color in my zoas

[sansouci01]

I don't seem to have much color in my zoas or polys. They are healthy and growing but the only time I see color is when my blue led's are on. Any other time with whites or actinics on, they have a brownish color..

 

[BigRedsReefs10]

What lights are you using and what's the color temp?

 

[sansouci01]

mostly actinic and blue plus but 1 50/50 reef bulb

 

[posenergy]

It's all about where you set your lights.


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[sansouci01]

Well, my light fixture can't really move anywhere else. You can see by the photo, my zoas just don't show much coloring

 

[Sillyfishies]

Well, my light fixture can't really move anywhere else. You can see by the photo, my zoas just don't show much coloring

It's probably just the type of zoas you have.

 

[sansouci01]

I think you may be right. They are growing nicely so I guess that's the important thing

 

[ms705jk]

Imo they are pretty colorful

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[sansouci01]

I guess I just see so many glowing coral pieces at my lhs. I know there are only a zillion types of zoas lol Of course, those pieces cost way more then mine did.

 

[ms705jk]

Maybe you can add a blue led strip to the light fixture. That would help with the color pop you are looking for. They pretty nice zoanthids. If you hate them I'd be happy to take them off your hands. Hahaha

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[ms705jk]

When I get new zoas they look amazing at the store. After a day or two in my take the colors fade a little. But don't worry the colors come right back

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[BigRedsReefs10]

mostly actinic and blue plus but 1 50/50 reef bulb

I'd ditch the 50/50 and run a coral + instead, I'd also swap out the actinics for either 2 blue + or 1 b+ and a purple + depending on how you like the color of your tank (I like pretty blue with t5s) and if you feel either of those combos are to bright you can use one of the actinic bulbs instead of a blue (shouldn't be to bright with only 4 bulbs though)

 

[sansouci01]

so 2 coral+ and 2 blue+ or 1blue+ and 1 purple+ ( 4 bulbs )

 

[BigRedsReefs10]

2 c+ and 2 b+ will give you a 14k look (moderately blue) or my personal favorite combo on 4 bulb units is 1 c+ and 3 b+, gives a nice crisp look IMO, or if want a 20k look (pretty blue) p+ and 3 b+

 

[sansouci01]

Hey big red. will all this blue still keep my soft corals growing

 

[BigRedsReefs10]

O yeah, that combo works great. I've grown sps no problem with a similar combo (6 bulb unit)

 

[sansouci01]

Sounds good. I'm due for a bulb change so I think I will go with that combo. ATI seems to have very good reviews