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[reenact12321]

I know you're running Arctic T247s on a 40 Breeder right? I'm running the same thing and I've had a couple of acans that won't cooperate at all, another set are fine. I've also had some GSP and a big red trachy go into full retreat.

What settings are you running the lights at and how high are they off the tank? DO you have them with the displays facing the front of the tank or long-ways?

I had them around 12 or 13" and they were running pretty high, I thought maybe I burned stuff, but at the same time I'm not getting much growth, even from a good sized war coral frag and some others that have been in there a long time.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

I'm still trying to get my lights set properly but currently I'm running them at 95 blues 15 whites at 13" above my tank. The light is setup lengthwise over the length of the tank.

Acans are a funny creature some like lots of flow and low light others like almost no flow and no light and others want no flow and good light. I just wait a week where they are and then move them to a different spot to see if they like that better or not. I'm currently playing around with one that isn't happy and will move it sometime today.

It took me a while to get my lights up to where they are set so don't go setting them up too high as it will burn corals. as I stated I learned that the hard way.

I'll take some pictures today of the acan that's not doing well where it is and then to where I'm moving it to. Then will report back in a week.

 

[reenact12321]

thanks for the info. One Acan I have is very happy, The other has been irritated for some time now. Still not sure why my Trachyphyllia got upset. It still has good color but has buried itself down in the skeleton and only extends feeding tentacles modestly at night.

My tank was like this last week when I started seeing the trach irritation and algae/cyano I've been fighting:

Nitrates 0
Phosphates .18 due to a skimmer overflow,
pH 7.8
K Hardness: 8
Calcium: 480
Lights: 70%B 45%W
Blues run for 11 hours, whites run for 9

I've done a lot of water changes and started treating with a buffer for the pH

Last night:
Nitrate: 0
Phosphate: 0
pH 8.2
K : 10
Calcium: 520 (I think I might have slightly elevated numbers from the kalk treatment)
Lights: 50%Blue 35%White
Blue runs for 10 hours White runs for 4 (was recommended to help with algae.

Temperature has occasionally ranged as high as 82 with the spring weather swinging the house from brisk to stuffy, but never anything above 82.5 It averages around 77, would lower be better?

I introduced a new hammer and BTA when I got everything levelled a few days ago, and so I've been running the T247s at 50% Blue 35% White. i'm hoping to start walking them back up over the next few weeks.

This is pretty much what it looks like except for the upset acan on the bottom left looks about the same, but the red trach on the right is much more recessed than in the photo, and even my gsp have been kind of in retreat.
Tank Photo so it doesn't look huge on this page

Have you had any success with SPS btw? I've heard LED just can't do it, what's your experience? I have a little button sized monti frag someone gave me but it has refused to die, but also refused to grow.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

A few things stand out to me that I believe you should change.

Fist and most important of all is stop using the PH buffer. This will affect your Alk and in a bad way as you see in your high Ca and Alk will get higher the more you use it.

You also need to get your temp under control and steady. It would be best in the 77-79 range.

Second you're running your lights at too much white. When I first got my T247 I ran it at 60 blues and 40 whites and burned up most of my acans as well as a few other corals. You are better off running high blues and lower whites. My current setting is 95 blues and 15 whites. I think you should set yours at 75 blues and 10 whites and leave them there for a week then raise your blues to 85 blues and 15 whites. The blues are deceiving as they don't appear too bright but they are and the blues are most important for coral growth.

I've got a few SPS nothing fancy but they are doing OK. I have a Pavona that is doing outstanding as well as some tabbing type of Acro can't remember the name but it's growing well also. My Cherub angel loves many other SPS like pocilopora and others similar and eats them like candy, but he's not touching anything else.

I need to try and get some pictures up this week, but I've got so many damned doctor appts that my head is spinning. I should have time later today and some tomorrow as well. I've got to do some glass cleaning and get rid of some bubble algae too.

 

[reenact12321]

Thanks! I will definitely try that adjustment. That's the kind of info I've been seeking, I keep staring at the light settings like "I have no idea what to do to get these right"

 

[Dkuhlmann]

I was stuck with the same thing until I found someone that has a PAR meter and has a T247

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Well I got my new camera and have started taking pictures to get use to it, but in the meantime I've not been doing well with my back problems, so my tank is suffering for it. I've not done a WC in a month and it shows :hammer: I'm going to do a 20% WC each week for the next two weeks, hopefully everything bounces back.

But for now here are a few fish pictures. After my corals perk up I'll take a bunch of macro pictures. Learning the new camera is a process, but one that I'm enjoying.

My male Mocha

The Happy Couple

A purple Duncan and my not so happy green Duncan

Soon to be momma Mocha ocellaris, her mouth is beat up because they are beating the hell out of each other, I worry that one might kill the other but they're going through the breeding fighting process.

And one more of momma