What a difference

[Twistedpro]

I am learning very quickly in this game with the help of everyone and my god what a difference a day makes.....

I used to have great polyp extension and colour used to show, changed my bulb to a 20k bulb about 2 weeks before i had a crash due to bad R/O water and after that point never regained polyp extension and all my corals either RTN'd or browned out. I put this down to the bad water quality. The water has been back in tip top condition for last 5 weeks but all corals were all closed tight with not polyp extension and not looking great.

Changed my bulb this morning after SunnyX pointed out my 20k bulb only had a PAR rating of 24 to a Giesemann bulb i had but not used with a PAR rating of 56, got home tonight and everyone of my corals has polyp extension again and look a lot healthier

Big thanks for everyone's help i will now wait and see whether the colour starts coming back

thanks again

peter

 

[SunnyX]

Peter,
I am very happy to hear that your tank is now doing great.
In the next few weeks your corals should start to color back up.
It usually takes 2-4 weeks for corals to adapt to the new lighting. In the coming months you should see great growth and coloration if all water parameters are in check.

Glad I could be of service :thumbsup:
Whenever you have questions just ask away, we will be waiting here with the answers.

 

[Twistedpro]

Thanks again, i could not believe the difference, i have not seen a polyp for 2 months, 8hrs under new bulb every coral is now showing polyp extension

 

[scarter]

does this mean that 20k bulbs are not good for SPS? I have seen some nice tanks under 20k and was thinking of switching myself

 

[SunnyX]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7385884#post7385884 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by scarter
does this mean that 20k bulbs are not good for SPS? I have seen some nice tanks under 20k and was thinking of switching myself

It depends on the wattage.

You really need a 400W 20k to see good growth in SPS.

The 250W model's will give you exellent color but only modest growth.

 

[haibrid]

imo 10k growth 20k color

 

[clkwrk]

IMO 14k = a ballance of good color and good growth.

 

[zapata41]

i would second the 20k 400w = growth and color.

 

[carpus]

ah, good to know before I do my yearly bulb change in the summer.

 

[scarter]

What affect does light height have? can you get good growth with 400w mounted 18 inches above water surface?

 

[SunnyX]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7414738#post7414738 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by scarter
What affect does light height have? can you get good growth with 400w mounted 18 inches above water surface?

The farther away you move a light source, the less PAR and energy the tank will receive.

Why would you mount your lighting 18" above your tank?

At the most they should only be 8-10".

I run mine 5-6" up, because every inch makes a difference in PAR.

 

[G-money]

Run 10K and 20K together - you get the best of both worlds and something that can't be equalled with "teen-K" bulbs. IMO of course....

 

[SunnyX]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7414876#post7414876 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by G-money
Run 10K and 20K together - you get the best of both worlds and something that can't be equalled with "teen-K" bulbs. IMO of course....

Its nice to run them together, but you need at least 4 bulbs to make it look right.

Unless you have two bulbs in one Lumenarc.....

 

[G-money]

Indeed.

 

[jetaero]

Take 10,000k, add some actinic in, and that's the perfect color... Great growth and efficency as well.