Radion program for nice sps colour

[NanoCat]

I was wondering if anyone has some thoughts or experience on what a good Radion program would be for getting some nice colour back in sps.

I have been getting some nice growth but the colour has faded on some of my sps. I have one radion over a custom 25 gallon. 24 x 16 x 16.5. The light is hung at 8" above the water and I run it up to a 90 percent peak.

I know that water parameters have a huge impact on the colour but I would like to know if anyone has a program that has been working well for them.

I currently run at:
CA: 475 Hanna
ALK: 8.5 DKH Hanna
No3: 0 Sailfert
Mg: 1450 Sailfert

Po4: 0.00 Hanna (I have never seen a reading over 0.00. Not sure if this is because film algae on glass consumes it before I can get a reading)

My ro and tap water both read at 0.00 Po4. But I was able to detect Po4 in the food rinse water that I dispose of before feeding (1.23)

Any thoughts

Thanks in advance.

[Aquattro]

I'm not sure this is a type of light that you could configure to NOT give nice colors, unless you turned the white off completely. What intensity are you running? It's possible it's just not up bright enough..

[NanoCat]

I am currently running it at:


9-12 ramp up to 14k at 90 percent

12-4 ramp down to 14k at 85 percent

4-6:30 ramp down 18k at 75 percent

6:30-10 ramp down 18k at 60 percent

10-11 ramp down 20k at 38 percent

11-12 ramp down deep blue 43 percent

ramp down to moon lights

[Aquattro]

Seems fine for that size tank.

[Zoaelite]

Its hard to say with SPS, so many factors going into keeping them happy and healthy over a long period of time.

Your Radion program seems rather linear with a large negative slope, I would try swapping it over to a more parabolic arch centering around noon and decreasing intensity all the way through out. I have never had a Radion over 75% intensity for fear of bleaching and I have always kept them 12-14" off the water. Now that I look at it your running the light for way too long with some major intensity, 9-12 is 15 hours with a lowest setting of 43%!! Way too much light IMO. Do you have any photos of the SPS in question?

[NanoCat]

No I don't have any photos of the sps in question. I can try and get some in then next day or so but it can be really hard to get any that are a good representation of the colour. I can see that I should defiantly trim back the time and create more of an arch as you say.

I have not seen any bleaching on any of my coral. My green birdsnest has over the past few months finally become more of a light green rather than brownish. my yellow monti digita is seemingly fine but my orange digita had its pop and is more muted.

There are others but describing them is not much help without photos. I will try and get some good ones.

How long would you suggest running my photo period. 8hrs total?

Thanks

[xenon]

I run them @ 20K preset with 0% green and 30% white @ 80% intensity for 8hrs per day and 2hrs ramp up time in the morning/evening.

If you corals lighten in color, drop down the intensity. If they darken, increase it.

These are my frags that were grown/colored under Radions. I expect even better coloration once I upgrade to the Pro version.

[daplatapus]

@Xenon
That is a veritable cornucopia of awesomeness.

[Proteus]

My radion ramps for a hour at 18k then six hours @80% 14k then hour and half ramp down at 18k.

I have good color and growth

[xenon]

Originally Posted by daplatapus

@Xenon
That is a veritable cornucopia of awesomeness.

Wow. Umm.. I think that's a compliment. Thanks!