Light spectrum to showcase colors

Butuz · Jun 3, 2019

Guys, I am running AB+ on 3 AI Hydra 26HDs on Reefer 250. Occasionally, when hosting non-reefers, I really want to show the popping colors of corals, fish. However, I don’t even come remotely close to what you see at display tanks at LFSs or frag swaps. What type of a setup works best to showcase the colors? I mean for 10-15 min max, not running them all the time, but simply when needed. Here is my AB+ schedule (also welcome feedback on this one too), so need guidance on what to max, suppress etc for that short term “show” effect. I can then save it as a “favorite” and toggle when needed. Thanks guys.

Crabs McJones · Jun 3, 2019

Check out the David Saxby profile. I changed over to it and increased the intensities and it really makes the corals look good! Essentially he turns down the UV's and turns up the Royal blues and blue. They look really good in the evening when lights are ramping down. Give it a look and let me know what you think :) http://www.aquaillumination.com/signature/

Butuz · Jun 3, 2019

Crabs McJones said:
Check out the David Saxby profile. I changed over to it and increased the intensities and it really makes the corals look good! Essentially he turns down the UV's and turns up the Royal blues and blue. They look really good in the evening when lights are ramping down. Give it a look and let me know what you think :) http://www.aquaillumination.com/signature/

Thanks! I actually used to run his schedule, but was getting insane algea and corals bleaching. I think it was because he runs his whites so high. If I recall correctly, I think it was around 35%+ for CW. My corals seem to be doing better under the current AB+ mimic’d setting. I simply want something that I can turn on for a few minutes for that fluorescent popping effect. Is that 100% blue and nothing else or?

Crabs McJones · Jun 3, 2019

Butuz said:
Thanks! I actually used to run his schedule, but was getting insane algea and corals bleaching. I think it was because he runs his whites so high. If I recall correctly, I think it was around 35%+ for CW. My corals seem to be doing better under the current AB+ mimic’d setting. I simply want something that I can turn on for a few minutes for that fluorescent popping effect. Is that 100% blue and nothing else or?

Yes, if you up the blues it'll really make your corals pop. Just be mindfull of how much light they're getting. Don't want to blast them with blue light ;)

Butuz · Jun 3, 2019

Crabs McJones said:
Yes, if you up the blues it'll really make your corals pop. Just be mindfull of how much light they're getting. Don't want to blast them with blue light ;)

Thanks again. I think I just figured it out. I reduced CW, red, green to zero and maxed UV, violet, royal, blue. The colors popped! I don’t intend to run this schedule, but saved it as “preset” when I need to quickly showcase the colors for a few mins. It looks like CW is the main culprit in “washing off” the colors. Dropping CW to zero did most of the job in unleashing the colors.

So, a related question, what role does CW play and what would happen if I set whites to zero permanently as part of my routine schedule?

Crabs McJones · Jun 3, 2019

Butuz said:
Thanks again. I think I just figured it out. I reduced CW, red, green to zero and maxed UV, violet, royal, blue. The colors popped! I don’t intend to run this schedule, but saved it as “preset” when I need to quickly showcase the colors for a few mins. It looks like CW is the main culprit in “washing off” the colors. Dropping CW to zero did most of the job in unleashing the colors.

So, a related question, what role does CW play and what would happen if I set whites to zero permanently as part of my routine schedule?

Part of CW's roll is going to be viewing. Alot of people don't want to look at a blue tank, they want white so they can see their fish and coral. While the coral does utilize the spectrum, I don't believe they utilize it as much as the bluer end of the spectrum :)

Butuz · Jun 3, 2019

Crabs McJones said:
Part of CW's roll is going to be viewing. Alot of people don't want to look at a blue tank, they want white so they can see their fish and coral. While the coral does utilize the spectrum, I don't believe they utilize it as much as the bluer end of the spectrum :)

Great to know. I may end up dialing CW down a little bit (to 10% from 19%) then for semi-permanent popping look! Thanks again.

jda · Jun 3, 2019

A lot of those people grow and color the coral under different settings and lights and just use another program to "pop" them. They use a few different programs or types of light since the spectrum to pop is not great a rendering color.