How do I make the color in my corals POP?

[Lateralus]

Currently I have two 250w Metal Halides with 20k bulbs. I really like the spectrum I am getting with the bulbs but it defiantly drowns out many of the different colors the corals naturally have. I was going to add some T5s but what K should i get to really accent the other colors in my corals?

 

[melly mel]

What 20k bulbs are you running? Some 20k are too blue and can leave your tank looking washed out. Radiums have a good bluish tint that looks really nice. Or you can do Phoenix 14k. those are nice too. crisp white with a nice blue tint.

 

[iCon]

Keep in mind it's about 100 hours (iirc) of burn in time until you see the actual bulb color

 

[Coral reefer]

Maybe the purple plus bulb? Or magenta stunner strips?

 

[177ike]

Photoshop.

Kidding! LED Blues should make any flourescing pigments pop.

 

[JAR]

Assuming your coral is healthy and your params are good... reefbrite blue LED's are insane.

 

[Lateralus]

Right now Im using Aqualine 20k HQI bulbs. I have been running them for 9-10hrs a day since June.
http://www.aqua-medic.de/index.php?r=catalog/product&cid=45&id=208

My parameters are as followed:
CA: 550 (slowly lowering this by using IO)
Mg: 1400 ppm
PO4: 0
DkH: 9
Nitrate: 0
Nitrite: 0

Maybe I should go with the Reefbrites and throw in some 14k's in the MH. But I am getting a really "washed out" color right now in my tank. My only concern is the design of the canopy I made for the tank. It does not allow for much room for other lights, but I guess I could always go back to the drawing board and build something new.

 

[iCon]

How big is your tank?

 

[Lateralus]

100 gallon long TruVu 60x18x20 with a 30 gallon sump and a 10 gallon fuge.