Lighting and coral colors

[Fishfinder]

right now I'm running some cheap off brand black box LED's. All my corals are paling. Colors are very bland. Will getting new lights increase my coloration? Like some quality brand name lights? Does good lighting improve color? Or is it strictly nutrients?

 

[ReeferBee]

What % are you running the lights at and where is your tank nitrate and phosphate levels?

 

[MaccaPopEye]

Better question would be what is your PAR?

I think "better" lighting is part of it. But most black box LEDs can provide adequate PAR in a decent spectrum (although some are better than others). So likely Nitrate, phosphates, Alkalinity, Calcium, Magnesium and a whole range of trace elements would likely make more of a difference.

 

[Crabs McJones]

In my opinion yes. I had the Mars Aqua 300 Watt light. And I could never get growth or good color. Everything was alive, but didn't look happy. I then saved up my pennies and bought two Kessil A360WE's. And I can say without a doubt, i'll never switch to anything else. Since switching everything is growing like crazy and everything is colored up nice and looks happy. However your parameters also need to be in check. Do you know what they are?

 

[PSLReefer]

What are your water parameters, light settings and height? What are your par readings from sandbed to waterline?

There are many more variable then just saying black box led don't grow coral good. In which has been proven false.

 

[Fishfinder]

I don't have a name of the LED's. They were a free gift. They are about 5 years old. I have blues at 100% whites at 60%. Getting 80 PAR at the bottom, 250 PAR at the top.
ALK 8.4
Cal 440
Mag 1400
PO4 0.04
NO3 5

 

[Rufus’ goofs]

I don't have a name of the LED's. They were a free gift. They are about 5 years old. I have blues at 100% whites at 60%. Getting 80 PAR at the bottom, 250 PAR at the top.
ALK 8.4
Cal 440
Mag 1400
PO4 0.04
NO3 5

I might try some new lights then.
Leds have come a long way in 5 years.

 

[PSLReefer]

Ya I didn't realize they were that old, but your par seems to be seriously lacking. Do you have sps?

 

[Fishfinder]

I have had a couple pieces of SPS for about 4 months. Nothing has died. But they are barely encrusting and lost all their color, very brown. All my SPS is growing good, it's just lost a lot of color

 

[PSLReefer]

Ok may wanna get some new full spectrum leds. Brown sps are usually attributed to high alk or insufficient lighting, or other even other issues.

In your case, I would def look at new lighting to start.

 

[Fishfinder]

Ok thanks. Just not sure what the problem is and this is the only other thing I can think of

 

[PSLReefer]

I run cheap mars aqua on my tanks and never had growth or color issues. Here are some pics of my old 150 tall and 180.

These are phone pics so not that great.

 

[Reef Pets]

Lighting is only one factor when it comes to growth and color.

 

[Fishfinder]

I just didn't know if I wasn't getting enough PAR for them to show color

 

[geovento7]

I run cheap mars aqua on my tanks and never had growth or color issues. Here are some pics of my old 150 tall and 180.

These are phone pics so not that great.

Wow I have same lights how high do you keep them and where do you keep your whites and blues

 

[PSLReefer]

Wow I have same lights how high do you keep them and where do you keep your whites and blues

8inches on the 150 tall with blues at 100 and others at like 75

8 inches on the 180 and blues at about 75-80 and others about 55-60

 

[PSLReefer]

Also 3 on the 150 and 4 on the 180

 

[geovento7]

8inches on the 150 tall with blues at 100 and others at like 75

8 inches on the 180 and blues at about 75-80 and others about 55-60

Wow that's strong I feel like I'll bleach everything up