Blue SPS with Blue Light?

[stinky]

Guys, would like to check if my concept is correct.

I'm currently keeping many colored SPS, but is not able to get my BLUE SPS to color up. However, I've got no issues with other colors. Currently, I'm using Reeflux 12,000K on Coralvue eBallast, which gives a blue tint.

So, my theory is this ... Blue SPS reflects all blue light, which is why we see the blue color. But since my MH light is mostly blue, the blue SPS is not able to absorbe enough light energy to survive. Thus, it has no other choice but to change to another color ... brown!!

So, to color up my Blue SPS, I've got to give it non-blue color spectrum. Thus, I need to change my bulbs to say 10,000K, which incidentally gives a higher par. Maybe, this is why some reefers say that blue and purple SPS requires more light than other colors.

Is the above concept correct?? If so, I've gotta change my bulbs to a higher Kelvin!!

 

[coral88]

I'm running 2x250 XM 10Ks. I just got a few acro frags with purple and with blue. They have only been in my system for a week so don’t know what will happen long term. I do have a few purple rim caps that look more blue under my 10K halides.

 

[NapoliNewJersey]

I use 250w 12K reflux and my blues are good.

I supliment with ATI blue+, URL superactinic, and URL 75/25 54w t5's

 

[Atomikk]

Yes, your theory is correct. Go towards lower Kelvin bulbs, such as 10000K to achieve amazing true coloration of your blues and pinks.

 

[lReef lKeeper]

i am running 10k reeflux, and my blues are excellent too. i would also say to go to reeflux 10k and you will notice the difference.

 

[twon8]

you're right that you the blue's tend to like more light, but I don't think enough is known about the spectrum needs of corals to say whether it's the Wavelength or overall par that is more important. You don't have to go lower to get more par, there are some good 14k and 20k bulbs.

 

[J. Montgomery]

Blue light is not the only thing coming out of your bulb.

 

[stinky]

I use 250w 12K reflux and my blues are good.

I supliment with ATI blue+, URL superactinic, and URL 75/25 54w t5's

I only have 250w 12K reflux. So, from NapoliNewJersey's comment, it seems that his blues are doing well with increased PAR from other suppliments.

As J. Montgomery mention, blue is NOT the only color in all our lights, including the actinic.

So, MAYBE, the blue SPS are still getting MORE non-blue light from NapoliNewJersey's setup, than mine ... even though his is ALL blue lights!!

This would leave me with 2 options ...

1. to get MH bulbs with less blue or
2. to get more supplimental lighting

Hmmm ... tough choice.

 

[NapoliNewJersey]

My pictures aren't the best. I went through my photobucket account and looked for some blue stuff.

A. Kimbeensis

A.Aculeus

Tubs

ORA Roscos

Blue Brain Coral

Super Blue Ricordea Florida

Again cause it's really blue

Blue Slimmer

A. Tenius

A. Tortusa

 

[Sambo]

I ran a 29gal via a 12k reeflux on an icecap eballast for a year and my blues were great. I recommend checking other parameters.

 

[fly guy]

im a 10k reeflux user as well and can say I hve never seen any other bulb bring out blues quite like this bulb

 

[Russellaqua]

Wow, that acro is sick! Amazing job.

 

[surfn]

a 12k reeflux should definitely get your corals to get blue tint, i've used that bulb before and i got crazy amounts of blues more so than any other bulb i've ever used.

IMO....forget the theory about a certain kelvin bulb gives you better/more blues than other kelvin bulbs. its BS.

instead....i think you may need to address some issues with your water quality. b/c if you aren't getting blues from a 12k reeflux something is definitely wrong.

 

[fly guy]

IMO....forget the theory about a certain kelvin bulb gives you better/more blues than other kelvin bulbs. its BS.

disagree

if you aren't getting blues from a 12k reeflux something is definitely wrong.

agree :)

 

[coral88]

So other than light what ells other than clean water will make SPS color up????

 

[shred5]

Colors in coral is such a huge subject and allot of it is debatable. It also has allot to do with other factors and not just lighting.


Color in coral comes from several things. Pigments, proteins and light reflected back at your eyes etc.
Spectrum does come into play. Certain proteins and pigments in corals are for absorbing or reflecting certain wavelengths. One thing to remember is allot of sps come from very shallow water and are used to a wide spectrum of lighting. They are adapted to these spectrum's and higher levels of uv. Deeper water sps see more blue light and less uv. One thing to remember is par is not just in the blue spectrum either. We are so trained on the blue spectrum because back in the day we mostly kept softies and lps which came from deeper water. Most higher kelvin lamps do not produce more blue light than lower kelvin bulbs, they just have less of the other spectrums.


Some corals that have turned brown in order to get them to color need to depend less on zooxanthellae for example .. One way is feeding and another may be to give it more light. By giving it more light the zooxanthellae produce more glucos for the coral so less zooxanthellae are needed. But this not always the case.


Nutrients and phosphate play an issue too... Phosphate can slow down calcification and growth and allot of times the growth section of the coral is where most of the color is.


I could go on forever on this subject.


Dave

 

[Atomikk]

This subject is broad, so broad that you can write a book.