Acan color morphs with led lighting

[wave_crest]

If you're struggling with Acans losing their color under LED lighting, this post might be just what you need. I've been there - buying gorgeous WYSIWYG corals online, only to see them morph into something entirely different. Deep reds turn orange, purples turn brown or grey... it's frustrating, to say the least.

I recently upgraded from the Radion G1 to the Pro, and I'm so glad I did. I loved the Ecotech Marine line, and I didn't want to switch to T5 or MH just for the sake of color. While researching online, I noticed a lot of people were having the same issue with LED lighting, and there's surprisingly little information on the new line of LEDs with built-in lower PAR spectrums like UV, Violet, and Indigo.

I can only speak to my experience with the Radion Pro, but the results have been amazing. I've fallen in love with my reef tank all over again. The dull colors are gone, and everything pops. My SPS corals looked radiant after just one day with the new lighting, and my prized Acan collection regained their original coloration within three days.

I knew I was doing everything right - my water parameters and PAR levels were on point, and I was feeding my corals regularly. They were growing fast, but they just weren't keeping their color. The new light system has made all the difference, and I'm blown away by the results. It's amazing to think that a simple PAR spectrum configuration was the key to unlocking the answer to my dull color morphs.

I've got before-and-after pictures to show you the difference, and I'm happy to share them. One of my Acans, which was featured in a Marine Depot emailer, is my favorite coral in the tank. I hope this info helps you guys out. Happy reef keeping!

[zenith9]

I'd be more than happy to share my Radion Pro schedule with presets. I know how frustrating it can be when Acans just aren't keeping their color, and I'm confident it's the lighting that made all the difference for me. If you're curious, I can share my color settings, percentages, and even the length of day and overall percentage on the graph. I can also export my schedule if that'd make it easier for you to go through - just let me know what you need.

[tiderunner]

I started a thread about my corals losing their vibrancy, and I'm thrilled to report that I've finally found the solution. I ditched my Marineland reef-capable LEDs - honestly, I don't think they're suitable for exotic-colored corals - and switched to AquaticLife T5HO with ATI bulbs.

The difference is staggering. My brain is back, and I can finally see the colors I've been missing. I took the dark picture almost a month ago, and the other two were taken today using my cellphone and camera.

[willie32]

I've been trying to wrap my head around this issue, and from what I've gathered, it seems like some LED units might be lacking a proper "full spectrum", specifically in the UV range or higher nm wavelengths that aren't typically covered by standard "cool white" LEDs.

Can you share the specifics of your previous LED fixture, like the colors and nm wavelengths it had, and how they compare to the Radion Pro? I'm really struggling to understand why my red corals keep turning orange under my current LED lights.

[tiderunner]

I've been trying to wrap my head around this issue, and from what I've gathered, it seems like some LED units might be lacking a proper "full spectrum", specifically in the UV range or higher nm wavelengths that aren't typically covered by standard "cool white" LEDs.

Can you share the specifics of your previous LED fixture, like the colors and nm wavelengths it had, and how they compare to the Radion Pro? I'm really struggling to understand why my red corals keep turning orange under my current LED lights.

I'd like to chime in on my experience, since it relates to the topic. I had Marineland LEDS with 23 10k white and 4 460nm actinic blues - the tank's coloration was pretty unappealing, to be honest. I later added some ecoxotic "accenting" leds with more blue and maroon, mainly for aesthetic purposes, but they weren't strong enough to make a difference for the corals.

I've since switched to ATI bulbs, which have a more comprehensive spectrum - 2 blue, 1 fiji purple, and 1 aquablue plus. It's definitely an improvement.

On a side note, I do have a question for the OP - I'm having a bit of trouble judging the before-and-after colors, since the fluorescent lighting makes it difficult to distinguish. Were the colors adjusted using white balance, or is it just the fluorescent effect?

[felinxo]

I've got a buddy who's a total Radion fanatic, and he swears by the Pro - says it's a game-changer. He's got a LFS, so he sees all sorts of corals coming and going, and he claims that even after just one day under the light, the color difference is like the coral's getting a tan - UV makes all the difference, apparently.

[rusticfox]

I've got a buddy who's a total Radion fanatic, and he swears by the Pro - says it's a game-changer. He's got a LFS, so he sees all sorts of corals coming and going, and he claims that even after just one day under the light, the color difference is like the coral's getting a tan - UV makes all the difference, apparently.

Yeah, that's a great way to put it, like people look more vibrant with some color, rather than washed out or dull.

[felinxo]

Honestly, I'm just happy with my results using Radions on both my tanks, it's been a game-changer for me.

[zenith9]

I've got a buddy who's a total Radion fanatic, and he swears by the Pro - says it's a game-changer. He's got a LFS, so he sees all sorts of corals coming and going, and he claims that even after just one day under the light, the color difference is like the coral's getting a tan - UV makes all the difference, apparently.

If you're getting good results with your Radion LED, I'd love to take a peek at your schedule. Would you be willing to share your setup, including the percentages you're using? If you could export it and upload it, that'd be even better - we could all take a look online through Ecotech.

[zenith9]

I came across a Facebook group that has some awesome advice on Radion lighting schedules. Before even setting up your schedule, did you know there's a calibration process for the lighting units? Check it out here:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/288792284611484/

Ecotech Radion Lighting Schedules