[Chris Lakies]

Has anyone ever seen this happen? I'm not sure what the orriginal owner had the colony under, must have been 10K. I'm now keeping it under an AB 20k HQI.

[Reefland]

Hi Chris,

We have noticed some pretty dramatic color changes using 20k AB's as well; mostly to the green side. There are some exceptions though, we have an A. tenius that has kept very blue tips; even though the body is turning green. Our orange M. digita has remained orange. Our blue tort has remained blue but the polyps are looking green.

On the flip side, we have some small frags that lost all color due to some problems that have rejuvenated. A milli that has turned very blue is one that comes to mind.

I think it is all in the spectrum, I think it would be nice to run 10 and 20k's on our 75, if we ever hit the lottery.

[SueT]

I agree with Scott. The spectrum is what I think is determining some sps coral color changes or shifts. When I was running the iwasaki's I had only a few colors I could count on to hold or swing to, now that I'm running these 10k XM's I'm blown away by the colors I have. I have about every color and color combo imaginable. I've kept all colors on the frags I've gotten and from the frags I've gotten locally have had only great color intensifying.

I will say though that a red to change to lime green is very stunning. Chris, have you had any other colonies change as dramatic as this???

[Reefland]

How do you do with blues and reds under the 10k's?

[SueT]

Hi Scott, my blues are very deep outstanding blues. I have a couple of tenuis type frags that came blue and they have only intensified the blue pigment. I have a frag of the ORA red millepora that I've had for a couple of weeks now and it has held the deep red, not purple or anywhere near that, but a brick red coloration.

[Sueet]

Originally Posted by SueT

now that I'm running these 10k XM's I'm blown away by the colors I have.

SueT..... I am a newbie, but am hoping to put metal halides on my next tank (a 180 I will be getting in a few weeks)... But I don't know anything at all about mh lighting...(assuming that what you are talking about even IS mh?)
What exactly is "XM"? Is it a brand, a style... ? I would like to have the colors stay what they are when I put them in the tank, so it sounds like that is the way I want to go... but I haven't the foggiest notion of where to begin. Will I need a special ballast for this type? Any info or links would be greatly appreciated!

[SueT]

You'll love the 180g as I really like mine. Being that it is 72" long and the usual method of lighting tanks with metal halide lighting is 1 every 2 feet, so 3 halides fit very easily over the 180g's. XM is a brand name. There have been some bad XM's out there but the problem has been fixed and I never had any kind of problem with mine. I have used my PFO ballast with these XM's. I also used this same ballast when I was running the iwasaki's{another brand}.

In talking about colors I have been very happy, to say the least with how these bulbs have kept colors on the acropora, montipora frags I have gotten. With the iwasaki's I always knew I would see a fade to more color or even loose color but with these XM's the colors these frags have come with have stayed.

One link I always like to give out is Joe Burger's website:http://www.cnidarianreef.com Joe has a link to a lighting study he did and he has pics to show what the differing bulbs on the market look like over a reef tank. This should help you lots. plus he's also got some other good info on his nice website.

[Sueet]

Thanks a bunch Sue!

[Chris Lakies]

Sue,

I have had my Humilis change from a brown to blue ends and bright green tips. My pinkish orange cap is still pinkish orange, my Green cap is still green, everything else is basically the same. I love the 20K so far. I may want to eventually add a 150 Hqi with a 10k AB. Then it would be a perfect color.

[reddhaus]

Originally Posted by SueT

I will say though that a red to change to lime green is very stunning. Chris, have you had any other colonies change as dramatic as this???

I got a frag of this Red Millipora from Chris before the color change. I am keeping mine under 250 watt 10k XM's and it is still a nice red color and growing very well.

Thanks Chris!!!!

[Chris Lakies]

Scott, your thinkinig of the Gemmifera I believe. You don't have a frag of the millipora.

[reddhaus]

Originally Posted by Chris Lakies

Scott, your thinkinig of the Gemmifera I believe. You don't have a frag of the millipora.

oops!!