Color pop priority over coral growth

[EKC]

We have been reading about different color combinations that people feel are the "best". I think it depends on what your goal is. For many, coral growth is top priority, in our case we would be willing to give up some coral growth (still have some, just less) to have amazing colors.

If interested, as an experiment look at your fish tank through sunglasses with polarized lenses ...now take off your sunglasses and see the difference!

We plan to order a custom made starfire tank, hopefully with a coating similar to polarized sunglass lenses -- but until then...

Blue seems to really make colors stand out and our current set up has provided great coral growth - just hoping to sway the balance more toward amazing colors.
In your experience, what lighting system made the colors of your coral really stand out ...almost psychedelically (is that even a word? Lol)

If it helps, here are specs of our current tank.

30" x 30" footprint, 18" high
(Total volume, including sump: ~90 gallons)
Softies and lps, no SPS.
2 fish (2 gobies - friendly toward each other)
Coral dominant tank, probably get one more fish for algae control. Point is, bioload will be low.
Currently have 1 Chinese led box and two T5 ballasts mounted on inside of canopy. Each T5 light hasa shield to direct light down and to the bottom & opposite side of the tank.

Thank you in advance!

 

[Dana Riddle]

Chalfie and Kain state 470nm is the universal LED for demonstrating coral fluorescence (meaning all fluorescence, except those with excitation/emission spectra below 470nm will 'glow'.) Matz sates coral coloration comes cheap - it does not take much energy to make. However, this ignores the fact that maximum coloration is often seen at light intensities far exceeding the photo-saturation point (meaning photo-inhibition likely occurs and, if this is the case, coral growth will be slowed.)

 

[mcarroll]

However, this ignores the fact that maximum coloration is often seen at light intensities far exceeding the photo-saturation point

Reminds me of the corals featured in "chasing coral" and how ridiculously colorful they were.

I guess the corals had almost completely blanketed themselves with pigments to virtually turn off the lights to the PSI and II?

If so, it's weird to think that our goals/aspirations for our corals line up with the side-effects of ocean-warming. ;Blackeye

 

[EKC]

Thanks! Good stuff!!

 

[jda]

They do not have to be mutually exclusive, but with some commercial lights, you might have to choose. A best-of-breed MH setup will both color and illuminate (pop) coral very well all in one package. With other types, you need to start blending... blue and actinc T5s along with some daylight to get both. You also need to blend a whole bunch of LEDs.

Remember, daylight to render the best color and then more blue to illuminate them.

Can we add the word "documented" to the photo saturation point sentence? (or the like?) Since there are clear benefits beyond/above this captured and documented level, I would like to leave open the possibility that the current point might be limited by our minds and equipment.

 

[Dana Riddle]

{Quote/] Remember, daylight to render the best color and then more blue to illuminate them.

Can we add the word "documented" to the photo saturation point sentence? (or the like?) Since there are clear benefits beyond/above this captured and documented level, I would like to leave open the possibility that the current point might be limited by our minds and equipment.[/QUOTE]

Daylight (full spectrum lamps) for sure are best for showcasing the non-fluorescent proteins (the blues, pinks, etc.) we often see in many of the SPS corals (Acropora, Pocillopora, etc.) For production of fluorescent proteins, it is well documented that UV/violet/blue light is used.
Would you expound on your comment that there are 'clear benefits' for illumination exceeding the saturation point and inducing photo-inhibition?

 

[jda]

Better growth and color at PPFD levels above what you have linked and posted for various kinds of true coral. If somebody wanted to argue that quality matters and that you can have different saturation points with different sources, then I could believe this.

IME, the rendering of color for fluorescent proteins also benefits from full spectrum lamps... just needs some serious help illuminating them.

 

[Dana Riddle]

Years ago, there was a scientific debate if corals' zooxanthellae' were 'shade' or 'sun' plants. As we know today, there are a few hundred different clades that can exploit different aquatic niches. When we paint with a broad brush, and imply that saturation points don't matter, it is tantamount going to making a shade plant adjust to full sun (or a sun plant adapting to a shaded environment.) Sure, they might survive, but perhaps never thrive. Home Depot sells plants with recommended light fields for a reason.