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Cap Color

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by Cybball, Feb 10, 2010.

  1. Feb 10, 2010 #1
    Cybball

    Cybball Inactive User

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    I picked up a purple cap a few months ago from Joel.  His are very purple and awesome in color, so definately not his problemo.  However, it looks brown in my tank.  I'm running 2x250 20K XM Halides.  I would have thought that the purple would really shine. 
    I don't know the age of my bulbs, as they were purchased used.  Could this be the culprit, or something else???
     
  2. Feb 10, 2010 #2
    phishcrazee Riverside

    phishcrazee Experienced Reefkeeper

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    If you don't know the age, that's probably a good indicator they need to be changed /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/smile.gif Sometimes things will take a bit to color up in a new environment, but by this time, I would think it would have adjusted. What did Joel have them under? I have some purple cap under 14K Coralife bulbs and it looks very purple. The things I have that are purple, look very purple /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/smile.gif I would say change the bulbs and maybe try a different K rating.
     
  3. Feb 10, 2010 #3
    AJ

    AJ Inactive User

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    Exactly what I was going to ask.  Start there.
    --AJ
     
  4. Feb 10, 2010 #4
    Gered

    Gered Experienced Reefkeeper

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    Yup change the bulbs and get a fresh start
     
  5. Feb 10, 2010 #5
    Cybball

    Cybball Inactive User

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    What would you guys recommend on K rating for a new sps tank that needs good growth and color? I hear a lot about how 10K has great growth and not as good color and the opposite about 20K. I'm a rookie Halide user, so help is definately appreciated.
     
  6. Feb 10, 2010 #6
    xroads La Porte City, IA

    xroads Veteran Reefkeeper Vendor

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    20K radiums are a tried & true winner.
     
  7. Feb 10, 2010 #7
    Bela

    Bela Inactive User

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    Anthony Calfo was saying at the last frag swap that halide bulbs can actually be sufficient for 4-5 years. Just saying /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/smile.gif
     
  8. Feb 10, 2010 #8
    Cybball

    Cybball Inactive User

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    As for K ratings?? I've heard great stuff about the radiums. How are the 20K radiums's growth rates? I'm getting great growth and color from my red caps that Joel sold me, and the purple one has good growth, just no color.
     
  9. Feb 10, 2010 #9
    snowman82

    snowman82 Experienced Reefkeeper

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    joel uses 10k xm's i think with actinics. do you have anything for actinic supplementation or just pure halides? if you have electronic ballasts get the radiums. they have great growth for a 20k bulb from what i've read. i'm switching my system over to 10k xm's for growth but i have VHO actinics too
     
  10. Feb 10, 2010 #10
    fmsill Cedar Falls

    fmsill Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    Im useing 3 400 watt 20k radiums and am extremly happy with them. Im getting decent growth. Im sure with a lower kelvin bulb you would get quicker growth but for a 20k bulb im impressed!
     
  11. Feb 11, 2010 #11
    Cybball

    Cybball Inactive User

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    Just straight halides. I've been thinking of tearing down my old Coralife 4x65w PC set up and just running two of the 65w actinics in there too, but I don't have them in there now.
     
  12. Feb 12, 2010 #12
    Eric West Des Moines, IA

    Eric Experienced Reefkeeper

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    Curious -

    What else do you have in your tank and how does it look, re: coloration?
    I have some of the grape cap from phishcrazee, and while it was very purple at first, the color changed considerably until I realized that my calcium was under 300 and my alk was at 5.
    Lighting is important, but many feel that water parameters/feeding are more important than lighting.
    For instance, under the same lighting that discolored my corals with bad params, they now look great in better water conditions!
    -Eric
     
  13. Feb 16, 2010 #13
    Cybball

    Cybball Inactive User

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    I am starting an SPS tank, so little frags. Some zoas, a 5 head frog spawn, and some fish. Last I checked the Alk and CA were fine, but I may need to do another test to be sure.
     
  14. Feb 16, 2010 #14
    Cybball

    Cybball Inactive User

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    Ok. Alk is 3.0 and CA is 380.
     
  15. Feb 16, 2010 #15
    Eric West Des Moines, IA

    Eric Experienced Reefkeeper

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    Posted By Cybball on 02/16/2010 09:06 AM
    Ok. Alk is 3.0 and CA is 380.
    Alk needs to be above 8.
    You'll get various opinions of where it should be, most say 8-11, some people run it closer to 14 to combat nuisance algae.
    I raised mine initially with baking soda and maintain it with kalk drip.
    Should see the color improve once it gets closer to 8!
    -Eric
     
  16. Feb 16, 2010 #16
    Cybball

    Cybball Inactive User

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    The ALK is 3.0 meq/L. I think that may be a different scale than what you are using. Not sure of the conversion though, but I think 3.0 is ok, as long as it's meq/L.
     

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