Radium 400w - washing out pinks

[jonwright]

So I switched from 250w 10k bulbs to 3x 400w radiums on lumatek ballast on my 155 tank (6'). To supplement the radiums I have 2x 80w actinics and 1 80w blue+ T5's running. Honestly, my eyes can't tell the T5's are on when the radiums are.

What I've noticed is that I have a pink stylo that is totally washed out. The pink of the base only shows up as white with a little touch of purple when the lights are on. Also I don't see all the coralline on the rocks, either. But man the greens really show up.

The blue+ is really high in the hood of the tank more for lighting the acrylic front of the tank than anything. If I change that to a coral+ will that bring out the pinks again? Or is this just a result of the radiums?

I understand that some folks don't run actinic with radiums I also read where they are deficient in the 420 nm wavelength - a spectrum the corals need, correct?

So the higher bulb is the blue+ - I'm guessing that's the one I should change out?

 

[jayball]

Source http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2004/2/aafeature2


The radium has enough 420 to keep everything happy but I would go with your plan of starting with the blue plus to coral plus. For non-florescent rendition the coral plus is an awesome stand alone bulb (I like it by itself for general viewing but my taste runs closer to the white side anyway). Very possible that one bulb will not be enough to cut through 1200 watts of radium though

 

[bif24701]

The purple + could be used, it brings out more reds, pinks, and purples


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[alton]

On my 300 (6 x 3 x 27" tall) I had 3 x 250w Radiums. My PAR readings on the sand where 200 to 250. I think your 3 x 400w radiums maybe too much for your supplemental lights to benefit?

 

[jonwright]

Yes, the supplements don't make a huge difference. Only slight florescence. I mainly use the upper light to fill in the acrylic top. I added the actinic just cause really.

I suppose saying all this I may pull out the actinic and run coral+ or purple +?

What struck me is how really different the corals are with a 12k halogen lights from the room!

 

[jonwright]

changed out the top light (which turned out to be Actinic+) with the aquapink. Helped a little.

I have to say, though. At night with all the lights off, and I shine my Iphone light in the tank, I see more colors than I do with the radiums. More pinks, reds, purples show more shades. However, the corals that are slightly brown are more brown.

I'm not really sure I like the radiums. Is going back to 10k what I need to do? Goodness me. I bought 3 MH ballasts and reflectors to go radiums. *sigh*

 

[naterealbig]

What 10k bulbs were you running?

 

[jonwright]

Sps brand. Never saw much on them. I picked up on sale.

 

[Arthur1]

One day, when I grow up, I'll be utilizing 400 watt halides, but not anytime soon! The 250 watt SPS 10k bulbs have a high PAR rating according to Sanjay's testing. That being said, I prefer a "whiter" look over the blue look and there is good and bad to that statement. I imagine that if you decide the Radium 20Ks are not for you, I'm sure that there are some nice 14k bulbs that will meet that happy medium for you.

 

[drummerboyevil]

I run a radium 400 watt in a geisemann spectra. I used to run 2x actinic and 2x blue+, but everything was extremely blue and reds were washed out. I switched to 3x actinic and 1x purple plus and it's a HUGE improvement in my opinion.

Radiums put out a whole metric s-ton of blue light, some say it's best to supplement it where it si deficient (actinic and red)

 

[jonwright]

Yeah, the Coral+ bulb helped, and now I have a super actinic and a purple+ OTW.

Honestly, I'm not really happy with these bulbs. They really wash out a lot of contrasting color. And they are putting out too much PAR, really - just confirmed that the other day. I may go back to 250W bulbs in a few months.

With this set up notice that the bulbs are easily 18" from the surface of the water, and I'm getting 500+ Par near the surface, an average of about 400 midlevel and 300 or so on the sand. Now, if I had a clam paradise going on I'm sure that would be fine. No wonder my acan as really mad.