My new obsession
- Thread starter Charlie’s Frags
- Start date
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OP
OP
It’s supposed to aid in coral health, better color and polyp extension. Something I was told from the old reefersdirect store back in 2018. It’s relatively cheap bc my system is so small. I’ve never had or even seen a aefw btw. I do not recommend the kz coral booster though. The few times I tried it a random Tenuis would rtn.
Hey Charlie, I’ve long debated trying it out. Obviously you see noticeable benefits from dosing it. Can you elaborate?
OP
OP
I’m not really sure whether it’s worth it or not. I think I have really good colors but attribute that to my lighting bc I have a crappy ai prime 16 over a frag holding tank on the same system and the colors are dull. The only reason I keep dosing it is bc I’ve heard ppl complain about brown town if they stop the flatworm stop
OP
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2 hydra 52 hds 15” above my 50g cube
I don’t like the new AI models though
OP
OP
You have prime hds or prime 16 hds
I’m actually running the Aquaticlife T5 hybrid with 4 Prime HD’s on my DT. Here is an example of the coral coloration under them vs. frag tank lighting.
The frag on the left was clipped from the mother colony RR The Vinh about 3 weeks ago. Mother has been under this hybrid fixture for a couple years. The frag on the right was clipped from the mother about 3 months ago and put in the frag system under Ocean Revives. Notice the whiter, creamier skin on the right vs the turd on the left. I am beginning to think that the UV channel on the Primes are changing the coral color for the worse. The mother really looks bad in the DT. Btw, the DT and frag tank are plumbed together via 1 sump. So chemistry is not a factor.
OP
OP
HmmmmI’m actually running the Aquaticlife T5 hybrid with 4 Prime HD’s on my DT. Here is an example of the coral coloration under them vs. frag tank lighting.The frag on the left was clipped from the mother colony RR The Vinh about 3 weeks ago. Mother has been under this hybrid fixture for a couple years. The frag on the right was clipped from the mother about 3 months ago and put in the frag system under Ocean Revives. Notice the whiter, creamier skin on the right vs the turd on the left. I am beginning to think that the UV channel on the Primes are changing the coral color for the worse. The mother really looks bad in the DT. Btw, the DT and frag tank are plumbed together via 1 sump. So chemistry is not a factor.
Well the earlier version primes are more like my hydra 52 hds. It’s the newer primes I don’t like. Have you checked your lenses on yours? All of my hydras, 52s,26s and even the prime 16 have had the lenses melt from the UV diodes
I just checked. None appear to be melted but there’s 1 that has a slight discoloration so I’d guess that one is on its way to melting.
Side note, I have been running 3 Blue+ and 1 Aquablue Special for about 2 years now. I just switched out the Aquablue for a True actinic. I like the look much better. We’ll see what The Vinh does over the next month. If there’s no change, I’m gonna turn the UV way down on the Primes.
What do you run your UV at? There’s no question that have fantastic PE! Do you attribute that to the KZFS?
OP
OP
It’s melted if it’s discolored. I run mine pretty high but I know I’ll have to replace them every year. I keep extra lenses on hand.
I don’t know for sure why my PE is better than most. I don’t keep any angels and I don’t use any water stripping agents/media (gfo/carbon/phosguard). I believe those methods can irritate the polyps. Same with certain pellet foods and coral foods. All I do is feed frozen mysis. Other than that I have no idea.
Tenuis typically have good PE when they’re happy……and that’s 90% of acros. Could just be an optical illusion
OP
OP
I thought some more about your specific differences. I’m not afraid to throw ai under the bus but I actually believe the t5s are causing your issues. I know they are great for growing corals but the caveat to that is the color. Think about all the times you’ve heard ppl remark about the “flat” color t5s produce. I know all the Tenuis I’ve received from t5 users are flat/washed out looking. They start to “pop/glow” more a couple months under high powered LEDs. Just my anecdotal observations.
You know, I’ve not discounted the T5’s causing the bad color. Hence the reason I swapped out the Aquablue bulb for the actinic. So you may be on to something. I’d love a good reason to have to totally replace my lighting setup on the DT! Lol
I can’t say I’ve ever got coral from a T5 user.... Most all the sellers I’ve purchased from use LED’s and a couple used Halides. But you’ve got me anxious to find out if that’s the culprit. I’ll give this bulb combo a month to see changes. It’s usually noticeable about week 3 under the Revives.
OP
OP
This is day 1 from straight t5s
Then a couple months under led only
This is a colony pic from an all t5 collector I bought a frag of rr lady in pink
I can’t find my day 1 pic of the frag
A great pic but very flat color compared to a couple months under my LEDs
homer1475
Figuring out the hobby one coral at a time.
The first set of pics there is a stark difference, and the second pic is certainly better colored. I actually like the look of the colony colors, compared to yours under LED's in the second set of pics(could just be the colony Vs. frag though too).
I have always been a T5 guy, now you have me wondering...... Because some of the corals I have do not look the same as from the person I got them from(saw the mothers in his tank lit with LED's). Same colors, but just not as vibrant.
I have always been a T5 guy, now you have me wondering...... Because some of the corals I have do not look the same as from the person I got them from(saw the mothers in his tank lit with LED's). Same colors, but just not as vibrant.
WOW! That first frag looks 75% deadThis is day 1 from straight t5s
Then a couple months under led only
This is a colony pic from an all t5 collector I bought a frag of rr lady in pink
I can’t find my day 1 pic of the frag
A great pic but very flat color compared to a couple months under my LEDs
That’s a drastic turnaround. Was that seller straight T5 only?
OP
OP
YesWOW! That first frag looks 75% dead
That’s a drastic turnaround. Was that seller straight T5 only?
And that specific seller also has 0/0 nutes. I was with him at a show here in Houston and that frag looked pretty good under radion blue only but not great under normal full spectrum
Sorry I missed the launch on this thread, but wow! That is some fun new eye candy you have cooking.
I've got the Veron book out now trying to ID.
Humilis?
Suharsonoi?
I just traded a bucket of blue and green staghorn for a small, Indo/mari suharsonoi colony that has some promising color. Sitting in my T5 tank for QT but will move it next week or so.
My photo skills/equipment stink. Maybe the new iphone is better so I will give it a try once I move under LED blues.
I've got the Veron book out now trying to ID.
Humilis?
Suharsonoi?
I just traded a bucket of blue and green staghorn for a small, Indo/mari suharsonoi colony that has some promising color. Sitting in my T5 tank for QT but will move it next week or so.
My photo skills/equipment stink. Maybe the new iphone is better so I will give it a try once I move under LED blues.
OP
OP
You’re correct. The first pic is under my crappy ai prime. The coral was definitely pale so maybe not the best representation of my theory. I wish I could find a 1st day pic of the lady in pink.
I’ll keep looking.
Found a pic of a piece of it next to my HW 2 weeks after I received it.
And then this pic is 3 months after
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