125 w/T5 Lighting

[scottio]

I recently upgraded from a 90 to a 125 mixed reef with SPS and LPS. In my 90 I had 2x250 MH and 2 atinic power compacts. With my 125 I decided to go all T5's. I have a 60" ATI system with 6x80w bulbs. 4 are ATI Blue Plus, 1 is Fiji Purple, and 1 is a GE 6500.
When I set the fixixture on top of my aquarium all the SPS started to lose their color and turn an off white. It does not look like they died though.
My question is, are my SPS' bleaching because of too much light or is there a not enough light and they are dying slowly? All the LPS' seem to be doing fine. Any suggestions/help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.

 

[cloakerpoked]

A few thoughts....

1. Have you checked your nitrate/phosphate levels. Die off from any tank movement can put nitrates in your water that SPS is more sensitive to than LPS. This could be totally unrelated to lighting and more directly related to your tank transition.

2. I don't know anything about the output levels (PAR-wise) of all of those blue plus bulbs, but you might want to look at something more in the white light (10000k) spectrum to boost the light intensity. LPS definitely do well in lower light conditions, so this could also account for your current observations.

3.) Are you using glass tops? If so, they could significantly reduce the intensity of the lights.

4.) I guess to ultimately know if their reaction is due to a change in lighting conditions, you'd need a PAR meter to see what kind of light intensity you're getting into the tank...good luck.

 

[acer]

+1 for Cloakers thoughts.

 

[raynist]

I am familiar with those bulbs and all of them are very high par bulbs. I would raise the light fixture at least a foot. The ati fixtures are very powerfull. Depending on what mh bulbs you used you may have significantly raised your par levels.

With that bulb comboit is probably pretty blue, you may want to change out one blue plus like Nate said.

 

[scottio]

Thank you all.
I am going to change a bulb or two and raise this fixture off my tank.
You're suggestions are greatly appreciated.