Direct sunlight slowing/stopping stn?

[Coralmassa]

Wondering if anyone else had experienced this- but it's worked for me the last few times I've tried. Some background- my tank is next to a window that when the shutters are opened, bathe the side of the tank with direct sunlight forms few hours a day. My lights aren't the best, I'm using three ai primes and two ecoxotic 432nm stunners on my cad lights artisan 70gal. They don't get the best colors but they they are growing corals for me.

Anyway the last few times I've gotten either small frags or medium sized colonies they suffered stn from the bottom up, and revive dips never seemed to do anything but brown out what was left. One a lark I decided to move them to the side with direct sunlight and open the shutters and the stn stopped within a day and the polyps started coming out more. Then I started leaving my shutters open all the time and I noticed the corals that get hit by sunlight have a lot of pe and their colors are better than those on the other side of the tank.

My levels are
.03 phosphate with Hanna low range
0 nitrates
425 calcium
8.0- 8.4 kh
1280 - 1320 mag
8.0- 8.1 ph
78.3 - 78.9 temp
Swings are charged over the course of months but happen very slowly

I've also got plenty of flow in the tank so the corals aren't being tried in slow moving water

 

[Mrw1936]

Sounds like you found the solution on your own, possible lack of spectrum from your lighting system? I know that I had similar issues and the addition of t5's definitely seemed to help me. It sounds like the addition of sunlight helped you.

 

[moatdaddy]

I am doing some direct sunlight testing on Fiji imported corals. My aquarium is first these have seen. I think that the corals can benefit from natural sunlight. They PE more than any other time when direct sun is on them, well that and night time. Keep us updated on how it goes. My sunlight is direct though, not through a window, my tanks are in my garage.

Brandon

 

[M007]

Sounds like you found the solution on your own, possible lack of spectrum from your lighting system? I know that I had similar issues and the addition of t5's definitely seemed to help me. It sounds like the addition of sunlight helped you.

Totally agree, you current lighting lacks both spectrum and spread. Natural sunlight "bathing" your tank is correcting both difficiencies.

 

[Coralmassa]

Yea I figured my lights were off. I'd love to switch to t5s over these primes but need to save up some more cash. Some sps do really well under them, some like to be high up and some like to be really low. I don't have access to a par meter so I really have no idea what the light gradient is. Usually when the stn stops I stick the corals into their permanent homes and leave it at that. I'd say I've done this at least five times.

I've been scoping out the six bulb ati sunpower, just waiting to find a discount so I can ditch my leds

 

[moatdaddy]

i got mine on the bay with a best offer. The problem i learned from my LFS is the producer ATI sets a price point on their lights. Its a common practice. Well your not supposed to sell the lights below a certain point. I seached for over a week and i even have a 5 dollar business licence so i can see the wholesale prices. in the end the easiest thing was the bay. was like 40$ cheaper than my LFS could get from his wholesaler.

Now i would recommend finding a local saltwater forum. Everywhere i have lived has one around a big area. Also craigslist. As long as the fixture isnt burnt out just buy new bulbs. The third option is to go cheap chinese. i have done that for my leds but never t5. reflectors are king in t5 units.