Acropas they are picky

corallife

 

Ok, this is my experience. I have used 4 different types of bulbs in my fixture, and coralife being one of them. I have since used ATI and Geissmen. I would highly suggest both of them. I know that coralife bulbs put off enough light and PAR readings were good, but the spectrum from the ATIs and Geissmens are totally different. A lot less WHITE and a lot more blue/purple. I had 3 different sps that looked good as far as polyp extension goes, but they were just tan and brown. When I switched my coralife bulbs out to the others mentioned, I saw an amazing difference in color and growth. It might make a huge difference for you as well.

 

? I don't see a picture....

 

Parameters all look good. Mag won't be an issue if you are maintaining those other numbers through water changes. Mag is easy to maintain through water changes (much easier than alk and calc)

 

Sorry I've had a crazy week. Here is an updated pic

Not the best, but I hope it helps.

Also I plan to start picking up new bulbs soon, so that I have them on hand when needed. I will give those brands a try. Couldn't hurt. I have also been told that amino acids might help, and I plan on adding some to the next batch of food I put together. Should be doing that Mon. Any thoughts on the amino acid?

Also if some 1 thinks they know the ID on this acro that could help as well.

Your all very helpful, thx.

 

So I was given another idea to help the acro out a little, and that was the introduction of amino acids. So I went out and picked up a bottle of restor from brightwell aquatics. Could I get some opinions on the product and maybe some favorite ways to use it. Who likes to target feed, who likes to soak their food and any other ways that have gotten results.

 

I can't say for sure from the picture.

I can say it is almost certainly one of the following:

A) Too little light or wrong speculum
B) Too much nutrients
C) The coral pigmentation if a color that is not produced by your current bulbs.
D) Combination of lighting and water color.
E) Just a brown coral

As to the amino acids, they are generally used to make corals darker. As your coral is already brown, I do not think you want it any darker. Nitrate drives zooxanthellae (which is brown). Amino acids are a source of nitrate. So, likely this would not have the desired effect, the opposite is probably more likely actually. If your other corals look pale, it may be worth trying for them though. Food contains a lot of aminos though, so except for very low nutrient systems aminos usually aren't required.

 

All other corals are very colorful, not pale at all. I never read any nitrates on the test. Not to say that their not there, their just not detectable. I also feed very lightly and have a skimmer meant much bigger than the 1 I'm running it on. I'm sure the spectrum on the bulbs is good seeing as all the other corals have gained considerable color since I switched to this light set up. If it it the color spectrum that it fits w/ my title that acros are just picky, because even the other two acros in the tank have gained color since switching to this light set up.

If you'll notice in the pic, it is brown but not dark.

 

I think regardless of what you do, you should definitely get new bulbs.. I'm no sps expert, but if you get a few of the bulbs mentioned above everythinggg will brighten up. Your not even scratching the surface with the coralife bulbs. I switched from coralife to ATI a few months back, and the difference was night and day.

 

The ATI bulbs are on my list