Pink watermelon lighting question

teddyb · 07/29/2009, 12:46 AM

How much light do these guys like and how can I get mine to be neon pink? When I first put it in my tank about 4 months ago it was brighter but it was really stressed from shipping. It recovered and is starting to grow onto the sand. As it got comfortable in my tank, it continued to get duller. At night it extends it feeders so I think it is happy.

My nitrates are at about 20 ppm

and i have 4x39w T5's (2 actinic+ and 2 aquablue+ geisseman) in a 40 breeder that is 18" deep. My alk stays around 3 and calcium stays above 400. Does it need more light or will it just color up on its own as it gets larger? I have a bazooka joe next to it and it is smaller but much brighter. And I have a mummy eye the same distance away from the light and it is really yellow to give you an idea of how bright the lighting is.

Any input would be appreciated. Thanks in advance my fellow members of ReefCentral.

Ebob954 · 07/30/2009, 03:18 PM

Hi there. Your alk should be 8-9. 3 is really low. ouch.

amore169 · 07/30/2009, 03:45 PM

Ur Alk is way low I keep mine around 9-10, also my Pink Watermelon seems to like the light I have it in the bottom directly from the MH where it gets plenty of light.

teddyb · 07/30/2009, 04:02 PM

oh my alk is 3.0 meq or 8.4 dKH for clarification. Sorry about the confusion.

amore- How far away is your watermelon from your light? What type of MH lighting do you have?

amore169 · 07/30/2009, 08:16 PM

i have 2- 250W 20000K, is about 20'' from the light.

All Delight · 07/30/2009, 10:43 PM

It can be acclimated to high light, but I think where you have it is good. The fade is colors is probably from the low alk. Raise it, slowly, and things will start to get better.

justin_freebord · 08/02/2009, 10:50 AM

hmmm i have a grape watermelon in my tank along with a few sps so i keep my alk around 8 because the sps seem to like it like that (and i dont wanna dose to raise it) do chalice's get better color from higher alk?

chi3f · 08/05/2009, 12:43 AM

i dunno i had a pink and purple i kept it shaded for a few months, theni moved it out to the light and stgarted hand feeing and its staringto grow quite nicely!

07/29/2009, 12:46 AM	#1
teddyb Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Yay Area Posts: 203	Pink watermelon lighting question How much light do these guys like and how can I get mine to be neon pink? When I first put it in my tank about 4 months ago it was brighter but it was really stressed from shipping. It recovered and is starting to grow onto the sand. As it got comfortable in my tank, it continued to get duller. At night it extends it feeders so I think it is happy. My nitrates are at about 20 ppm and i have 4x39w T5's (2 actinic+ and 2 aquablue+ geisseman) in a 40 breeder that is 18" deep. My alk stays around 3 and calcium stays above 400. Does it need more light or will it just color up on its own as it gets larger? I have a bazooka joe next to it and it is smaller but much brighter. And I have a mummy eye the same distance away from the light and it is really yellow to give you an idea of how bright the lighting is. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks in advance my fellow members of ReefCentral.

07/30/2009, 03:45 PM	#3
amore169 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 1,250	Ur Alk is way low I keep mine around 9-10, also my Pink Watermelon seems to like the light I have it in the bottom directly from the MH where it gets plenty of light. __________________ Arnie. Current Tank Info: 400 Gallon Starphire Rimless. 8 A360WE Kessils with controller. Sfiligoi Infinity DDE 6X250 light fixture. Bubble King Internal 300 Deluxe. 215 Gallon Oceanic Starphire Ultimate FOWRL. 34 Gallon Solana.

07/30/2009, 08:16 PM	#5
amore169 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 1,250	i have 2- 250W 20000K, is about 20'' from the light. __________________ Arnie. Current Tank Info: 400 Gallon Starphire Rimless. 8 A360WE Kessils with controller. Sfiligoi Infinity DDE 6X250 light fixture. Bubble King Internal 300 Deluxe. 215 Gallon Oceanic Starphire Ultimate FOWRL. 34 Gallon Solana.

07/30/2009, 10:43 PM	#6
All Delight Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 4,662	It can be acclimated to high light, but I think where you have it is good. The fade is colors is probably from the low alk. Raise it, slowly, and things will start to get better. __________________ Life's simple, you make choices and you don't look back. Current Tank Info: too small

08/02/2009, 10:50 AM	#7
justin_freebord Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Bay Area Cali Posts: 220	hmmm i have a grape watermelon in my tank along with a few sps so i keep my alk around 8 because the sps seem to like it like that (and i dont wanna dose to raise it) do chalice's get better color from higher alk? __________________ I LOVE LPS Current Tank Info: 10 gallon, ac20 fuge, 2x koralia nano 70 wat diy halide 20k ushio. Tank set up oct 08 currently houses several zoas, duncan, micromussa, grape watermellon chalice, 3 sexy shrimp, green clowngoby, xenia, tubbs birdnest, cali tort, yahia haze

07/30/2009, 03:18 PM	#2
Ebob954 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: South Florida Posts: 76	Hi there. Your alk should be 8-9. 3 is really low. ouch.

07/30/2009, 04:02 PM	#4
teddyb Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Yay Area Posts: 203	oh my alk is 3.0 meq or 8.4 dKH for clarification. Sorry about the confusion. amore- How far away is your watermelon from your light? What type of MH lighting do you have?

08/05/2009, 12:43 AM	#8
chi3f Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 51	i dunno i had a pink and purple i kept it shaded for a few months, theni moved it out to the light and stgarted hand feeing and its staringto grow quite nicely!