S Gigantea and Violet LED

E

ehacker

New member
Hello,

I'll first say that RC has truly been a wealth of knowledge in terms of successfully keeping S. Gigantea. I had kept a Haddoni in my tank previously that outgrew it and I decided to change it up to a Gigantea but didn't expect how different the two would be. Anyways, thanks for all the helpful info so far. However, I have noticed something pretty strange and wanted to get your take on this as I haven't found it anywhere yet. I run 2 x 3W violet LED as my actinic lighting on my 65G. All the life in the tank seems to appreciate this light, except my S. Gigantea. There is a noticeable difference in the shape it takes when only the LEDs are on, before and after my MH are on. Tentacles shorten and it tries to shrink into the rocks and flatten out. However, with the LEDs off or MH on, the Gigantea looks as happy as can be. At first, I though it could be coincidence so I tried leaving the LEDs off and, what do you know, the Gigantea looks full and happy all the time. Could this be a matter of the 430nm wavelength, would I be better off trying some royal blue for actinic? I cannot believe that they were too powerful for this light loving creature as it is sitting at the top of my system under 2 x 150W MH.
 
I do not think it is the light. Your Gigantea may be sick and deflates late in the day and at night. If you can post pictures, we can help. I would read my sticky on treating sick Gigantea and prepare to treat him ASAP if he is sick.
If he is sick, treatment start one or two day may mean life or death for the anemone. It is extremely rare, but not unheard for Gigantea not require treatment initially after import. Good luck
 
Mine also does not like only blue led after the MH shut off. I just run my actinic t5 and led for about 15 min before and after the MH.
 
I think there is some truth to the gigs not liking blue lighting as much, (((as much))) as white lighting, that's what I've seen too. However, what I'm seeing, the coloration part of their tentacles becomes more enhanced with the blue lighting, but they don't look as robust/healthy. I'm guessing, they can handle (and like) strong blue lighting, you're just giving them too much at one time too fast. But, they can handle WAY more lights than you can give them, and often don't get enough lighting, just not all at one time right away. They need to be acclimated to strong lights, then give them more, and more, and more, you'll see the results for yourself.


My best guess: blue lights give them more "color" to the tentacles, white lights give them more brown algae to the disk, both important. White light seems to be lacking in most fixtures. Both lights are too weak in most fixtures, IMO.
 
And, MH150 = tooooo weak. I've tried them. That's enough to keep them alive, not let them thrive. You can keep them alive for a long time, or you can let them thrive for a long time. They do both. They will do much better with MH400 watt. Full spectrum LED is less heat than 400 MH. Not all LED are created equal.
 
What's your suggestion on gig color spectrum Taylor? For tunable LED that is. 10k? 14k? 20k? More white would be the 10k for sure.
 
I appreciate the feedback. OrionN, the anemone is not deflating at all, just loses some firmness in shape. It has been in my tank for months now eating fine and has not deflated once. It is eating strongly and is definitely happy when full lighting is on. Only time I see a definitive change is while the violet LEDs are on. I tend to agree that it is possibly an intensity issue and will try removing the optics that are currently on the LEDs to see if there is any change in behavior. I am currently running 2 x 150w Radium MH on magnetic ballasts in Hamilton reflectors and I do think this light is sufficient as the anemone is extending fully. I cannot see running 2 x 400w MH over a tank this size making sense.
 
nemmy said:
What's your suggestion on gig color spectrum Taylor? For tunable LED that is. 10k? 14k? 20k? More white would be the 10k for sure.
Click to expand...
I'm still learning myself. What I see, I've got 2 blue gigs 3 years in the same tank. Same flow, but one gets more blue light from the main lights, and both get 5K led spot light. The blue that gets more blue lighting, has much brighter, better tentacle coloration than the other one, that's farther from the main LED lighting. They seem to really like the 5K lighting. When I tried to go all "fixture" LED with mostly blue lights, they all protested. I had to add back the 5k spots. I've seen others keep gigs with mostly blue lights, doesn't mean it can't be done, but to me, they appear healthiest with a whiter light.


ehacker said:
I appreciate the feedback. OrionN, the anemone is not deflating at all, just loses some firmness in shape. It has been in my tank for months now eating fine and has not deflated once. It is eating strongly and is definitely happy when full lighting is on. Only time I see a definitive change is while the violet LEDs are on. I tend to agree that it is possibly an intensity issue and will try removing the optics that are currently on the LEDs to see if there is any change in behavior. I am currently running 2 x 150w Radium MH on magnetic ballasts in Hamilton reflectors and I do think this light is sufficient as the anemone is extending fully. I cannot see running 2 x 400w MH over a tank this size making sense.
Click to expand...
I agree, running 400MH seems overkill. Keeping gigs is overkill. You may benefit from adding some 5K led spots for supplemental lighting. I know some are all about aesthetics, I get that. We all like the hobby for eye enjoyment, last thing we want is to look at ugly lights, but sometimes that's what the inhabitants need. Best of luck to you.
 
I used to have two 250 W DE 12000K light over my 65 gal. I find this to be perfect light for it other than the heat. I have since change to 2 Radions G3pro and G2pro. My tank is also doing well with this light. I have a Green Gigantea in it and it is also doing well.
 
ehacker said:
I appreciate the feedback. OrionN, the anemone is not deflating at all, just loses some firmness in shape. It has been in my tank for months now eating fine and has not deflated once. It is eating strongly and is definitely happy when full lighting is on. Only time I see a definitive change is while the violet LEDs are on. I tend to agree that it is possibly an intensity issue and will try removing the optics that are currently on the LEDs to see if there is any change in behavior. I am currently running 2 x 150w Radium MH on magnetic ballasts in Hamilton reflectors and I do think this light is sufficient as the anemone is extending fully. I cannot see running 2 x 400w MH over a tank this size making sense.
Click to expand...
At night most Gigantea will get smaller which is normal.
Over the next few days, would you post pictures of him when the light turn out and when he is fully inflated.
One think that I like my LED light a lot is the way it dimp down in the evening. I love my MH, but never like the way MH and CF light abruptly shut down. My fish always jump when this happen. I timed my light so that they stagger as they come off and use low wattage incandescent light bulbs to ease this but never eliminate it.
I imagine the abrupt light intensity change may cause the anemone to react somewhat.
Does you anemone react when the actinic light come on, or when the MH turn off? How long is the over lap period?
 
The anemone only has the strange look when it is only the LEDs that are on; with all lights off and all lights on, it looks like it should. I used to run the LEDs 2 hours before and after the MH.
 
ehacker said:
The anemone only has the strange look when it is only the LEDs that are on; with all lights off and all lights on, it looks like it should. I used to run the LEDs 2 hours before and after the MH.
Click to expand...
When both MH and LED are on it is normal, and when the MH turn off it look different, then it is reaction to the abrupt decrease in light, not the LED.

Change to all LED. :)
 
OrionN, this is the progression of light and my observations:

all lights off - anemone looks normal but smaller than lights on
LEDs on - anemone has same size but less firm shape and shortened tentacles
LEDs on and MH on - anemone looks normal
LEDS on - anemone has same size but less firm shape and shortened tentacles
all lights off - anemone looks normal but smaller than lights on

the only time the anemone looks different than it should is during the duration when it's only the LEDs that are on. The increase/decrease in light really doesn't seem to have an effect on it. This could also be due to the fact that my MH are staggered by an hour so it's not as extreme. As of now, I'm thinking that it is due to the intensity of the LEDs wavelength. I am going to leave the LEDs off for the rest of today and see how they affect the anemone tomorrow without the optics.
 
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