Lighting intensity question

[brett559]

I have the Current LED Orbit Pro fixture. I've been running it 8 hours a day at 50% intensity (with a 30-minute ramp up/down time). Thinking it might be time to up the intensity a little. I currently have a decent sized torch, hammer, a small trumpet, small frogspawn and some favia frags. These aren't the most light-needy corals, but I wonder if I should up it.

I want to avoid cyano and algae problems. I was thinking of maybe upping it 5%-10% a week. Good idea?

 

[Potsy]

Is there a particular reason why you think the intensity should be increased? Lack of growth? If they are growing, why change it? If the growth rate is slow, I think you have a good plan with the slow, incremental increases in intensity. If you could get your hands on a par meter, or someone else's par readings for that fixture on the web, you'd know your course of action with more certainty.

 

[ReefWreak]

You won't avoid cyano or algae problems by increasing the light. The intensity of the light will have little to do with those.

The gauge that I go by for light intensity:
Corals are brown and nutrients are low (0-5ppm nitrate, 0.04-0ppm phosphate) more light
Corals are light in color, tissue receding, etc, I would lower intensity

I think with that fixture, you'll run into problem #1 long before you run into problem #2. I doubt you'll even hit problem #2 with a non-specialized light (radion, kessil, hydra, etc), but whatever you do, do it in small increments.

 

[brett559]

I guess my main reason is I simply like the look of a brighter tank. The corals are relatively new.

 

[nuxx]

Could always slowly raise the intensity, then scale back on the hours it's on if you're worried about algae.