Help with ai sol 2nd gen sps brightness levels.

[deepseadan]

Hey guys, I have three ai sol super blue 2nd generation sols over my 24 inch deep tank. I'm having some issues trying to figure out what percentages are good for sps. I'm coming from four 54 watt t5's which seem brighter to the eye than the sols, but my upper level acros and Monti's are bleaching. Currently I have all three percentages at 100%, but I think it's to much. I'm kind of scared to go lower though. What percentages do you sol guys use for acros and monitporas.

 

[Tron_954]

Well, my whites are around 35-40 and blues 85-90, on a 15" deep tank with light 8" above water level. Try turning the whites down to around 40-50

 

[deepseadan]

Thanks, I guess all 100% sounds like overboard then. I'll turn them down right away.

 

[mikezalewski]

Most people that I have talked to say that they have to lower their % to about half because they are killing corals. I have even talked to one person that did not like the ai sol led's would like to get rid of them because they are very hard to dial in!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Tron_954]

Your supposed to acclimTe your tank @ 30% across

 

[jusn317]

Definitely need to slowly raise your intensity over the course of few weeks. I just went from ati pm to 4 sol blues and even though they don't seem as bright they are strong. I bleached a couple montis and I started out at less than 50% intensity.

 

[DopeCantWin]

I've had mine for 2 weeks now. I started out with 250 MH. Based on PAR readings, I actually started mine out at 20 30 30, and they still put out more. I'm up to 30 40 50 starting today. Nobody has bleached yet, and corals are growing.

 

[Tron_954]

IMO since ive played with it for several months now, i think the whites are the ones who bleach, blues still have great PAR but dont play as big a role in shocking your corals as the white

 

[njreefermadness]

I have 6 Sol Blues over my 180, and I do push them up to 85/90/90 for an hour or two a day. I have had my AIs since Feb of this year. I started out in the 30s, but quickly pushed them up into the 60s in about 2 weeks. I never had any issues w/ bleaching. I have mine about 12 in. off the water.

Herb

 

[DopeCantWin]

I have 6 Sol Blues over my 180, and I do push them up to 85/90/90 for an hour or two a day. I have had my AIs since Feb of this year. I started out in the 30s, but quickly pushed them up into the 60s in about 2 weeks. I never had any issues w/ bleaching. I have mine about 12 in. off the water.

Herb

Out of curiosity, whats your full photoperiod?

 

[njreefermadness]

Here is my lighting schedule:


WH RY BL

T1:
8:00 am
60 63 65
180 min

T2:
11:00
86 88 89
60 min

T3:
1:00
90 95 95
60 Min

T4:
4:00
80 83 83
60 Min

T5:
7:00
0 10 10
120 min

T6:
9:00
0 0 0

That's what I am running.

Herb

 

[deepseadan]

Here is my lighting schedule:


WH RY BL

T1:
8:00 am
60 63 65
180 min

T2:
11:00
86 88 89
60 min

T3:
1:00
90 95 95
60 Min

T4:
4:00
80 83 83
60 Min

T5:
7:00
0 10 10
120 min

T6:
9:00
0 0 0

That's what I am running.

Herb

What is the average depth of your corals from the water line, and they are sps correct? Also, have the tips of your acros remained colorful or did they turn white at all?

 

[njreefermadness]

My lights are about a foot off the water.

I have a green slimer that is just about growing out of the water. The upper portion is lighter green, but that is the growth tip. The lower sections are extremely green.

Most of my colonies are in the upper 1/2 of the tank. My Miami orchid colony is pretty high, and the color is outstanding.

I have all SPS: tenius, green slimer, miami orchid, red planet, plum crazy, Pearlberry, purple plasma, setosa, red, green, purple cap, miyagi tort, teraki, echinata, etc, etc.

All colors look great.

Herb

 

[curthendrix]

Mounting height is very important with these units IMO. I have mine 12" awl and have never had an issue either.

 

[meshwheel]

I am thinking about swapping out my 250 watt Radium metal halide with Lumenbrite fixtrue for one of the new AI sol Blue's over my 34 gallon max tank.
It' all SPS and would love to save some dolalrs on electric bill. Would also love to lose all the heat generated by the halide.
My current tank is 24 inches wide. Do you guiys think the one full size sol blue would suffice???
I am currently setting up a 36 inch wide 75 gallon bow front. I will then transfer the contents over to the 75 gallon. I thought one sol may still be sufficient for my 75.
What do you guys think?

Thanks!

 

[A.G]

Hey guys,

If hanging the light 5-6" awl . what would you suggest for maximum intensity ?

thanks

 

[redhanded77]

I have my sols 12" above my 75g and my settings are....
white - 50%
blue - 70%
royal blue - 90%

I am getting about 150par at sand bed.

 

[dg3147]

I have 4 AI sols 8" above an 18" tank (48x18x20); I started mine at 30 and increased 2% every 3 days to a max of roughly 50/50/50, may go up to 60% eventually. No bleaching even in corals that are touching the water surface.

Start 30% and go up...

 

[curthendrix]

I wouldn't put any unit with 40 degree optics 5" awl.

 

[A.G]

all 70 degree optics but no PAR meter so I have no clue where to stop.I started at 30 and am mid 60s I dont if I should go up or stop .