[zhenya]

Hi all,

I'm in need of opinion on my recent lighting scheme changes. I had switched from the 10K bulbs to 15K bulbs and removed the actinic VHO bulbs in favor of the aquasuns.
Here's two pics, one with the aquasuns and one with out.Which looks better in your opinion?
Don't hold back

Woops, forgot the pics

Aquasuns off:


and aquasuns on:

[scubadude]

I like the looks of the first picture....however the 2nd picture looks alot brighter so it would be better for growth....from the looks of it you dont have to worry about growth though Gene Im sure there is a difference in real life versus the pictures too.

[zhenya]

Originally Posted by scubadude

I like the looks of the first picture....however the 2nd picture looks alot brighter so it would be better for growth....from the looks of it you dont have to worry about growth though Gene Im sure there is a difference in real life versus the pictures too.

Rocky,

Thanks for looking and giving me an opinion,I really appreciate it

There is a BIG difference when you see it in person and like you,I sort of like the first pic.Second pic is a bit overexposed,I think, it's really hard to take a pic that shows the color exactly.But yeah, it is a lot brighter with the aquasuns on in person as well.I would love some growth,Rocky

[reewik]

Gene, I actually Like the bottom picture better. i like my tank to look bright. Clear, to me the top seems to have a ton of blue. Some of that mau be the white balance on the camera.

[Reefland]

I like the second picture better, from a photography standpoint, it shows the coral coloration better.

Scott Z.

[Poseidon]

I Like the second one better too...

Seems to be more balanced overall.

[Tattooedlife]

Both look good, but I like the bottom, has a more true look with out all the blue.

[zhenya]

Thanks,Guys

I'll work on taking a better pic tomorrow becouse i don't think that first pic came out with true color.I need to work on a white balance a little and take some more pics.As I felt, it seems that everyone likes the second pic more,even though it is overexposed
Keep in mind as well that those bulbs have only been running for a couple of days and I'm thinking that they will probably run a bit brighter after a week or more.
Keep them comming

[Ninong]

I have no idea how the tank actually looks in person, but as far as the two pictures are concerned, the first one looks unnatural. The second picture looks better than the first one in my opinion but it might look even better if you used actinic-white instead of aquasuns. That's assuming you have tried the super actinics and find they make the tank too blue.

As you know, I'm using 10,000K HQI DE's with a little PC actinic for supplementation and although my tank has a nice crisp white appearance, I believe it needs more blue.

How about something midway between your two pictures? Switch the aquasuns to actinic whites or something.

[zhenya]

Originally Posted by Ninong

I have no idea how the tank actually looks in person, but as far as the two pictures are concerned, the first one looks unnatural. The second picture looks better than the first one in my opinion but it might look even better if you used actinic-white instead of aquasuns. That's assuming you have tried the super actinics and find they make the tank too blue.

As you know, I'm using 10,000K HQI DE's with a little PC actinic for supplementation and although my tank has a nice crisp white appearance, I believe it needs more blue.

How about something midway between your two pictures? Switch the aquasuns to actinic whites or something.

George,

I agree that the first pic is just way too blue and it soes not look like this in person at all I'll try playing with the white balance tomorrow and see what I'll get. To get actinic white bulbs I need to go to the store and they do not have those in stock so it is has to be ordered. In person this tank looks really nice and crisp white with just the 15K bulbs but it did come out way too blue in the pic.I'll take your advice and maybe give Jason a holler at PA and see if he can ship me some actinic white VHO's ASAP.
Super actinics make this tank very,very blue...I did try them

[scubadude]

Ok...everyone likes the 2nd picture better except me ...first off the 2nd picture is alot smaller too so I cant see the corals as good...and also the white does look more natural I do agree with that but it also seems to wash out the picture alot. I do think I would probably like the 2nd picture BULBS better in person but as far as picture goes I dont like any pictures where the corals seem washed outn

[Poseidon]

Okay I adjusted the color balance a little, toned down the brightness, and made my best guess as to how your tank looks in person. At least this is how I would like my tank anyway!!!

Maybe you can tell us if this is close or not.

[Marco]

I would agree with the second pic looks more natural.

[zhenya]

Hey Mike, Thanks!!!

This is very close to what it really looks like,especially the second picture with out the aqua sun bulbs.First is very close as well but still,the colors are just a bit washed out as Rocky pointed out.

FWIW, I just put back CV 10K bulbs this morning just to see if I would like it or not and I must say that I don't.Neither do my corals that are on the very top
I already see some of them shutting down polyp extention,like the Milleporas and the Pulchra looks almost pale...all that in just 3.5 hours I'm turning them off for an hour or so.

[Papa Doug]

Second pic for me also.

[zhenya]

Ok you guys

I had to bring out my big gun, my old 2.1 mp HP-318 camera

I know it's crappy and cheep and quite lame but it always took pics with true colors as they appear to my eye.

Here's couple of pics I took just a bit ago,the bulbs are 10K CoralVue plus two super actinics.I also elevated the fixture about 7" and put some window screen over the most sensitive corals.
If acclimation goes well I think I'll stick with them and chuck the 15K's as an experiment

PS> Please disregard that roll of Bounty paper,it is not inside the tank

[Poseidon]

LOL!!! that paper towel reflection is PRICELESS!!!

I like that coloration!! Everything seems to be balanced. Just enought Blue to my eye... THe Yellow tang still looks yellow and that chromis is just as a picture them in my minds eye. I would stick with that set up.

[reewik]

I like that as well. Your tank looks great Gene, is that a 90 or a 120? What is the age of the tank?

[Reefland]

Yeah those look very nice Gene. I was about to ask if that was some kind of never before seen tubular SPS coral but then I read about the paper towels....

reewik, This is a picture of Gene's 75 gallon tank.

[zhenya]

Originally Posted by Reefland

Yeah those look very nice Gene. I was about to ask if that was some kind of never before seen tubular SPS coral but then I read about the paper towels....

reewik, This is a picture of Gene's 75 gallon tank.

Yeah, I didn't notice it before I attached the pic I thought it looked cool
I'm keeping the 10K bulbs on with the super actinics.Yesterday I almost fried my tank when the wavemaker fell into the tank while I was trying to take off my canopy...thank god for GFCI's.All that happened was blown fuse inside the wavemaker(Red Sea wavemaster pro) and near heart attack on my part.
I dried the wavemaker and changed the fuse and voila...runs again

Eric,

Like Scott had mentioned it is a AGA 75g tank and it's about 3yrs old. My 110g is slightly over 5yrs old. Thanks for the compliment!