14K or 20K for better SPS coloration

[J Rog]

Hi all,

Im trying to get better coloration out of my sps.. As of now I have 2 X 250 Watt Phoenix 14K in a Coralife 48 Inch Aqualight Pro over my 120 gallon tech tank. They are almost hitting 9 months old and im going to order some new bulbs. I can't seem to get good coloration out of my blues and purples.. Whats everyones opinions on maybe changing over to a 20K bulb? Do you think that would make a difference in coloration. My blues and purple kind of look browned out but not quite there yet.. :squigglemouth:

 

[seth&angelle]

Love the 20k radiums

 

[J Rog]

I have 2 48inch reef bright LED strips for color pop but still, they should have better coloration.

 

[Just Clownin Around]

20k for color, 10k for growth
14k split the difference
i love radiums but have switched to ai leds

 

[J Rog]

I was looking into the 20K radiums but they don't sell 250W 20K double ended bulbs

 

[Sandman_71]

I also use the Phoenix 14K which are pretty white and decided to try the XM 20k which has a bluer tint and after seeing them side by side I like the coloration that the XM gives the tank.

 

[J Rog]

Im looking at the XM's. I like the way the 20K's look better as well for the overall look of the tank. But what im really trying to accomplish is better coloration in my sps in general. Do notice better coloration in you sps from the XM 20K's (if you keep them) as oppose to the Phoenix 14K's ?

 

[swannyson7]

If you're having trouble with your blues and purples, you may want to consider dosing Lugol's Iodine to your tank to bring them out. If your parameters are all in check and all your other colors are ok, that should make a difference. Also, if you're running a ULNS, you may want to consider dosing amino acids for increased coloration in your SPS.

 

[Troylee]

Haha swanny beat me to the punch!!!! My thoughts exactly.. Either bulb should make your blues really pop..

 

[J Rog]

I will try that. But I have heard that if the corals look brownish you shouldn't does the iodine. I picked up the brightwell Iodine not to long ago and used it probably 3 times at half the recommended does to start out with and notice the my blues and purples pushing more towards the brownish color.. So I haven't used it since.. I also tried the brightwell coral amino but didn't really notice much in the problematic corals..

 

[Troylee]

A drop a day is all you need.... It don't take much that stuff is very powerful!!! I run a phoenix 14k on my tank and my blues pop more than another color you really got something else going on... Have you tested your po4 levels and if so with what?

 

[J Rog]

Ya, i think your right Troylee. Im going to pick up a Salferit test kit today if i can.. But I think it is time to change bulbs anyway. But i do 20 gallon water changes a week so I thought i should be good on PO4.. But I will check it out. Thanks man!

 

[Troylee]

Yeah like you mentioned before it is time to change bulbs, I personally only use radium or xm20k my current tank is the first time I have used a phoenix 14k and I really don't care for it "to white for my taste" but I wanna see the growth compared to others... Xm20k has the nicest color IMHO but sacrifices growth with it's cruddy par... Radium is a all around great bulb and phoenix I have heard nothing but good about it so I'm trying it... Only complaint this far is the white look..:sad:

 

[BigJohnWoody]

My po4 is .02 or less checked with a Hanna checker and my blues and purples are horrible on my sps. Think I'm gonna try the iodine. What test kit is good to check iodine levels, and what should they be at? I currently dose Elos amino acids and pro skimmer but really haven't noticed much of a change since dosing.

 

[Troylee]

.06 ppm is nsw levels... I use a sailfert test kit well I did haha.... I just dose a drop a day and don't bother testing it any more my blues tell me what's up.... To light add a couple drops .. Since I started dosing it about 2yrs a ago I found that a drop a day is perfect for every tank I have ran... Iodine is one of the few elements a skimmer does remove, carbon also removes it quickly..

 

[J Rog]

Yeah like you mentioned before it is time to change bulbs, I personally only use radium or xm20k my current tank is the first time I have used a phoenix 14k and I really don't care for it "to white for my taste" but I wanna see the growth compared to others... Xm20k has the nicest color IMHO but sacrifices growth with it's cruddy par... Radium is a all around great bulb and phoenix I have heard nothing but good about it so I'm trying it... Only complaint this far is the white look..:sad:

Ya, on this tank, its the first time I used Phoenix 14k's. The growth is good but a little white for me to.. Me personally i rather have better color then fast growth.. On my biocube I always used 20k's. I liked the color on that much better. I wish Radium made a double ended 250Watt.. I just looked on Marine deopt for that PO4 test kit and they don't have Salifert.. Is there somewhere else I can find that? Or maybe a better or eqaual to test kit that you know of that they might have?

 

[BigJohnWoody]

Sorry J Rog not trying to hijack your thread. Just interested since I am running phoenix 14k's as well and seem to have very similar problems. I have considered switching my lighting setup just so I can run radiums. I am torn right now between radiums and LED's so I'm holding off. I imagine iodine is one of my issues though considering I use a bubbleking 180 gen 2 skimmer and dose Rox carbon 24/7 through a reactor. I have good growth IMO but my colors are week with my blues and purples. My PE is weak as well but after reading Troylee show the link by Calfo I am excited about not having huge PE. I admit it's pretty, but I would rather have health and growth.

 

[BigJohnWoody]

Oh I recommend a Hanna checker for po4. Actually I recommend Hanna for every test they offer. Very accurate and customer service that can't be beat. Can't wait for the Calcium checker to come out.

 

[J Rog]

Sorry J Rog not trying to hijack your thread. Just interested since I am running phoenix 14k's as well and seem to have very similar problems. I have considered switching my lighting setup just so I can run radiums. I am torn right now between radiums and LED's so I'm holding off. I imagine iodine is one of my issues though considering I use a bubbleking 180 gen 2 skimmer and dose Rox carbon 24/7 through a reactor. I have good growth IMO but my colors are week with my blues and purples. My PE is weak as well but after reading Troylee show the link by Calfo I am excited about not having huge PE. I admit it's pretty, but I would rather have health and growth.

No worries man! looks like were in the same boat..

 

[Troylee]

The Hannah checker really blows but but it's prolly more accurate than any test kit out there... A search on here will reveal that for ya I have a 20 something page with some extensive testing I did with lab grade mixtures of po4... While not perfectly accurate I guess it's safe to say it does get us close enough for what we do...