An Answer to Acans' Color morph with LEDs

[1seahorse]

If you have any Acans that are not keeping their color in your LED lighting this post may help. I have purchased some amazing WYSIWYG corals online only to have them color morph. For example deep reds turn orange, or purple turning a brown or grey.

I Personally had the Radion G1 and recently decided to just upgrade to the Pro (instead of going back to T5 or MH for coloring) since I loved the Ecotech Marine line. When doing online research I noticed there are a lot of people that have this same problem with their LED lighting. Also there is very few articles about the new line if LEDs coming out with built-in lower PAR spectrums such as UV, Violet, Indigo.

I can only speak for the Radion Pro since that is the light I got results I was hoping for, and didn't want to change lines. To my amazement the Radion Pro blew my mind away! I have fallen in love all over again with my reef tank. I no longer have any dull looking color in my Acans and best of all everything pops! SPS turned radiant colors instantly after one day of new lighting, and best of all, my prized Acan collection turned to their original coloration 3 days later!

I knew I was doing everything right with my water parameters and PAR levels and other contributing factors, my Acans were definitely growing fast in my tank, I feed them all the time, but they were not keeping their color. I was blown away by the results I have gotten with the new light system, and cannot believe that little missing PAR spectrum configuration was the key to unlocking the answer to my mystery of my dull color morphs!

I have pictures to show you the difference just 3 days out made and what it originally looked like on one specific Acan. This coral piece was used in one of Marine Depots' emailers and is my favorite coral in my tank. I hope this info helps. Happy Reef Keeping!

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/09/21/5a7e8ujy.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/09/21/sabe2yta.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/09/21/aberu7ez.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/09/21/5y6e6ure.jpg

[350gt]

So the UV and violet you feel made the difference? I havent had much color loss with the vegas, my acans lighten up a bit but not drastically.....

Maybe its time for me to add uv and violet..

[1seahorse]

So the UV and violet you feel made the difference? I havent had much color loss with the vegas, my acans lighten up a bit but not drastically.....

Maybe its time for me to add uv and violet..

The only variable change was the Radion G1 to Pro, didn't change anything else in my setup, same programmed schedule.

[jcnkt_ellis]

The violets / UV help with the expression of phosphorescent pigments like the royal blues, they would not help with bringing back reds unless it's a protein structure that under goes a color morph when exposed to a specific wavelength of light. The pro's do however come with red LEDs and have more spectrum in the red/orange area and basic biology says that a red acan is red because it reflects that wavelength instead of absorbing it so more red light means more red reflected.

[envy]

Do you have a pictures of full tank before and after. The first picture looks like it has a lot of blue and second picture looks like it has more white.

[envy]

What is the color ratio you have now and before?

[1seahorse]

Do you have a pictures of full tank before and after. The first picture looks like it has a lot of blue and second picture looks like it has more white.

the pic I took if Acan, when orange was before with G1, the 3 day later was with Pro. Same program running, deep natural reef setting 20% max Int. I have a Par meter. Here is a FT pic with the Prohttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/09/23/memaga8e.jpg

So if there are any G1 users that are hesitant about the upgrade program to Pro, go for it! no regrets, coral looks more amazing than ever! And quick refund/credit to your account.

[Big_Pun]

thanks for the info maybe this will help my sps color loss. luckily i have the option of adding modules to solve this.

[1seahorse]

thanks for the info maybe this will help my sps color loss. luckily i have the option of adding modules to solve this.

Your welcome! BTW your Rastas I got yesterday look like they are drawn on by highlighters in my tank, I with I had a professional camera to get some some close up coral shots,my iPhone has a hard time taking pics with all that blue/violet light. I have some other Acans I would love to post, they too have transformed! But I can't get decent pics of.

[Big_Pun]

the acans in emilys tank under the gen 1 have all morphed, i figured it was led but nice to know its lack of uv.

[envy]

nice colors and thank you for the info