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Proteus
08-28-2013, 10:10 PM
I've been struggling with some color in my tank.
My red planet is yellow while others like my deswalli are great
Pink Floyd is green and not gaining any color

I have a 24x24x12 half cube. 90% of coral is 6" deep. The radion(gen1)is 10" above water. It starts at 3pm ramp for one hour to 10k at 70% going to 20k @ 80% by 10pm ramping down for 1 hour
I feed very little as I only have three chromis. The bioload is very light with skimmer only pulling after dosing coral snow. It's a prodibio tank


My params

Nitrate 0
Po4 undetectable
Ph who knows:)

Cal 450
Alk 7
Mg 1350/1400

I'm on the verge of buying a 250w metal halide but thought some gurus may have suggestions

Much appreciated.

xenon
08-28-2013, 10:17 PM
When was the last time you tested for potassium? :)

From our experience, the more blue the light settings the better the color. If I could calculate the color temp of our settings it would be 24k.

You should consider adding more fish and feeding more.

waynemah
08-28-2013, 10:21 PM
I recently switched to Hydras and the color was dull compared to my DIY (Royal Blue and Cool White). I found they lost luminescence and reds went away completely. I boosted the RB along with the Deep Blue and UV (now all blues are running at 80% with my whites at 100%, greens and reds peak at 30%). Colors have changed drastically within the last week.

The other factor is ALK for me, what are you testing with? The higher ALK the more pastel the colors get, with 9DKH being the breaking point for SPS health.

Do you have any pictures to show the colors?

Proteus
08-28-2013, 10:59 PM
Haven't tested potassium. I do a water change every three days(5g) on 40g system

I test alk with elos

I was running at 20k but found I was getting more encrustation and less branching

I do also have a blue assessor but he only comes out in evening

Pick suck as I don't have good camera

xenon
08-28-2013, 11:06 PM
You should make sure your salt is not deficient in potassium. We are currently using the new Fritz salt and it is highly deficient in potassium (290ppm) so we buffer it up to 400ppm and it makes a big difference in coloration.

I would start by adding more fish and feeding more. Either that or start broadcast feeding some oyster eggs and rotifers.

MitchM
08-28-2013, 11:21 PM
...
I would start by adding more fish and feeding more. Either that or start broadcast feeding some oyster eggs and rotifers.

I agree. Undetectable PO4 is not necessarily a good thing. Your corals could probably benefit from some nutrients.

uniboob
08-28-2013, 11:22 PM
I have heard that corals don't like ramping of LED unless its a quick ramp up for lights on and a quick ramp down for lights off.

MarkoD
08-28-2013, 11:32 PM
Your lights might be too bright. I'm running radions at 35% at 6 inches above water with a 20" deep tank. With sps 12 inches deep

Proteus
08-28-2013, 11:34 PM
I'm using reefers best salt. Ill get a potassium kit and test.

I just revamped lights to 30min ramp and 20k all day.
I was looking online for color charts of radium20k and geissmann 21k but found nothing.

Ill grab a coupl more fish and see. Although I would prefer just to broadcast food.

Maybe ill pull filter sick and see if that changes anything

Proteus
08-28-2013, 11:35 PM
Your lights might be too bright. I'm running radions at 35% at 6 inches above water with a 20" deep tank. With sps 12 inches deep

What color temp are you useibg Marko

MarkoD
08-29-2013, 12:07 AM
20k

mrhasan
08-29-2013, 12:33 AM
Just ditch the LED and see the magic :D

Proteus
08-29-2013, 12:40 AM
Just ditch the LED and see the magic :D

The magic would be in the dark then.

mrhasan
08-29-2013, 12:43 AM
The magic would be in the dark then.

Cough cough...T5...cough cough

mr_alberta
08-29-2013, 12:45 AM
Just put a Radium bulb over your corals Nick. :mrgreen:

Aquattro
08-29-2013, 12:52 AM
Just put a Radium bulb over your corals Nick. :mrgreen:

That would do it!

lastlight
08-29-2013, 12:52 AM
This ramp time thing is news to me. I ramp up over 2hrs and ramp down over 2 hrs. Does anyone have a link to more info on this?

Proteus
08-29-2013, 12:52 AM
Just put a Radium bulb over your corals Nick. :mrgreen:

Lol. I want to

Proteus
08-29-2013, 12:53 AM
This ramp time thing is news to me. I ramp up over 2hrs and ramp down over 2 hrs. Does anyone have a link to more info on this?

Someone better tell the sun......

Aquattro
08-29-2013, 12:55 AM
This ramp time thing is news to me. I ramp up over 2hrs and ramp down over 2 hrs. Does anyone have a link to more info on this?
I ramp up 4, down 3, no issues.

tang daddy
08-29-2013, 01:04 AM
I am curious to see the sps under radions, Titus do you have any pics?

xenon
08-29-2013, 01:06 AM
We also ramp up/down 2hrs without issues.

Proteus
08-29-2013, 01:14 AM
I am curious to see the sps under radions, Titus do you have any pics?

I don't have a good camera. But I'll take some pics in a few minutes

tang daddy
08-29-2013, 01:20 AM
Cool mang!

I have seen sps under Mithras and ai, I have also seen the radion led at Jl on their small tank and it looks pretty natural colour for light.

I am now running t5 and while I am happy with the colour visually, I have always leaned toward the blue spectrum more. I plan on adding some stunner strips of blue and magenta to the mix to see some more pop in my sps.

Reef Pilot
08-29-2013, 01:28 AM
I use the Natural Mode with my Radions, which ramps them up gradually to a peak (high noon) and then back down to night (with moonlight on). I also have the depth set to 60 ft, which changes the light, too. Works fine for me, and my SPS are growing really nicely. I use both Gen 1's and Gen 2's.

Proteus
08-29-2013, 02:05 AM
Pics suck but.....

Bee stinger monti
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd400/titus991/null_zps1f5abd14.jpg
Aussie acro
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd400/titus991/null_zpsf8d528bc.jpg
This milli is starring to darken. Came from a mh tank
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd400/titus991/null_zpscc8e1d67.jpg
Setosa and ssc. (Ssc is starting to color but its taking months)
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd400/titus991/null_zps10260562.jpg
$10 acro that browned out but is starting to green up
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd400/titus991/null_zpsca50af4d.jpg
Lacking color but nice growth
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd400/titus991/null_zpse56b9713.jpg
Garf
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd400/titus991/null_zps7788802a.jpg
Forest fire digi that had a vermetid snail so its growth is retarded
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd400/titus991/null_zps71a530f3.jpg
Purple poison shortcake
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd400/titus991/null_zpsdbde0b13.jpg
Red planet been this color for a month and half
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd400/titus991/null_zpsa701ab7e.jpg
Red dragon
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd400/titus991/null_zps7482f89f.jpg
Pink Floyd
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd400/titus991/null_zps91f7c870.jpg
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd400/titus991/null_zps538fee7d.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd400/titus991/null_zps98b79f5c.jpg
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd400/titus991/null_zps71725cfb.jpg

Acrowhora
08-29-2013, 02:11 AM
I have my Radion set on high growth and running at 50%,and hung about 7" above the waterline.i have no problem corals with blue,red,green,purple colours.

Rice Reef
08-29-2013, 02:22 AM
I had used three gen 1 radion with TIR lens over my 120 before switching over to the Mitras. Looking at your pics I don't think they are off much... Are you sure that piece is a red planet? It seems to look different than that... Prov closer to a milli like... I had the Radions ramping up 3 and down 2-3 each day. At peak it was running 100% at 12k and between 6-7 inch above water line.

Here is a link of pics taken between 12k and 14k back in Sep 2012...
http://photobucket.com/albums/pp148/hockeyguy1999/Sept 2012

Btw, like that garf bonsai and I miss the purple poison SC

Proteus
08-29-2013, 02:32 AM
I bought the red planet from Denny who got it from Levi.

Although it was 1/2" and dark purple when I got it. I should find a frag and stick it in there and compare.

The purple poison is awesome its colors are quite nice actually. Almost lost it last year. But it bounce back and is putting weight on

I have some nice colors and some wild pieces that turned green. I do want a radium but not the heat or evap

Rice Reef
08-29-2013, 02:41 AM
I bought the red planet from Denny who got it from Levi.

Although it was 1/2" and dark purple when I got it. I should find a frag and stick it in there and compare.

The purple poison is awesome its colors are quite nice actually. Almost lost it last year. But it bounce back and is putting weight on

I have some nice colors and some wild pieces that turned green. I do want a radium but not the heat or evap

Your PPSC looks a lot like mine when it was alive and coloring up. I think it took at least 6 mths to show its true colours off. I also had a sliver of the SSC. Was brown -grey like for 16 mths before coloring up. I had high up... Prob 8-9 in from the lights, same for the PPSC.

Btw, I had the Radions running in a custom mode and it was always at 100% intensity then( except for when it goes to night mode).

Perhaps placing the red planet at a different location.... More flow etc..?
Good luck and hope you solve this mystery...

Proteus
08-29-2013, 03:11 AM
Your PPSC looks a lot like mine when it was alive and coloring up. I think it took at least 6 mths to show its true colours off. I also had a sliver of the SSC. Was brown -grey like for 16 mths before coloring up. I had high up... Prob 8-9 in from the lights, same for the PPSC.

Btw, I had the Radions running in a custom mode and it was always at 100% intensity then( except for when it goes to night mode).

Perhaps placing the red planet at a different location.... More flow etc..?
Good luck and hope you solve this mystery...

This tank is still young. I set it up this spring. So I know it takes time. It's growing fast too. Maybe I'm just impatient

tang daddy
08-29-2013, 04:38 PM
Thanks for the pics Titus, a few nice pieces forsure. You may need to be patient to see better colour, sps takes time to colour up.

I just restarted my tank in March aswell and have had great results with the T5, most of the sps I have had coloured up quite nice and consuming alot of alk and ca, most have encrusted and grown in the last few months.

I've been on an sps rampage lately and consuming some choice frags. By September this year I will add some blue magenta led strips to see more pop in the colour of my corals.