Acan Lovers - What Lights Are You Using?

[corals1dennis]

In my opinion (if you do not mind the blue look) run at least 2:1 blue to white and mix different blues in with maybe some other colors.Especially with rainbow acans.white light just turns them all red or orange.It does not affect one or two color acans that bad but still will bring out the reds and oranges.LEDs work fine for acans if you keep it low to med (I PREFER LOW FOR ACANS)light.LEDs are stronger than some peaple think.

 

[Bubbles_B]

I use strobe lights. To get the partae started...lol :tongue:

 

[thewackyreefer]

Wow, I'm pretty impressed we got 53 votes.

Anyone care to show some pics of their pieces?

 

[STL]

I have some old photos! In reality the colors aren't quite this strong, some artistic license has been taken with the color intensity as these photos are desktop wallpaper for me

Here's the colony at about 6 months old (started with a single head):


IMG_0438.jpg by STL01, on Flickr


About a year later:


IMG_3195.jpg by STL01, on Flickr


Close-up:


IMG_3209.jpg by STL01, on Flickr


These photos were all taken under a 70 watt 20k halide in a 20 gallon long tank. Sorry, I don't have any photos of them after they were moved to the Radion lit tank yet, but they are finally getting back to their original color after 6 months under LEDs.

 

[larryl]

T5's all the way best color and growth!

 

[All Delight]

Well, not sure if you've seen my growout thread...but I've lost 40+ acan frags/colonies in the past few months.

oh that sucks. I haven't seen your thread but I'm gonna look for it and read it this weekend.

 

[feh]

I did use MH for nearly 5 years, then I switched to T5's. I was absolutely floored by the colors that were popping out of my acans. I immediately felt that I was robbed by MH in those 5 years. Here's a comparison of the color differences.

These pictures were taken the same day.
Under MH

Under T5

Another comparison. Not taken the same day, but same acan.
Under T5

Under MH

This is exactly why I went with T5 and have no plans of changing it.

 

[neuwave]

Using led at the moment sorry for crappy pic but haven't picked up a macro lens yet.

 

[Reefnjunkie]

Sorry for the not so good pic, next time maybe use you tripod you think-:tongue:-but these guys have grown from frags under LED

 

[All Delight]

reefnjunkie, that rainbow is sweet!

 

[ptboy6]

I did use MH for nearly 5 years, then I switched to T5's. I was absolutely floored by the colors that were popping out of my acans. I immediately felt that I was robbed by MH in those 5 years. Here's a comparison of the color differences.

These pictures were taken the same day.
Under MH

Under T5

Just curious but what bulb configuration are you using? That looks great!

 

[All Delight]

ptboy, I'm using 3 ati blue plus and 1 purple plus.

 

[ptboy6]

Thank you. It looks superb. Seems like that purple plus just makes things pop.

 

[All Delight]

I think that purple plus really helps the reds pop.

 

[feh]

ptboy, I'm using 3 ati blue plus and 1 purple plus.

Curious how far from sandbed is the fixture?

 

[ebushrow]

I just wanted to chime in and remind all the LED skeptics that when we use LED we see a different spectrum of light, since most LEDs are whiter than incandescent, mh, and fluorescent light. Are the corals actually changing color or do we perceive a different color under led? I have seen bleaching under LEDs, which is a operator error if you will, but stores that use solely LEDs are getting great growth, and great longevity from all types of corals, I have used pc, t5, and led and have seen better longevity and better growth and no color shift (so far) than with t5s, but just my experience and 2 cents worth.

 

[All Delight]

Curious how far from sandbed is the fixture?

24"

 

[feh]

24"

ATI fixture?

 

[gmoney243]

Before LED

With LED

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[gmoney243]

Here's with no blue LED they are off.

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