why is my acan fading

[tydtran]

I got a 8in wide piece about 2 months ago identified as Acan echinata. Nice pretty bright orange with purple center and some splashes of gray/green. I have it 18in away from a 216 watt T5 lights. It has grown a polyp or two since I have had it, but now I notice that the orange is just getting a little faded. What can I do differently to try to enhance this orange color?

 

[ElDiabloPollo]

Are you feeding it?

Try cyclopeeze, mysis, and brine if you are not.

 

[Zatko]

Rotifers and oyster eggs could help too.

 

[Mofo84]

mine is doing the same thing

 

[nanomang]

you need 20k's

 

[ArapaimaGiga]

you could try chromoplex made by Kent... supposely helps with orange pigments something that deals with carotens...

 

[tydtran]

Thanks for the suggestion. I am feeding it mysis shrimp. Do you think more intense lighting would help?

 

[Mofo84]

I moved mine 2days from under the mh to the side of the tank to get less light

 

[Justin74]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11770972#post11770972 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tydtran
Thanks for the suggestion. I am feeding it mysis shrimp. Do you think more intense lighting would help?

No, as long as your running individual reflectors. If not, you may want to consider raising it a little bit. I keep mine a little farther from the light though. But because of the bracing on my tank I notice it does get more vibrant if recieving unfiltered direct lighting, just doesnt need much of it though. Id make sure your water perams are dialed in and more importantly steady for a few weeks and keep feeding it before worrying about the light and if it needs more.

-Justin

 

[tydtran]

Thanks Justin. I'll take your advice.

 

[Mofo84]

I fed mine mysis shrimp and is on the leftside of my tank on the sand and the orange is getting darker now.