Understanding color coral and lighting

[Paulip]

I run with 100% blue actinic LED. For most of my corals, I notice that under the sunlight comes directly from a window at 3pm:

1) my blue eyed blonde zoas suddenly tint brown.
2) Rastas remain yellow under 100% blue actinic and are only green at this time. What a dissappointment.
3) The greens pop on my orange ricordia that makes him look pedestrian.
4) The greens on my purple tip frogspawn turn flourescent which is a positive.

So, I probably have a number of colors and coral species that are not optimal for my lighting. Thankfully, Tidal Gardens shows pictures under 12000k and actinic.

How do I figure this out? Just avoid the greens? Incidently, I would like more Teal.

I don't know where to begin with this: light theory, color theory..interior decorating? I know some of you guys need help from your wives in buying clothes. Please help me.

 

[wld1783]

Generally our Captive Reef Ecosystems AKA Reef Tanks are under lit.

Back in the day it was 400 watt and 1000 watt MH much like what one would grow "Tomatoes" indoors less the Reef Spectrum.

The Ushio and Radium MH had a great spectrum....Specifically SPECTRUM...Look for a fixture that replaces a Proven MH Spectrum rather than a trendy lots of different LED Colour Fixture.

Intensity with 110 watt VHO is what we used to use, this was about twice the Ecotech PAR...

Black Box Chinese Budget Imports have a lot to be desired and I have yet to see a mature awesome reef tank only running these.

I cant answer your question as its vague...

One can grow deep coral withe only 450-420nm. Blue Actinic is what spectrum in your tank.

Zoas tend to favor a shallow lighting spectrum which is more full...Most Black Boxes lack this based on the quality of their LEDs... The Cree Cool White mixed with a Warm White offers close to a full spectrum. To optimize photosynthesis 420-450 Nm and 630-660nm is added to this.

Greens and Teal are already part of the Cree White Spectrum...This is another reason to only choose the latest Cree X series LEDs...Being OK with 3 watt LEDs is like being OK with a Chinese life raft you have not tested or read a review on lost in the middle of the Pacific...

Hope this Helps

Bill

 

[Paulip]

I found the ecoxotic color guide which seems useful. I will probably go with a little more 12k once my tank is more encrusted with coralline.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/media/PDF/ColorGuideSW.pdf

Aside from that, I am thinking I could follow dominant color themes that you find in these seaside towns.

1) Philippines - The fishermen's boats are have local color themes.
2) Hawaii - Art has mostly deep colors.
3) Caribbean towns - Big on Pastel. Bright and loud contrasts. The local colors seem very consistent with the nice SPS tanks that I have seen.

Other than that, I guess, look at a lot of nice fish tanks and be an educated buyer.

 

[Paulip]

Here is something that confounds me:

Looks metallic gold to me under 100% actinic. But, produces a Teal color in pictures. I do have an elementary understanding of colors, but it doesn't make much sense to me.

I guess I need to play with adjustable light settings to gain a familiarization.

View attachment 16137

 

[wld1783]

This might help all.

Some corals possess some of these pigments some more. Those $500 frags have pigments that accept one spectrum and reflect another resulting in an awesome looking SPS

Also your photo cell in your camera depending on make cannot process the same spectrum's as accurately as our eyes. This leads some vendors an excuse to Photoshop WYSIWYG.

 

[ReeferRick]

I have some zoas and shrooms that were deep pink at one point withsome T5s.

Now,under good PAR from my Reefbreeders, they all changed from pink/red to orange.

 

[wld1783]

I have some zoas and shrooms that were deep pink at one point withsome T5s.

Now,under good PAR from my Reefbreeders, they all changed from pink/red to orange.

A change in lighting will change the looks... Like back in the day when we tried different MH Bulbs.

Bill