The key to great colors

gpwdr · May 11, 2015

Everyone has their own idea on how to grow colorful corals. That means nobody really knows?

Jayellul · May 19, 2015

lol copper in a bottle. Things I read on this forum crack me up.

that Reef Guy · May 19, 2015

ycnibrc said:
You need to experiment with additive such as zeo and fauna marine. The big 3 Cal,Alk and Mag only help to maintain the corals but can't enhance the color. Light is another factor, blast them with a lot of blue light and uv then you will see the color change. If your tank is healthy try zeospur2 and B balance from zeo your coral color will change but before you think about color your reef need to be healthy so your corals is showing the true color then you can adjust it darker or lighter through additive. If your corals are all brown and weak then you just waste your money try to change color.

My tank had better colors when I used all Blue ATI Bulbs.

I am switching back to all Blue Bulbs right now.

I know have 3 Blue Plus and 1 Coral Plus and stuff is already getting better color.

Maybe it is just me though.

Anybody else seen better Color using all ATI Blue Plus Bulbs?

Orly20 · May 20, 2015

If your thinking of using Zeospur make sure to follow the dosing on the bottle and I would say if you never used it before try it a little below the recommended dosage and see if you like the results. I've used it with good results which was playing with the colors and it made them lighter in color. I haven't used it now for sometime and changed over to not so ULNS. Great hobby!

Chameleon · May 20, 2015

Nice color comes from lots of fish poop and lots of light towards 20K. Colors and growth are kind of opposites. Growth tends to pick up with lower nutrients and whiter light.

TUSI · May 20, 2015

JBNY said:
How does the additives change the color? Do they make them lighter or a different color altogether?

The zeovit additive bottles tells you what colors they enhance. They do work my colors are very deep not pastel like some pictures of zeovit. Pastel colors comes from the zeo spur additives, it reduces the zoax from corals and that's why they look lighter. Zeovit just came out with A balance that is suppose to work with yellow colors.

Chameleon · May 22, 2015

revhtree said:
Water Changes!

LOL, while I agree water changes are very beneficial to a reef tank, I remember when the water changes vs none debate was rampant on this forum, and it seems we always saw nice looking tanks from both sides of the coin. I think this goes to show like with many things in reefing, there are different ways to bring about nice colors in a reef tank. I prefer lots of fishies, 20k light, good skimming, and water changes.

Oscaror · May 24, 2015

My garf bonsai loves fish poop, 180ppm of it in fact!

WetWhistle · May 24, 2015

A few things influence color in corals.

A good dose of UV helps color sps up. Think of going outside on a sunny day. What does your skin do to protect itself? You tan and your skin colors up. Color is a way of protecting the corals cells from UV damage. That is why you see some crazy color when using MH and some of the LED and if you have enough bulbs the T5. I found over the years 10,000 k range was fastest for growth, but not always best for color.
So this is where proper spectrum comes into play. 14,000 k to 20,000 k was the best for color but I found the higher K I went the better the color but the slower the growth. So to get around this you can peak your lights for 2 hours at 10,000 k for maximum growth and the rest of the day keep it at 14,000 to 20,000 k to maintain color.

Nutrient level. The higher the nutrient levels in the tank the more the symbiotic algae in the corals grow. The denser the growth of the algae the less color you have. So if you keep your nutrient levels in check the symbiotic algae will be at proper ratio \ density and you will be able to see the color. With that being said some people that have higher k lighting can have colorful corals with a higher nutrient level. Some people line to use products the cull some of the algae out of the corals. I would use with caution as you can kill your tank with even a small overdose. So I would not recommend this option.

joshbbert · May 24, 2015

WetWhistle said:
A few things influence color in corals.

A good dose of UV helps color sps up. Think of going outside on a sunny day. What does your skin do to protect itself? You tan and your skin colors up. Color is a way of protecting the corals cells from UV damage. That is why you see some crazy color when using MH and some of the LED and if you have enough bulbs the T5. I found over the years 10,000 k range was fastest for growth, but not always best for color.
So this is where proper spectrum comes into play. 14,000 k to 20,000 k was the best for color but I found the higher K I went the better the color but the slower the growth. So to get around this you can peak your lights for 2 hours at 10,000 k for maximum growth and the rest of the day keep it at 14,000 to 20,000 k to maintain color.

Nutrient level. The higher the nutrient levels in the tank the more the symbiotic algae in the corals grow. The denser the growth of the algae the less color you have. So if you keep your nutrient levels in check the symbiotic algae will be at proper ratio \ density and you will be able to see the color. With that being said some people that have higher k lighting can have colorful corals with a higher nutrient level. Some people line to use products the cull some of the algae out of the corals. I would use with caution as you can kill your tank with even a small overdose. So I would not recommend this option.

Great info ty

WetWhistle · May 24, 2015

You are welcome.

I also noticed that the lower the Kelvin, say around 10,000k. I had to keep a cleaner lower nutrient level tank, then if I am at 14,000 to 20,000k to keep my colors.

Diesel · May 24, 2015

I'm lol on some of the comments.
Let me fluff some pillows here............... I give my corals a good dose of R2R on a daily schedule.

Chameleon · May 25, 2015

Diesel said:
I'm **** on some of the comments.
Let me fluff some pillows here............... I give my corals a good dose of R2R on a daily schedule.

what is number 84? I have one that looks just like it.

WetWhistle · May 25, 2015

They are all quite nice. Lots of good color.

maroun.c · May 25, 2015

Alk, Ca Mg stability is key for corals to thrive then you can start experimenting with nutrient levels and their effect on theor tank and also additives. Suggest you experiment with each additive alone and allow time to assess results.
I have experimented with 6500 MH over a frag tank linked to my old tank and the colors didnt suffer.
In my previous tank i had good colors, tweaking things wit zeo additives or other menas or trying to go ULNS would have of course improved the colors but i chose to skip the hassle for a 20% color improvement!