How to get corals to glow

[iunknown]

Whats the best way to get the neon colors of corals to glow? Actinic lights? Can people use black lights? I read through this but didn't seem to answer my question,
Magnificent Fluorescence! Aquaristic Perspectives by Anthony Calfo - Reefkeeping.com

 

[Weetabix7]

Well if you have T5HO lighting, Blue+ and Fiji Purple bulbs help them to "glow" without making them look artificial.

 

[Tankgeeks]

supplemental actinic lights are the way to go. there are many options for this: vho's, t5's, and even Led's. What is your current lighting setup??

 

[aquafrags]

stable params and some actinics

 

[iunknown]

T5's and MH combo. Thanks, I'll start searching to see what's a good brand.

 

[afboundguy]

I'm a huge fan of the ATI Blue plus bulbs... Also blue LED's IMO/IME make things glow and would work great on a nano tank as supplemental lighting...

 

[seascape]

im going to the blue + and the fiji purp, im running t5's and this is what im hearing so next bulbs for actinics are going to be them.RJ

 

[stunreefer Verified Sponsor]

Plug 'em in!

The article you linked by Calfo is regarding NightSea equipment rather than actinics... see an article by our own JuniorMC8704 here: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-11/feature/index.php

 

[nivram]

My Powerbright (Blue LEDs) seem to do the trick for me. They make my acans look nuclear. :bigsmile:

 

[dell2go]

Use Actinic and 14k or 20K MH lamp.

 

[AlexStinson]

I put on blue+ as supplements to my 20k halide... If i were you I would go a little darker, like the actnic plus that is a 22k lamp

 

[AZDesertRat]

Nothing makes coral glow like URI (UVL) VHO Super Actinics. T5 colors are getting darn close but not quite the same yet.