AB+ or PHX14

[BestMomEver]

I've been running a modified AB+ schedule for a while now. Recently I've considered changing to the PHX14 schedule. I love the cool blue color in the PHX14 schedule (AB+ has more white light). I also keep a lot of Pocilloporidae species (birdsnest, stylo, etc) which, according to Coral Lab results, do a little better than under the PHX14 schedule. At the same time, I don't want to change when I got a good thing going.

Opinions anyone? Does anyone use the PHX14 schedule?

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

What’s the PHX14 schedule? I’m assuming you mean radion settings that mimic the Phoenix 14k metal halide. Is that correct?

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

Never mind
I found it on the corallab site. It looks like it’s just more red and less green compared to the ab+

 

[BestMomEver]

What’s the PHX14 schedule? I’m assuming you mean radion settings that mimic the Phoenix 14k metal halide. Is that correct?

Yea...

 

[BestMomEver]

Never mind
I found it on the corallab site. It looks like it’s just more red and less green compared to the ab+

Yea. I have my AB+ jacked up to 100%. This setting is not as intense. Still, what is visible in the ocean is blue....been there! This setting allows for more blue but lessening the white.

 

[BestMomEver]

Anyone?

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

I use the hydra ab+ settings with more red and less white. My eyes definitely prefer a cooler blueish spectrum, and it makes the colors of the coral pop more.

 

[BestMomEver]

I use the hydra ab+ settings with more red and less white. My eyes definitely prefer a cooler blueish spectrum, and it makes the colors of the coral pop more.

Yea... I think that’s basically what the PHX14 schedule is. It looks like the AB+ but with less white and more red. Awhile ago, I altered my AB+ schedule to run the white channel at 100%. I’m not sure why I did that. ;Wideyed End result was it was very white. I’m surprised my corals didn’t bleach. But that might be the reason I don’t have the best color on some of my SPS. I think I’m going to stay either with the true AB+ or PHX14 schedule. @Dana Riddle can you explain some of this stuff to me? What is the advantage of the higher red/lower white of the PHX14 schedule. Also, the coral lab info states that stylophora, bird’s nest and montis do better with the PHX14 (more red?) schedule. Do you know why that is?

 

[Dana Riddle]

Yea... I think that’s basically what the PHX14 schedule is. It looks like the AB+ but with less white and more red. Awhile ago, I altered my AB+ schedule to run the white channel at 100%. I’m not sure why I did that. ;Wideyed End result was it was very white. I’m surprised my corals didn’t bleach. But that might be the reason I don’t have the best color on some of my SPS. I think I’m going to stay either with the true AB+ or PHX14 schedule. @Dana Riddle can you explain some of this stuff to me? What is the advantage of the higher red/lower white of the PHX14 schedule. Also, the coral lab info states that stylophora, bird’s nest and montis do better with the PHX14 (more red?) schedule. Do you know why that is?

Many questions - few answers. LOL. I'll take a stab at it any way. White LEDs rate poorly on the PUR scale (~35%) according to the Seneye device (compare this to about 90% for violet LEDs) hence jacking up a white LED potentially generates less usable light, photosynthetically speaking. UV/violet/blue light probably accounts for production of colorful coral proteins. I can only guess why Coral Lab states Stylophora, Seriatopora and other corals do 'better' with additional red light. Could be that these corals are often red or orange (due to non-fluorescent proteins) and appear 'best' when reflecting red light. The same is true for purple/mauve proteins - these preferentially reflect blue and red wavelengths.

 

[dantimdad]

@Dana Riddle

We have repeated many times the parts of the spectrum that need to be hit for growth and coloration.

Sorry I missed Saturday.

We will get together and talk soon, I hope.

 

[BestMomEver]

Many questions - few answers. LOL. I'll take a stab at it any way. White LEDs rate poorly on the PUR scale (~35%) according to the Seneye device (compare this to about 90% for violet LEDs) hence jacking up a white LED potentially generates less usable light, photosynthetically speaking. UV/violet/blue light probably accounts for production of colorful coral proteins. I can only guess why Coral Lab states Stylophora, Seriatopora and other corals do 'better' with additional red light. Could be that these corals are often red or orange (due to non-fluorescent proteins) and appear 'best' when reflecting red light. The same is true for purple/mauve proteins - these preferentially reflect blue and red wavelengths.

When you say that white light generates less usable light, are you saying that the white light inhibits growth or lessens the benefit of the blue spectrum lights? Or is it that it serves no purpose other than raising my power bill? By jacking up the white light am I causing harm or just not getting the growth and color I hope to have?

Also, how does coral use red light? Is it beneficial?

 

[dantimdad]

Red in some quantity is beneficial.

White is for your eyes. Although it does contain some beneficial light, for the most part it just jacks up the power bill.

 

[BestMomEver]

Red in some quantity is beneficial.

White is for your eyes. Although it does contain some beneficial light, for the most part it just jacks up the power bill.

Good to know! So, I will take a look at both AB+ and PHX14 to see which I like better. I think the only difference is the red concentration. And, I’ll cut the white back.

 

[dantimdad]

Just make sure it looks good to you as well.

The whole point in this is to enjoy what you see!

 

[Shinte122305]

Yea. I have my AB+ jacked up to 100%. This setting is not as intense. Still, what is visible in the ocean is blue....been there! This setting allows for more blue but lessening the white.

100%!! woah have you checked the par on that lol???? AB+ has SOOO much par even if it doesnt look as bright as T5. like 2 years ago when i was experimenting i was getting poor growth and burning corals i got a par meter and i was like at 600+ at spots lol. i ended up lowering the lights to 40% and adding T5. the tank is twice as bright as before and par is in the 250-350 range everywhere.

oh and to answer your question i use a mix of the two. i started at AB+ and added a bit more red and green. kind of a half way point between the two settings. i get great growth and tank looks beautiful

 

[BestMomEver]

100%!! woah have you checked the par on that lol???? AB+ has SOOO much par even if it doesnt look as bright as T5. like 2 years ago when i was experimenting i was getting poor growth and burning corals i got a par meter and i was like at 600+ at spots lol. i ended up lowering the lights to 40% and adding T5. the tank is twice as bright as before and par is in the 250-350 range everywhere.

oh and to answer your question i use a mix of the two. i started at AB+ and added a bit more red and green. kind of a half way point between the two settings. i get great growth and tank looks beautiful

I checked PAR back a while ago. I don’t remember what it was.