Hey Gary ...

[::pete::]

Growth ... remember they looked dead when first put in? White as could be ...

[alexwolf]

whoa, thats cool!!!!

[Ross]

nice! i have a frag of that, but not quite the same color. What lighting is it under?

[::pete::]

2 250W 14K Hamiltons and 2 140W VHO's

[Ross]

Do they make the 14k Hamiltons in 400w?

[NaCl_H2O]

That's great Pete - was there any significant increase in growth after you started dripping Kalk?

[::pete::]

I cant say positively yet as to what the differences are after I started dripping. It could be because I see it every day though.

[GaryP]

That sure looks better under your 14K then my 10K.

BTW, that originally came from Larry. Just giving credit where credit is due. It was encrusted over the top of a floral pick and I got a ton of small frags off of it when I tried to take it off. I gave a way several frags from it. Ross, did you get yours from me too?

Gary

[oceancube]

your 14k bulb really brings out nice color, im gonna goahead and go with a 14k, wondering what type vho bulbs you run along with the mh setup, btw very nice growth and color in a couple weeks!

[::pete::]

URI super actinics 60" thanks

[GaryP]

Cube,

Just remember that you give up growth for colorl with a 14K. I'm not putting them down, but that's what happens with the higher K value bulbs. I just went from 14K to 10K.

The higher the K value, the lower the PAR (photosynthetically available radiation) value.

Gary

[::pete::]

Cube,

Just remember that you give up growth for colorl with a 14K. I'm not putting them down, but that's what happens with the higher K value bulbs. I just went from 14K to 10K.

The higher the K value, the lower the PAR (photosynthetically available radiation) value.

Gary
This is true, but its not just lights that make corals grow ;)

[GaryP]

Pete,

That's true admittedly. I just know that some people have been really disappointed when they saw their growth slow when going to 14K and 20K bulbs. I know I did.

In my case I went from 6.5K to 14K. What a huge difference in both color and growth.

Gary

[::pete::]

I agree, it all comes down to personal preference. I happen to like the blue look, but the 20K's were too blue and I get decent growth from my 14K's and definitely better than with the 20K's. I have tried the 10K's and they are just too white for me ... personal preference.

[GaryP]

I'm going to try and load up on actinics in the next tank to try and get good color as well as good growth. With the larger tank I may even look at using a combination of MH bulbs. I think that is the ideal solution to the growth vs. color issue.

gary

[::pete::]

It definitely looked good in Jims tank when he did the combination. Also ... isnt the reason we purchase all these fancy, colorful corals for our personal tanks due to the way they look ... their color?

[alexwolf]

I get great growth out of my 20k bulbs. I just posted a growth thread, i wish I had taken pics of the monti Gary gave me, it has tripled in size in 2.5 months.

[GaryP]

You should get great growth from a Monti, they are fast growers. Corals will adapt to whatever light you give them, but as you mentioned to me, the PAR on a 20K is a lot lower than a 10K. That's why frag farmers use Iwasakis.

Gary

[Richard]

I hate to hijack this thread but for the lighting/sps gurus. My acros are doing fine but they have all turned green. Pink, purple whatever has turned a very pretty green. Good polyp extension and what not but too much green!

215 with:
2 140W 10K VHO
2 140W Super Actinic VHO
2 400W Ushio 10k's.

I think I'm going to add a 400w 20K and see if I can get some different colors. Or should I try replacing the 10k vho's with actinics or 12k Actinic whites first? If they were browning I would know it just isn't enough light but never had them all turn green before. :? Monti's are all good.

Any thoughts?

[::pete::]

That's why frag farmers use Iwasakis.

The farmers are shooting for rapid growth and not a colorful tank. :-D

[alexwolf]

I dont know about you guys, but my tank is there for me to look at and enjoy all the different colors, sure I want some growth, but I enjoy the colors much more.

Richard, might be related might not.

I have noticed that ever single wild caught coral I have ever purcahsed (acros) turned brown, then went BRIGHT green in my tank. All came from Fiji, coincidence?

[Ross]

yeah, i got it from you Gary.

Does anyone know if they make 14k 400 watters?

[::pete::]

Here (http://www.hamiltontechnology.com/shop/index.php?shop=1&cart=115585&match_criteria=&rec=& keywords=400+watt+14+k&) you go Ross I am not sure if you were looking for DE or SE.

[Ross]

thanks!

[Ross]

Can the hellolights magnetic ballast fire that bulb? I think the ballast is an M58 or something like that.

[Instar]

Or should I try replacing the 10k vho's with actinics

Richard - Replace the 10K vho's with 420nm 03 actinics. Proportionately you have way more 10k than actinic with your current setup. It should be 2 actinic to 1 10K with morrored reflectors for best color and good growth. Blues and pinks in higher light areas, greens and browns lower light areas is the basic rule to follow. You have to have lots of debri-free, pure, clear (not tinted from algae growth or lack of changes) water flowing and no day/night temp swings as well. (And newer bulbs.)

[Instar]

coincidence?

Alex - yep. All my Figi corals kept their great colors and even turned more colorful.

[NaCl_H2O]

Guess I'm the odd one out - SPS = 65K w/VHO Actinics, LPS = 10K w/PC Actinic.

... Then again, I am color blind 8)

Most that have seen my SPS tank say - what lighting is that? and they are shocked that it is 65Ks with VHO Actinic - I like it !!!