Hi,
Ah...its the blue light special theory.
But seriously, I think its a pretty nice theory. Only problem is....how do you know your lights are the right blue and violet ? If you have compared the spectrum of brand X MH with the nature's spectrum of light at 15m, then you'll realize...I don't even think they are similar at all. The banding effects you get from MH cause all sorts of problems and it leaves certain wavelength with very low blue-violet light. If the Zoox happen to like a specific wavelength that your lamps have a null ...opps.
Blue light special works pretty well for some corals...and not so well for other corals. Anybody heard of a bunch of reefers say that their Toadstool's colours are beyond belief when they switch from Iwasaki to Radiums ? In the same breath...you hear another reefer saying that his blue tip acro is more happy in is Radiums than his Iwasaki. Yah..I know its a extreme example...but seriousily, some corals are affect by the blue light special while others are not. So why is this ?
My personal theory is that corals will change to what every conditions are present in the tank. It is natural for organisms to do this since it is written in to their DNA. Some corals are able to adapt and survive, while others die because they can not. When we apply blue light to a purple monster, it changes to something we find rather pleasing. There are many types of pigments and zoox on a coral. My theory is that certain light bands cause certain pigments and zooz to dominate. So, blue light causes a group of Zoozs to dominate and it is what causes the purpleness in the purple monster. Green light will cause another group to dominate and so on. So...does this mean certain groups of Zoox (or colour) mean better health. I don't know, but I am leaning towards it does not. If the same number of energy producing Zoox that are in the brown Purple monster and the "true" purple monster, then both corals should be just as happy. The only difference is colour...like our skin colour -- okay maybe that's going a little too far, but I think you get the idea.
So those are my thoughts...what are you thoughts on this subject ?
- Victor.