the Ecotech AB+ program that so many in this hobby love IMO has a lot to answer for, and is a terrible article and a marketing gimmick... it simulates a light that most of the corals we see regularly in the hobby never see
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Is the heavy blue look really good for coral growth?? This seems to be brought around by a very sketchy article by Ecotech and wwc... do you have any other articles that your basing your stance of heavy blue being good for health and growth, a lot of corals originate in shallow waters where the spectrum isn’t filtered out..
Your very good , and I realized later i didnt clarify that and almost edited , the look is the 20k-23k which is still white , by todays standards. but best for the coral is keep it 15 k all day with a slow even ramp up to peak I peak for like 4 hours tops (like OG 400w MH ) and then drop out to blue only for my viewing , the color of the coral will be best in 15-17.5k all day everyday , if your lights spectrum is correct to setting and peaks the right trigger pointsSo based on your posts, some combination of Coral Plus (15k) and Blue Plus (20k) would be best for growth? And some combination of Blue Plus (20k) and Actinic (??k, but guessing 23k+?) would be best for color?
But when you say "gives better color" are you talking about the look, or are you talking about the coral coloring up best from that light spectrum?
Side note - in looking at your statements, just to play devil's advocate... I would say that daylight doesn't mean much for corals. When I dive, it only takes a few feet before reds start filtering out. Most coral is deeper than a few feet below the surface. And if daylight was best for our corals, we'd be using 6k daylight bulbs, right?
BTW, my tank is 120g 4x2x2. I have 3 Noopsyche K7 Pro II LEDs. I'm adding two 48" T5 bulbs. Of course it's not a ton of additional light, but a little is better than nothing, right?! And it's not really to add a ton more PAR, but to get better coverages. It will reach some areas that are entirely shadowed by the rocks with the LEDs. Which should at least be good for my softies. Cheers,
--Kyle
Interesting. FYI, the post you were replying to was not me (the OP). And I'm taking everyone's feedback into consideration. I'm starting to consider a Coral Plus and Blue Plus now, even though I don't love the look. I can change it throughout the day though. Have the Coral Plus on more when I'm not around and the Blue Plus on more when I am. If that's what's best anyway! Thanks!
--Kyle
Your very good , and I realized later i didnt clarify that and almost edited , the look is the 20k-23k which is still white , by todays standards. but best for the coral is keep it 15 k all day with a slow even ramp up to peak I peak for like 4 hours tops (like OG 400w MH ) and then drop out to blue only for my viewing , the color of the coral will be best in 15-17.5k all day everyday , if your lights spectrum is correct to setting and peaks the right trigger points
No it doesnt I love it , compared to people only running blue channels or AB+ or mega blue UV heavy only spectrums20k looks white to you? After about 14k, you're getting strong blue tints.
Your very good , and I realized later i didnt clarify that and almost edited , the look is the 20k-23k which is still white , by todays standards. but best for the coral is keep it 15 k all day with a slow even ramp up to peak I peak for like 4 hours tops (like OG 400w MH ) and then drop out to blue only for my viewing , the color of the coral will be best in 15-17.5k all day everyday , if your lights spectrum is correct to setting and peaks the right trigger points
If you're only running the t5 bulbs when you're your away at work and hence won't see them, I'd choose one true actinic and one gieseman 65k tropic.
They're both fantastic growth bulbs, they both stimulate the production of pigments that other bulbs don't, and they both look "not that great" when on, haha. However, since they'll be ov when you're at work or doesn't matter.
...would running each of the T5s for 4 hours a day be sufficient to help the coral get (some of) a more complete light spectrum (considering they're supplemental to the LEDs)...
Why only run them four hours? They should be running eight to twelve hours.
Well I was asking the question; not stating a definitive plan. But the reason is that they'd be supplemental to the LEDs (which are on over 12 hours at some level), wouldn't look great when on (if I went with the 6500k T5). That is, they would be like the midday sun, which doesn't last that long. I could do longer of course, but I don't know if I would consider a 6500k bulb if it isn't going to look good for a large portion of the day. Thanks,
--Kyle
I think that 4 hours might to the trick - but if you're going to be away at work then I'd run them for 6-8 hours.
One reason I suggested those two bulbs is that they provide spectrum that the LED fixtures don't provide in abundance. They're complimentary to the LEDs and together would provide a fuller/broader spectrum. The Blue+ is a great bulb for viewing and growing coral but I view it as redundant to the LEDs. Most people have their LEDs tuned to a spectrum very similar to a Blue+.
ATI Blue Plus and Coral Plus
Do it slowly, that’s way to big a jump, 1-2% a week is a good starting point. I would get your LEDs where you want them over a Few months then reevaluate the T5’s otherwise you will be making to many changes far to quicklyhad topped out at 25% on white. Now I just bumped it to 50% and I'm considering going to 75 or 100%... Think this is a good idea?
A couple thoughts - with only one bulb of 65K along with the LED's it may not look that bad overall.
I run my own tank with a 50/50 mix of True Actinic and Blue+ and the combo looks fantastic IMO especially when balanced with the LEDs.
I'd move slowly when cranking up the white channels of your LEDs - or any of the channels. I agree that the white should probably be used more - but 25% is big jump - just keep an eye on things and watch for bleaching or other stress.
You're over-thinking this. The current crop of T5s will all grow corals, they have everything that is needed. Pick a color combination you like and stick with it. Dont go changing your LEDs about, this is the number one reason people kill corals with LEDs. This thread has some examples of what the different bulbs will produce visually.
Do it slowly, that’s way to big a jump, 1-2% a week is a good starting point. I would get your LEDs where you want them over a Few months then reevaluate the T5’s otherwise you will be making to many changes far to quickly
Why is it excessive?? It was conservative if anything. I’m out of here as you obviously know everything... good luckSo you're suggesting at least 12 weeks to go from 25 to 50%?? That's really excessive.
Why is it excessive?? It was conservative if anything. I’m out of here as you obviously know everything... good luck