Acros under LEDs

[jporter]

As some of you know, I switched to LEDs about 6 months ago. It has been a learning experience with acclimating the tank. The biggest hurdle was overcoming the notion that LEDs are so powerful you need to take great care to not burn them up. I found this to be false if the tank was accustomed to very bright lighting associated with MH's. I actually noticed color loss and no growth with the LEDs set to the recommended starting point. Only after ramping them up over several weeks did the color come back and growth started. I'm at the point now where the lighting cycle is stable and I'm happy with the ascetics of the tank and the corals. I will add that I had a major dosing malfunction around the same time as the lighting change. That problem was more severe and I'm sure affected the LED change over. I took some pictures this morning to show some of the subtle change in coral color related to the LEDs. I really like the ramping ability and being able to change the color temperature throughout the day. My favorite viewing time is between 5-8 while the lights are ramping down, and changing into a deep blue color. These pictures were taken in the morning and I will see if I can capture any good ones while the tank is really blue. JP


My long time favorite - ORA Pearlberry
V61A2139 by jporter515, on Flickr

V61A2140 by jporter515, on Flickr

WWC Acro I picked up at Reef-A-Palooza last year in CA. Very slow grower and I've had to move it a couple times due to other corals growing into it's base.
V61A2089 by jporter515, on Flickr

The unique Corals pink Aussie Acro is really nice under the LEDs. So many shades of colors on this now. Grows like a weed.
V61A2201 by jporter515, on Flickr

Another Unique Corals acro.
V61A2169 by jporter515, on Flickr

A recent add. Cornels Smurfette Prostrata. Picked this up at Aqua SD while visiting the shop with another local reef addict. I won't mention names, but he knows who he is.
V61A2097 by jporter515, on Flickr

 

[dream54ing]

Very nice!!!:thumbsup:

great info!

 

[rioshilo]

Those look great. Would be nice to have some growth progression shots over maybe a year's time

 

[Frick]

Great pics Jeff. Keep em coming.

 

[trueperc]

Can you tell us more about what leds and how many fixtures?

 

[jporter]

Can you tell us more about what leds and how many fixtures?

3 Radion Gen3 Pros. Middle is oriented sideways and 2 end units are oriented front to back on a 48" long 30 " deep tank. JP

 

[Mael]

nice, I know you ramp up and down but what are the max settings on the blues and whites?

Right now I have my blues around 60-70% and my whites are only about 15% and I am wondering if I need to slowly up the whites.....Great to see the sps doing so well under LEDs, my tiny pink lemonade frag seems to love them, and my new red planet and purple nana also seem to do well, just curious if they would do a little better with a slow increase in intensity.

 

[jporter]

nice, I know you ramp up and down but what are the max settings on the blues and whites?

Right now I have my blues around 60-70% and my whites are only about 15% and I am wondering if I need to slowly up the whites.....Great to see the sps doing so well under LEDs, my tiny pink lemonade frag seems to love them, and my new red planet and purple nana also seem to do well, just curious if they would do a little better with a slow increase in intensity.

Mael, tough to show as I have several different intensity points throughout the day. I'm running a mix of colors from 20K to 12K for an hour or so mid day. Max power is set to 85%. Nothing was happening for me until I got above 70%. I believe my corals were used to intense light as I had a good MH/T5 fixture. I'd be more than happy to share my schedule but I don't know how to export it. JP

 

[dotcommer]

thanks for posting the results, interesting to know about switching from MH to LED

 

[Notquiterite]

That looks beautiful!

 

[zibba]

Beautiful!