Corals Sleeping Under Blue Light

[Jon T4S]

I recently set up my Fluval Flex 32g, but noticed under pure blue light(which is the default lighting for nightime) that all the corals close up. The evening is when I want to see the corals the most, but obviously dont want to encourage excessive algae growth by extending the daytime lighting.
So, my question is; is there another color I need to add to the blue light to keep the corals awake? my choices are pink, cyan, blue, purple, cold white.
Thanks so much!

 

[blaxsun]

Are the corals just closing up in the evening then? How many hours are you running the lights for?

 

[Jon T4S]

Are the corals just closing up in the evening then? How many hours are you running the lights for?

The lights start at 8am and are fully on between 10am and 3pm, then reduce down until 7pm, then just blue light from 7pm to 10:30pm.

 

[blaxsun]

The lights start at 8am and are fully on between 10am and 3pm, then reduce down until 7pm, then just blue light from 7pm to 10:30pm.

That's 11 hours (corals do need to sleep, too!) If you want evening enjoyment you may want to gradually shift this to say 10am-10pm and just go lights out @10pm.

 

[Tathamet]

I got rid of the light on my flex (freshwater version) so I can’t remember exactly how it works but I didn’t care for it too much.

one possibility is just shifting your schedule so the light turns on and off later in the day. No extended light period in this case. You may just not get to see your tank “wake up” in the morning. I leave for work early so prefer have it hit its peak in the afternoon/evening instead of right at noon.

 

[mdb_talon]

I think it has less to do with the color as much as the intensity. In other words coral is often under only blue light and stays open and "awake" just fine. However in your case i am guessing it is related to the intensity drops so much they take it as time to "sleep".

Best bet is to shift the whole schedule to start later so it ends later if the prime time you want to view them is the evening.

 

[PeterErc]

My corals seem much happier when I let them sleep in. I don’t like to wake up cranky, so I let her sleep in too. Corals are party animals so I leave the lights on for them at nighttime. At 10:30pm they got to go to bed so I can get some sleep.