Lighting/sps Q

[tang daddy]

In most parts of the ocean most acropora are no more than 5 meters down, this is strictly based on my own observation... When I went diving off one of the smaller islands in Nha trang, Vietnam I noticed huge tabling acros just a few feet below the water and ofcourse the montiporas were deeper but alot of the acros enjoyed the light at the surface. Acros that grow near the surface are definately in 10k or even 6500k light, quite a warm colour. Take into consideration their colour was abit tanned, I wouldn't see a problem using 10k as you would get vibrant pinks purple reds and green although it could also promote algae growth.

I guess it would be an experiment to try, but it all depends on what is aesthetically pleasing to you. For me I like to view my acros under 20k lighting, I hardly ever bother looking at my tank during the day, only view it at night when it's quiet and all the corals pop.

[Proteus]

That's why I was wanting to different k values. The
4am till 10am at 10k to encourage growth and 4pm to 10 pm at 20k for my viewing pleasure

[kien]

Originally Posted by Proteus

That's why I was wanting to different k values. The
4am till 10am at 10k to encourage growth and 4pm to 10 pm at 20k for my viewing pleasure

That's actually similar to what most people with Halide and T5 combo units do, isn't it? That's kinda what I do.

My 22K T5s are on from 10am to 10pm for my viewing pleasure.
From 1pm to 8pm the 14K halides are on for growing. The only difference being that my two photo periods overlap during the "growing" hours.

[Proteus]

Originally Posted by kien

That's actually similar to what most people with Halide and T5 combo units do, isn't it? That's kinda what I do.

My 22K T5s are on from 10am to 10pm for my viewing pleasure.
From 1pm to 8pm the 14K halides are on for growing. The only difference being that my two photo periods overlap during the "growing" hours.

That's what I thought. Wanted to be sure it woul not wash out the colors doing it like I am. I think I'll keep the first period at 12/14k as to keep a little blue.
I really like the 20k look but growth is ssllooww.

[kien]

Originally Posted by Proteus

That's what I thought. Wanted to be sure it woul not wash out the colors doing it like I am. I think I'll keep the first period at 12/14k as to keep a little blue.
I really like the 20k look but growth is ssllooww.

Ya, a couple of years ago I experimented with 20K halides. I had my 22K t5s and then 20K Halides for "growing". During that time the "growing" was very very slow LOL. 14/15K is the compromise between great colouration of the 20K and growth of the 10K. It doesn't pop like 20K but grows better. Doesn't grow as well as 10k but doesn't look YELLOW either :-)

[Proteus]

So I know the 10k will give me growth but do you think I would be able to maintain color from the 20k.
I know that when 10k is on the colors won't show.

Cause there no point in doin so if I can't have the best of both worlds

[kien]

Originally Posted by Proteus

So I know the 10k will give me growth but do you think I would be able to maintain color from the 20k.

I think this depends in part on the coral itself. There will be some corals that just don't react well to certain temperatures of light. That is, some may be perfectly fine basking in 10K light and won't lose any colour at all, while others may not like that colour temperature so much. And in some cases (probably most), it really isn't even a matter of the coral liking one colour temperature over another. Rather, it's their symbiotic nature with zooxantehllae. Zooxanthellae is what gives them both food and colour. Corals will capture, harbour and grow the zooxanthellae species that will give them the best results for nutrient/food exchange.

^translation: Maybe yes, maybe no :-)

[kien]

Interesting. Personally I don't see the 10K bulbs being a problem for your SPS. When I first started this tank I was running 10K halides with supplemental actinic T5s. Sometimes my T5s would burn out and it would take me a few weeks to find replacements and in the meantime, my tank would be strictly on the 10K bulbs for days. I didn't notice any change really. 10Ks definitely do grow SPS fast. They also grow algae fast too though as Chris suggested. I recall film algae on my glass being a problem every 24 hours. In fact, that's how I can tell when my current 14K bulbs are warn out. They shift closer to 10K and as a result I start to get film algae a lot quicker.