Tubbs blues are another.

Again this is something I have been thinking about for a while and want to give it a shot.

 

[650-IS350]

Purple Deaths in different lighting situations and tank placement, makes a big difference on your final look of your polyp.

 

[KafudaFish]

Thanks for the responses.

So would the PCs cut it and give me good color and ok growth (that is fine) or do I need to step up to the MH? I would probably do a 20K bulb then.

 

[650-IS350]

Your going to be OK with PC's with PD's but other light loving Polyps, they won't grow as fast nor color up compared to being under T5s, MH's

 

[MUCHO REEF]

Thanks for the responses.

So would the PCs cut it and give me good color and ok growth (that is fine) or do I need to step up to the MH? I would probably do a 20K bulb then.

Yes, but it won't be the best lighting. With the right mix and color temp, you'll be ok, but my concern is still what type of lighting they were growing in before you get them.

Growth is going to be slower. I grew my polyps in all PC's years ago and it took a long time but they grew well and steady. Have you considered upgrading to at least T5's ?

 

[AMAYEU]

...
6. The polyp will brown out, bleach or fade quickly if it endures any light shock in your tank. I've seen it more than once. Starting it off as low in the tank as possible will make a world of difference. Current is a must, med to high and random. And I personally never run my daylights until the second or 3rd day with any new arrivals, actinics only.

From my experience and what I have seen from other reefers, I would agree with Mucho on the lighting. Low intensity and slowly progress by testing.

I recently got some Purple Death's from an Expo supplied by a local reef club. It was a two polyp frag. I placed it at the lowest part and at the side of the tank. I tried to select an area with the least amount of light intensity. Its almost been a month and have a new baby polyp about half the size a fully grown one. I will probably move the frag towards the middle or directly up... and test how it does. Very slowly. The color is not a deep purple but at the same time it is not browned out. I would say light purple. FYI. I am running LED's.

I saw a local reefer's colony of PD's and they were browned out. Looked like some generic paly. He had placed the colony about 5 inches off center of his MH's and about 1/4 from the bottom in his 40g Breeder.

I hope that helps regarding the lighting and placement.

 

[D.J.'s reef]

ahhh.....learned something new from this thread.....didnt know that PD's will loose their purple color under bright 10k lites.....that would explain why mine are a burgundy color instead of the nice purple.....14k better? im getting ready to order new bulbs for my t5 lights anyways.

 

[KafudaFish]

Been on vacation and just returned to this.

Thanks everyone for your input.

As far as PC vs. T5 vs. LED the tank will either be a 2.5 or a 5.5 and I have the PC in my closet and was trying to get away from buying more fish stuff if possible.

Because it will be a small tank the slow growth does not matter to me rather coloration.

If I were to go with a different lighting system I would do a DIY 70 MH with 20K bulb.

 

[650-IS350]

I'm running 20ks' on one of those photo's. 1st and 2nd pick, but can't remember which one had 14K phoenix when photo was taken.

 

[crew33]

ahhh.....learned something new from this thread.....didnt know that PD's will loose their purple color under bright 10k lites.....that would explain why mine are a burgundy color instead of the nice purple.....14k better? im getting ready to order new bulbs for my t5 lights anyways.

I'm using 14k Pheonix. I bought a 3 polyp frag last summer and have a 20+ polyp colony now with very nice purple colour. They have been placed on the sandbed in somewhat direct light with a good amount of flow.

hth.