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View Full Version : Another Lighting Question (brown corals) !!! Advanced


Gregsgsr
01/17/2009, 12:43 AM
I have the aquamedic oceanlight fixture. (2 250w de, 2 t5s). driven by the Oceanballast M magnetic ballast . I have blue + for t5 and reflux 12k for mh. I get decent growth, but horrible color most my corals look brown. I need help!!! All of my current Levels are increadible. Please someone give me some advice on new bulbs or general help?
Alk 8.6
Calcium 400
Magnesium 1200
Phosphates 0
Nitrates 0
Salt 1.026
Ammonia 0

http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn123/gregsgsr/IMG_1319.jpg

Gregsgsr
01/17/2009, 11:05 AM
Anyone????

photobret
01/17/2009, 11:29 AM
Your corals look healthy enough, maybe switch to phoenix 14k is all I could really suggest, that or change to true actinic T5's as you have enough Par from the reeflux's.

tinnghe
01/17/2009, 11:42 AM
sometimes too much light can cause coral to turn darker, your lighting period maybe too long, your parm could be right, but you giving too much light to the coral and they dont like it

Goodwood
01/17/2009, 11:45 AM
Brown Town, you need bluer bulbs. Your corals look good for the color spectrum you are getting with the reflux. Bluer bulbs = more color & less growth, everything is a trade-off.

Wrench
01/17/2009, 12:47 PM
I disagree. I have seen MUCH more colorful colors even with 10k bulbs.

Goodwood
01/17/2009, 03:53 PM
With more par you can get great colors from a 10k. The glass shield on the double-end bulbs cuts intensity by at least 20% compared to single-end bulb. The Aqua-medic fixture Gregsgsr has is dead sexy compared to a Lumenarc hanging over his rimless tank. So everything is a trade-off. Sometimes you have to give up performance for looks. I would scoop up a pair of Pheonix 14s Greg.

A friend in town has over 2,000 watts of 10k (no actinic) over his reef and the colors are spectacular. So I agree with you Wrench. I run 2X400; my corals, not all but most could easily soak up more rays.

Gregsgsr
01/17/2009, 05:06 PM
Thanks Everyone. I think you might be right Collin. I probaly need to change bulbs, because most of corals grow really fast just dont have very good color. I have been thinking about getting the helios 20k. My tank is only 17inch deep with my coral generally only 15inchs under the halides.

toothman
01/17/2009, 06:14 PM
I think it is more the variety of corals you have, not all corals are colorful. I have a 30" deep tank and the higher up to the surface my corals are the brighter they are. I have 6 400 watt halogens on a tank 7' long by 3' wide. I have tried many different bulbs and really 10k bulbs are fine, they are the brightest and the more light the more colorful the coral. 20 k does have a nice cool look to it and makes corals fluoresce better. Right now I have 3 different bulbs in my tank, 20k, 10k Hamilton, 10 reeflux, and a 6,500 k. Why not try a nice orange cap, pink birdsnest, and really recommend a cali/ Ora tort. below is a picture of a 2 yr old ora tort from a ora frag on a plug.


Ora tort at 2.5 yrs.


http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/76771fish-2-016-med.jpg

Oregon tort 2.5 yrs.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/76771fish-2-017-med.jpg


Super easy to grow pink birdsnest. Look in the foreground I think may have a similar brownish stylo. I do like it but it is usually brown, on a good day it may be slightly red on top.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/76771DSC_0473-med.jpg