Advanced Aquarist article

[davidh202]

I have requested a reply from Frank Esser on his lighting
and have yet to receive a reply. Everyone is assuming that halides are Gods gift to reef tanks.Frank Esser and many others have proven this assumpion wrong!
All I want to know is whether the suppliments he adds compensate for the lower wattage.
It's sort of like giant tube worms thriving 3 miles down around thermal vents where no one thought life could exist.

 

[Anonymous]

I don't think anyone is assuming that MH is Gods gift to reef tanks. Len has used both and prefers MH. I concur for many of the same reasons.

 

[jdeets]

I'm with Rigthy on this one, too. I could never achieve with VHO what I've been able to achieve with MH.

 

[davidh202]

I am still not getting the answer to my question,especially from Frank!
How is he and others managing to get such good results without halides.
:?: :?: :?: :?: :?:
It is obviously being done.
There seems to be a conspiracy the sell halides. :wink:

 

[Len]

No one has said you can't get good results without halides. However, I get better results with halides in my larger tanks. There is no conspiracy, just one man's opinion/experience.

It appears Mr. Esser's tank is fairly shallow, especially after the deep sand bed. Certainly, fluorescents can work very well in such situations IME. I like fluorescent, but not for a 24"+ deep tank.

 

[davidh202]

I fully understand that MH lights do make it easier to achieve good color and coral growth especially with SPS. I also understand that the shallower the tank the more light will penetrate. I have 450 watts of PC
dual actinics and days, and am experimenting with a couple of acropora
millepora frags placed at the top of my tank. They are alive, but have turned the typical brownish hue. My question again is... is the the addition of suppliments, or the kelvin rating of the lighting in use that has allowed these tanks to flourish without the halides? I am doing well with sps and softies. It would be nice to be able to add a few SPS and be as successful as Mr Esser without the need for halides especially since my canopy will not accomodate them.

 

[davidh202]

The article in the magazine TOTM column says to post questions to the author. I have posted in the Featured Aquarium forum and Mr Esser is nowhere to be found! As amatter of fact the last post bfore mine was in May of 2005 :?

 

[Len]

I'm convinced everything you mentioned plays a role in pigmentation and growth rate.

The SPS corals Mr Esser selected are smart choices for fluorsecents; They tend to maintain their coloration under lower and/or bluer light output (e.g. "Green Slimer" A.youngei, Montipora sp., Stylophora sp., Seriatopora sp.).

The article in the magazine TOTM column says to post questions to the author. I have posted in the Featured Aquarium forum and Mr Esser is nowhere to be found! As amatter of fact the last post bfore mine was in May of 2005 :?

While it would be nice to converse with featured aquarists, unfortunately we can't force people to participate.

 

[liquid]

FYI you might be interested in this article:

Feature Article: Colors by the Thousands - Light, Colors and Corals, Part I
By Benoît Finet, Florian Lesage, Translated by Nicolas Will

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2005/12/aafeature2

Shane

 

[jumpincactus]

Liquid,

great article BTW thank you. I will say this...... after reading and understanding most of what I read I have come to this conclusion that this hobby is filled with more information than the sea has phyto plankton.

As I scratch my head, I wonder if I'm in over my head. Is it just me or are there seemingly glaring contradictions and inconsistensies in this reef keeping. It confuses the heck outta me thats for sure.

But I love a good challenge :lol: