Opinions wanted.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by apexifd

Blue led does give coral that special effect that halide/t5 won't be able to provide.

That hasn't been my experience. In fact the most light induced colors seem to be from T5

[reefwithareefer]

I know the aqua mars one I had made the corals PoP like crazy when the whites, yellows and reds were on.

[Myka]

Replace those pink and purple T5s with ATI Blue+.

[Ryanerickson]

I also think this is more of a water issue I run halide in garage led in house both tanks Have great colour actually at the moment slyguy is upgrading and thinking of halides to get the sps Colour I get in my garage. What are your parameters?alk cal mag phosphate nitrate.

[Slyguy00]

Hahaha this thread made my night. Thanks for the kind words man. I agree with Ryan though that water conditions may have some effect on coral colouration. As he said I am currently trying Considering going with halides on my new tank because I cannot seem to set the growth and color Ryan gets!

[reefwithareefer]

Oh for crap sakes...Now I have to envy two tanks??!!

I am not sure how or what I can do to make my water better. I bought a magnum 350 and got my hands on some actual DE to make a diatom filter, but have not set it up yet...

My parameter are..
avg 76 degrees
Dose alk, ca and mag and use schlobster bulk
I use API and Salifert test kits.
CA is around 450
Alk is usually around 12, but went down to 9 over a few weeks, before I realized doser was jammed
Mag is 1350
Salinity is 1.025
PH was always around 8.1, but started ozone for 8 hrs a day thru skimmer and it has been avg 7.9 for a month
Ammonia is 0 or just slightly higher,
Phospates are 0 or slightly higher .015
Nitrate is 0

I use IO reef crystals
Run 2 to 3 cups of GFO
Skimmer outlet dumps into 5 or 6 cups of carbon
Skimmer is a BK 250 supermarin.
I have a 40 watt UV that goes on at night for 4 hours as well.

I have a mixed reef of SPS, zoas, softies, mushrooms and 10 fish in a 290 gal with a 125 sump

[Scythanith]

Originally Posted by Myka

Replace those pink and purple T5s with ATI Blue+.

I agree with this. A couple LED's wouldn't hurt either.

[reefwithareefer]

Originally Posted by Scythanith

I agree with this. A couple LED's wouldn't hurt either.

This hobby has broke the wifes purse strings, so I have to make sure my story bears fruit to see. I have no issue in getting more lights, but not sure if I should get cheap ones, some kessils that I found a good deal on. Buying 3 or 4 AIs or Radions will have the wife in a fit.
I will change up the T5s first and then hopefully I can figure out if i have a water quality issue and fix it as well.

Lack of experience in saltwater tanks does not help me determine these things very well. Not even sure if I am getting good growth compared to others. I think I am....but....

[Slyguy00]

your alk seems a bit high to me. probably not dangerous levels, but I usually keep mine between 9-10. Also you have to be very careful with gfo/rowaphos. when I first started using it, i added to much and it really sucked the colors out of my sps. Just a few ideas, every tank is different though so its hard to say forsure.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Slyguy00

I agree with Ryan though that water conditions may have some effect on coral colouration.

Hey!!! That was me, Ryan just stole it from me!! Sheesh