Lighting for Rainbow Acans

ok. just got some sweet rainbow acans. I was told to put them in the shade to see how they were going to do. Well it looks like they might be losing a little color. They just dont look as vivid as when i put them in to the aquarium. I have them in a 40gal breeder all the way to one end of the tank with an Ecotech Radion for lighting. they arent really in the shade but defenitely not in the intense areas of the tank. I have the lighting on the natural cycle for about 5 hours right now and am slowly adding on more time each week. Ive been trying to combat some cyano. So should i keep them in the shade or move them into the light more. Ive had them for almost 2 weeks. Id like to put them on my rockwork and not hidden in my sand or behind a rock:-/
what do you guys think

 

I think they might have meant that you should start out in the shade. That's what you usually do and then SLOWLY move it to the spot where you like it. It can't be under too much light, though.

 

ok. that sounds like what im trying to do. thanks
any other first hand experience?

 

They like moderate light and flow. If you want them to grow faster, I would target feed them. Their feeder tentacles come out at night but you can train them to come out during the day. To target feed them without anything else eating the food (I recommend Mysis Shrimp for the Acan's food) you can cut the top portion of a 2 liter soda bottle and feed through where the bottle cap goes. I would feed between every 3 days to every week if you want to feed them, but you don't have to.

 

ok. i think im gonna move them into the light more and see how they act. they are losing alot of color!

 

Are you feeding them?

I would make an effort to feed it until it acclimates to the lighting.

With many acans it's better to start slow with lighting and gradually increase intensity.

They will melt if receiving too much light off the get go. Since they are loosing some coloration probably related to a shift or loss of Zooxanthellae, feeding will assist them.

 

+ everyone! feed them is the best thing for them. They are pretty hardy. IMO

 

cool thanks ill try to keep them in the shade
and feed them

 

I was told by a guy who sells online that unscrupulous sellers keep them under actinic lighting for however long it is to bring out the rainbow color and they slowly go back to whatever the color was before it after its sold.