Purple, Orange, and Red Monti Placement T5's

[FSU3NOLES28]

I've got a 55g with 4x54 T5s now. Upgrading to a 120 with 8x54Tek soon.

Right now I have some orange caps that seem to be doing fairly well color wise but they aren't growing as fast as I'd like them to. 2" frag has grown to about 3 1/2" in about 5 months. I have it right about the middle of my tank, in medium flow. I'm picking up some purple and red caps this week.

Should I be doing anything differently?

 

[chrishayes]

You dont list your parameters but ime using halide, they do better with a little less light but highish flow. If the flow isnt high enough they seem to not plate as much but grow outward more. If they arent getting enough light they will reach upwards as well. If they are getting the right conditions(flow, light,cal/alk) then they will scroll readily plus grow at a pace youll curse once they really get going. Be happy theyre growing slowly. I have to frag mine all the time as it grows everywhere I dont want it to grow. I reccomend placing it low in the tank not only for lighting but to keep it from shading others. If you suspend it somehow a few inches off the bottom, it will tend to sag and pool downward which is a good thing in my book. Anything to keep it from growing upwards and shading others...

They also do much better in a little nutrients colorwise but will grow and be happy in low nutrients as well. Keep it low, keep the stability in the system and soon youll question why you have them at all!

 

[FSU3NOLES28]

You dont list your parameters but ime using halide, they do better with a little less light but highish flow. If the flow isnt high enough they seem to not plate as much but grow outward more. If they arent getting enough light they will reach upwards as well. If they are getting the right conditions(flow, light,cal/alk) then they will scroll readily plus grow at a pace youll curse once they really get going. Be happy theyre growing slowly. I have to frag mine all the time as it grows everywhere I dont want it to grow. I reccomend placing it low in the tank not only for lighting but to keep it from shading others. If you suspend it somehow a few inches off the bottom, it will tend to sag and pool downward which is a good thing in my book. Anything to keep it from growing upwards and shading others...

They also do much better in a little nutrients colorwise but will grow and be happy in low nutrients as well. Keep it low, keep the stability in the system and soon youll question why you have them at all!

That's pretty much what they are doing... growing out. I see lots of people with these nice looking ones that are layered and large and mine is just a flat piece with a few bumps. (Picture Below)

I mean it looks healthy... just doesn't look like it was growing all that much and I didn't know if I was doing something wrong.

Paramaters:
Calcium 420-430
Alkalinity 9-10
PH - Steady 8.0-8.2
Ammonia - 0-0.25
Nitrites 0
Salinity 1.026

 

[chrishayes]

Nope looks normal. Mine took nearly a year to start plating from a flat frag. Now that it IS plating, its doing so more and more. Just give it more time. It looks healthy.

 

[FSU3NOLES28]

Nope looks normal. Mine took nearly a year to start plating from a flat frag. Now that it IS plating, its doing so more and more. Just give it more time. It looks healthy.

Should i place the red and purple ones in the same area? (middle with medium flow?)

 

[GSMguy]

Purple should be placed a bit higher to get the deep purple. When you say T5s, How many and what kind? How deep is the tank. How high off the water are the bulbs?

 

[FSU3NOLES28]

Purple should be placed a bit higher to get the deep purple. When you say T5s, How many and what kind? How deep is the tank. How high off the water are the bulbs?

Ballasts suck - they do the job but definitely upgrading soon. Glo series with decent reflectors. 4x54W.
Bulbs are 2 White and 2 aqua plus actinics all 4 being Geisemann Bulbs.

Tank is a standard 55g so its 21" tall.

Also, Bulbs are about 7 inches off the water.