Acans losing Greens and Rainbows under Maxspect Razor

NRG1337 · Apr 25, 2017

hey guys,

got some problems with my acans under my maxspect razor 16k 160w.

Lamp ran at 55% White and 85% blue.

They loose their Rainbow Color, especially bright green and get orange or brown.

KH: 8.5
NO3: 3
PO4: 0.16
CA: 420
MG: 1290

This beauty i bought 4 Weeks ago. Changed color alot

Next Frag is for 4 months in my tank. Where the polyps are in fullshade they kept their greens. The other half gets some light but also in a partshaded area and lost the whole green.

Next one also lost the green rings she had and turned orange. As you can see the shaded part of coral got a little bit of rings left. But the rings were bright green too!

The same on this Frag, after a few weeks the green is fully gone !

I really dont know what to do with this lamp. Lower light? Increase light?

Is there any spectrum missing cuz this lamp got no colored led's like Radion or Hydra Lamps?

What can i do to get my colors back?

The corals are very healthy, puffy, eat and produce new polyps ...

THEY NEW POLYPS COME OUT IN ORIGINAL COLOR

Im very glad about each advice!

Thanks Chris!

sebastiaan1985 · Apr 25, 2017

In my experience, Acans will change color depending on lighting and especially spectrum.
Do not believe Razors are missing out on specific parts, but what kind of lighting were they one when you bought them?

Also some trace elements influence coloration. Iodine and Iron (not 100% sure) will have a positive effect on green coloration.

Just my $0.02...

NRG1337 · Apr 25, 2017

the big colony with the drastic color change was under a Radion G3 Pro very is hung up very high and very blueish settings.

I add nyos trace elements and stronium after every water change (weekly 15%)

For me its kind of confusing if i take a look at the maxspect leds and radion leds.

Why do radion use green, red indigo leds ... and razor works only with blue, white and violet? I dont know if the colored leds build the colors. Im very noobish in light knowledge ...

She looks very good but the colors just missing See some greens only if i feed ...

Do you think maybe the PO4 of 0.16 could be the reason? The place where i got it from had much lower PO4

sebastiaan1985 · Apr 25, 2017

Sorry, overlooked the PO4 part, yes that could definitely have an influence.
But I think that this influence will be more on expansion and growth, less on color.

Color would mainly be because of change in spectrum. Some target feeding may help.

NRG1337 · Apr 25, 2017

Ok will reduce PO4 and i targetfeed as well alot with Fauna Marin Pellets ... Maybe should change to Hydra or G3 or G4 Pro?

sebastiaan1985 · Apr 25, 2017

Personally, I would first look at Phosphates. Changing lights could be next, but not really a necessary step.
Although I really love my Radions G3 Pro's.

Have owned Razors in past and was satisfied with those as well, just have to accept that colors may change in corals

NRG1337 · Apr 25, 2017

Thanks for youre input!!!

Yeah they are good, got growth everywhere but it love acans and especially the ones with bright greens. If this colors arent possible with maxspect i will definetely change lamp.

Changes my RowaPhos in hope this will help

Do you think a single G3 pro with 120° lenses will cover my 36x18x18 inch tank when i hang it around 12 above the water line?

sebastiaan1985 · Apr 25, 2017

I have a similar size tank and am using two XR30's. Rather lower power output and prevent shading effects.
But I do have the regular lenses, cannot say for sure, but one with the wide angle would be sufficient I'm guessing.

Keep a close eye on the phosphates, don't want to lower them to rapid.

NRG1337 · Apr 25, 2017

ok thanks alot

yeah really have to keep an eye, the rowaphos is really agressive!

i think i gonna search a new lamp too! Maybe a used one in good condition should be fine.

Or an Hydra 52HD but dunno which ones better. My tank is not full with rocks, the sides and corners are hosted by acans, scolys .. so i need the full power light there

andrew james · Apr 25, 2017

I have a fairly large Acan collection when I switched from AI hydras to Radium MH the babies that grow have the rainbow again in full light on the bottom but the adults have still not regained their color.

sebastiaan1985 · Apr 25, 2017

NRG1337 said:
ok thanks alot

yeah really have to keep an eye, the rowaphos is really agressive!

i think i gonna search a new lamp too! Maybe a used one in good condition should be fine.

Or an Hydra 52HD but dunno which ones better. My tank is not full with rocks, the sides and corners are hosted by acans, scolys .. so i need the full power light there

Perhaps a FTS, so we can help in assessing the need for one or two fixtures? I bought mine pre-owned as well, one of my best purchases.

NRG1337 · Apr 25, 2017

oh ok

The reason you switched away from hydra was a poor coloration?

Thanks dude, im from germany so they shipping will be very high

Fish Biscuit · Apr 25, 2017

I never had problems with colors on acans with a hydra, lower your whites. I never had mine above 40% & I was told that they shouldn't be above 30%.

Beerman · Apr 25, 2017

Lower the intensity of your lighting. Also acans like T5.

NRG1337 · Apr 26, 2017

thanks it lowered white to 30% should i let the blues on 85% or lower them too?

I love the blue look but not the whole day in this way ... now its very very blue

Could somebody tell me the difference between a G4 and a G4 Pro. I see a watt difference, thats it?

mcarroll · Apr 26, 2017

@NRG1337 good deal you have a thread now.

I saw PO4 of 0.16 ppm. Not bad.

What's the NO3 like?

Any chance you have a lux or par meter to check your lights with? (In a pinch you can download a free lux meter app that will use your camera's light meter.....just verify the results it gives you before assuming anything. Not every app works 100% with every camera, so you can get insane results sometimes. A bright sunny day in direct sun should approach 100,000 lux, for example. If your software says "5,000" you know it's the wrong app for you!

Measure some known value. Here are some known values: 1.1 Illuminance

Are your acan's more known as a surface or deep water coral? Or mixed? Acanthastrea lordhowensis at Corals of the World says shallow. Dunno if this helps, but it's info!

mcarroll · Apr 26, 2017

Also what's your specific gravity? And how stable have all these parameters been lately?

Can you tell us what you feed and how often too?

How about system temperature? Corals of the World also says "especially subtropical".....might be that they'd like a cooler reef.

NRG1337 · Apr 27, 2017

thanks for youre input!

i asked around but unfortunately nobody can help me out with a lux or parmeter. Really didnt knew that there are apps like this - will check that..

My tank never runs above or below 77F. Everyday the same - even on hot summer days. God im glad!

NO3 swings from 3-5 between the water changes.

Gravity 1,0230, PSU 34.6

The parameters are stable cuz i dose daily by hand ALK, CA, MG.

Acans get Fauna Marin LPS Pellets every second or third day.

My acans are lords, thats what they were titeled when i bought them.

Right know im reading tons of threads comparing AI Hydra HD with Radions G4 Pro.

I think i really will change the lights.

Is the super arctinic leds in maxspect the same as uv or violets leds in radion?

Sorry dont know how to discribe, poor english

Short Version: Super arctinic = UV?

If not the reason is lack of UV, the red or green LEDs on the maxspect lights for sure!

mcarroll · Apr 28, 2017

I still don't think it's lights, I'm not even sure how it could be...unless you find that you have very low light right now.

And it may be worth saying: if you just want to switch to new lights go ahead and switch. There doesn't have to be an issue with your current lights or your corals for you to switch.

I would not think about switching as if it were a fix for something. (At least not before you figure out what that "something" is.)