JCR's Reef
New member
Please share your own experience. I would love to see this added to and full of opinions.
Lets assume that we all have ideal water parameters, flow, etc..so outside of tank parameters, flow, etc...I would like to know if you have found that certain colors of SPS plays a role with its lighting requirements to bring out its best color--high, med, low intensity--or what lighting conditions a certain acro likes.....
I am by no means an expert but I have played around with my acro's a bit to see what lighting conditions bring out the best in my coral, and I'm wondering if anyone else has done the same. I just don't think all SPS require high lighting and do think the color of the coral plays a major role in its lighting requirement. I'm curious to see if its true all across the board though.
Please share your experiences if you have found certain colors need different light intensity.
For example: To bring out the best color on my Pearl Berry Acro I have found that:
High Light = Whitish branches with tanish base and a faint hue of purple tips
Med Light = Fluorescing blue branches with purple tips and pinkish body
Low Light = Never tried as I was really happy with Med. Light
So the best color I have found for the Pearl Berry is Med Light.
Superman monti
High light = faded blue with brownish red polyps
Med light= A nice blue with more red polyps.
Low light= As long as its getting direct light, and is not shaded (bottom of tank) I have found the color isn't too far off from med. light as long as its getting high flow
Best color I have found= Medium light.
I have mine up high in the tank which is high light, but its off to the side so its not right under the bulbs or getting blasted, so medium intensity.
Blue Tort/Oregon
High Light= In high light mine is a vibrant purplish blue, very nice color that really stands out.
Medium Light= Just a tad less of the vibrant in color but has green throughout the body, still hold up nicely
Low Light= Pales out and is not as vibrant, kinda loses its purple color and is more blue IMO
Best light= really depends on what colors on this one, but in high lighting it is the most vibrant color and really stands out
Purple Acros
I have found that almost all purple acros require High light for the best color. In medium light they start to brown out.
Spongodes/confusia
High light- pale lime green base with brown polyps
Medium light- Nice green (like the hulk) with brown polyps
Blue tipped tenius/ bottle brush
High light = a nice blueish green body with bright blue tips, so it really needs high light to have the tips stand out and accent the coral
Med Light= becomes more of a solid color
Green Slimmer
High light= nice fluorescing green body and polyps
Med. light= still maintains much of its color but overall looks better in high light
Efflo
High light= White body, green polyps, dull purple tips
Med. light= greener body, green polyps, bright blue/purple tips
Low light = haven't tried but it would probably brown out
Lets assume that we all have ideal water parameters, flow, etc..so outside of tank parameters, flow, etc...I would like to know if you have found that certain colors of SPS plays a role with its lighting requirements to bring out its best color--high, med, low intensity--or what lighting conditions a certain acro likes.....
I am by no means an expert but I have played around with my acro's a bit to see what lighting conditions bring out the best in my coral, and I'm wondering if anyone else has done the same. I just don't think all SPS require high lighting and do think the color of the coral plays a major role in its lighting requirement. I'm curious to see if its true all across the board though.
Please share your experiences if you have found certain colors need different light intensity.
For example: To bring out the best color on my Pearl Berry Acro I have found that:
High Light = Whitish branches with tanish base and a faint hue of purple tips
Med Light = Fluorescing blue branches with purple tips and pinkish body
Low Light = Never tried as I was really happy with Med. Light
So the best color I have found for the Pearl Berry is Med Light.
Superman monti
High light = faded blue with brownish red polyps
Med light= A nice blue with more red polyps.
Low light= As long as its getting direct light, and is not shaded (bottom of tank) I have found the color isn't too far off from med. light as long as its getting high flow
Best color I have found= Medium light.
I have mine up high in the tank which is high light, but its off to the side so its not right under the bulbs or getting blasted, so medium intensity.
Blue Tort/Oregon
High Light= In high light mine is a vibrant purplish blue, very nice color that really stands out.
Medium Light= Just a tad less of the vibrant in color but has green throughout the body, still hold up nicely
Low Light= Pales out and is not as vibrant, kinda loses its purple color and is more blue IMO
Best light= really depends on what colors on this one, but in high lighting it is the most vibrant color and really stands out
Purple Acros
I have found that almost all purple acros require High light for the best color. In medium light they start to brown out.
Spongodes/confusia
High light- pale lime green base with brown polyps
Medium light- Nice green (like the hulk) with brown polyps
Blue tipped tenius/ bottle brush
High light = a nice blueish green body with bright blue tips, so it really needs high light to have the tips stand out and accent the coral
Med Light= becomes more of a solid color
Green Slimmer
High light= nice fluorescing green body and polyps
Med. light= still maintains much of its color but overall looks better in high light
Efflo
High light= White body, green polyps, dull purple tips
Med. light= greener body, green polyps, bright blue/purple tips
Low light = haven't tried but it would probably brown out