Sunset montipora questions

3mm3 · 05-01-2007, 11:11 PM

I need some help!!
If you have a sunset montipora, can you tell me what type of lighting you keep it under and how far from the light you have it.
I seem to be having problems with mine.
Thanks

The Shan Man · 05-01-2007, 11:21 PM

I keep mine under high ligh and high flow

gwen_o_lyn · 05-01-2007, 11:55 PM

Welcome to TR!!

SPS does best under MH's, with moderate flow.

If your lighting is not MH's, put it as close to the light as you can get it. It may not thrive, but maybe you can keep it alive?

3mm3 · 05-02-2007, 06:23 PM

My lighting is a 150watt hqi with the 14k phoenix bulb.

The sunset is 7" from the top of the water and 16" from the bulb it self. I noticed the color slowly fading away after I installed the phoenix 14. Originally I had a 10k.

It has slowly lost its color over the last month.

Thanks

3mm3 · 05-02-2007, 08:58 PM

Ok next question. What would happen if the protective glass lens that is supposed to cover the hqi bulb was not completely covering the bulb? What are the signs of uv damage?

***Rob*** · 05-02-2007, 10:10 PM

the 14K bulbs usually have very low PAR, that might be related
check out this Reefkeeping article to see if you can match up the details with yours
Testing 250-watt Single-ended Metal Halide Lamps and Ballasts by Joe Burger - Reefkeeping.com

as far as UV burn. its very important that your HQI bulb is full covered by the shield. that said UV burn usually looks like a burn.. the tissue will start to die off etc. not so much a slow loss of color. however i cant say for sure that a loss of color wouldn't happen.
i would fix that shield asap as its a rick to you and your tank

3mm3 · 05-03-2007, 07:55 PM

Thank you for the replies.
I think that the problem was the glass lens was not put back on properly by me after I cleaned it off (on the hqi bulb). As it turns out I did not catch that in time for some of my colonies however the sunset was just at the edge of the light of death so I hope the sunset will pull through.

3mm3 · 05-11-2007, 07:02 PM

An update. I removed the 150 hqi and put on my 250 se halide. The sunset has now started to regain his color.

gwen_o_lyn · 05-14-2007, 10:43 PM

Glad to hear it's doing better!