Light Input

[Erics210]

Hello everyone.
I have a 210 Oceanic with center divide glass.
I have had an assortment of lights in the year+ I have had the tank. Lights from prior owner, cheap eBay 72" - T5s that didn't last 6 months, then back and forth with Marineland and Fluval Reef 2.0s.

So I broke down and picked up two Kessil A360WE.
So I have a 3 foot Fluval 2.0 and the two Kessils.

How should I go about spacing the lights. I am planning a part???
The tank is 6 foot long, 2 feet wide and 30(29") deep!

Most of the corals I have now are low light corals and mainly on the right side of the tank.
The Kessils are supposed to cover 24"x24"x24" per light.
So would it be best to use the two Kessils to cover half and the Fluval2.0 to cover the other side until I can save up to buy 1 or 2 more Kessils.

Also do I lower my mushrooms Hammer and Frogspawn until the get adjusted to the more intense lights?

 

[JeffBoyRD]

Not an expert, but an opinion. I would probably place the two Kessils at the ends of your tank, approximately a foot from each end, if they are to cover 2 feet. Then I would place the Fluval to cover the center. Is it expendable/shrinkable? It should cover the center two feet.
Concerning more intense lighting, since I believe the Kessils are adjustable, I would adjust them and leave the coral as is.
My .02 anyways. Lighting can be such a pain and I am always second guessing mine. I have a 150 with similar dimensions, only 18" depth but same length and height. I have two overflows a foot in from the ends and a 2 foot glass support in the center. Lighting over the glass is an issue for me. Just adding that if you have to contend as well.

 

[Erics210]

Thanks.

Not sure if this will work

I do have the 2 foot center brace. SUCKS!

Will figure something out. Had to clean the glass more now too.

 

[Erics210]

I have the Fluval 2.0 covering the the left half. And the two Kessils on the right.
I think it will look better once I get a second 90 degree arm to make them look similar, also some small cable ties to tidy up the wires.

As for the light. Just going with a controller Active 1 program. Will lean towards more Blues at first.

 

[Erics210]

Here is an upper shot to show where I placed the mounting brackets for now.

 

[Erics210]

Probably would look MUCH more balanced for now with the Kessils on each end, and Fluval in the middle and when I get the 3rd A360, just swap it out.

Will TRY THAT NOW.

 

[Erics210]

So went with one on each side for now...for balance.
Running the Fluval 2.0 in the center until I get an additional Kessil.

Thoughts?

 

[JeffBoyRD]

Oh, I think that looks much better. Good job. Your tank with overflows and glass top is pretty much just like mine.

 

[Erics210]

when i get the third one it will get a little odd. maybe keep the fluval there due to the glass.

now i need to figure out the intensity/color levels, and PAR.

 

[Erics210]

when i get the third one it will get a little odd. maybe keep the fluval there due to the glass.

now i need to figure out the intensity/color levels, and PAR.

 

[JeffBoyRD]

Yeah, if the color looks good to your eye, and your corals are growing, and you are ok with the look of the tank, I would stay keep it as is. From the pictures, the color and lighting look good to me. The other thing you could do for aesthetics would be to build a "false" canopy to cover the front and the sides. Kinda like three walls and hide all the lighting and stuff.

 

[Erics210]

OK, Have the two A360WE Kessils and Fluval 2.0 Reef in between, and ordered a package from Aquarium Depot. Chalices are looking good, but many/most of the zoas are not opening up all the way.
I have them on the bottom of the 29inch deep 210 gallon tank.
I have the Kessil settings on Active 1.

Should I change the settings? Should I increase the intensity/color?
Should I move the Zoas to a higher location?

I dont know what the Aquarium Depot uses as a light source or depth in their tanks. Sire it woul dhelp to know...

Any suggestions?

Out of the 8 frags/colonies I receives, only about 10-15 polyps total are opening at all, and not all the way.