Nano Lighting

[becca22]

Hi everyone, I have about a 4 month old nano rectangular 12g with a 10g sump. I have 2 clowns. I also have star polyps, a small leather tree, frogspawn, and some zoas. I am using a prime AI LED light and have worked my way up to 35% on all colors but white. If I go any higher my frogspawn and some little zoas don't seem to like it. I have messed around with the lighting so much and I know you have to do it slowly, so I only would move it up 2-3% every week. I just don't know what should work for a tank that small and that powerful of a light. Any suggestions? I just don't feel my coral is thriving and all the parameters are great. This isn't my first reef tank either. Included is a picture of the tank and how far away the light is.

Thank you!
Becca

 

[burton14e7]

Just leave it at 35% if that's all your corals can take. Are you unhappy with the spectrum and want more white? I would also check the nano forum to see what others are doing with your similar setup.

 

[becca22]

I feel like 35% on all colors isn't the best usage of the light, or the best for my corals. I posted in nano and got one answer with someone and a similar set-up. I'll try his lighting schedule.

 

[RobZilla04]

Light acclimation takes time, changing several time monthly (or worse weekly) will only add to your frustration. The same applies to flow adjustments. Extra patience pays off.

Try increasing your feeding or changing the type of food to spark growth.

 

[burton14e7]

I feel like 35% on all colors isn't the best usage of the light, or the best for my corals. I posted in nano and got one answer with someone and a similar set-up. I'll try his lighting schedule.

I feel ya, like buying a 400 hp car but never driving above 65 mph...Maybe they just need a longer acclimation period. I have read that a lot of people can't turn their LEDs up high. One thing you can do is to raise your LED up, it would give better spectrum blending to your corals and reduce the spot light effect allowing you to increase the power but it might cause the light to spill outside of your tank.

 

[moondoggy4]

I started my 12'' cube over a year ago, and I have my Kessil 160 at 10% no white all blue and over 1 year later I am still not over 40%.