Optimal Radion Lighting

[aravindk]

I don't see much SPS growth and I suspect it is less-than adequate lighting. This is a 60 gallon cube with couple of sps frags in them. I am having a heavy hair algae infestation in this tank so I am not stocking it further until I get it under control.

It is a 24"X24"X24" lighted with a single Radion Pro XR30W Gen 2. The lighting scheme I am using is below:

I also have a 180g connected to the same system lighted by 3 chinese made LEDs. They are at about 75% of their intensity and they run in the below schedule:

4pm to 11 pm Actinic
5 pm to 9 pm white

I don't have a lots of corals in that either (again trying to get control after few setbacks). I have about five or six coral colonies and they are showing abundant growth.

I am trying to figure out an optimal setting for Radion that can help with SPS
growth (other than replacing it with a chinese LED!).

Any help is greatly appreciated!


Arvind.

 

[blindskater02]

" I am having a heavy hair algae infestation in this tank" - This is why your SPS are not growing. Get the nutrient levels under control and your SPS will grow. PO4 and NO3 are growth inhibitors to SPS.

 

[aravindk]

" I am having a heavy hair algae infestation in this tank" - This is why your SPS are not growing. Get the nutrient levels under control and your SPS will grow. PO4 and NO3 are growth inhibitors to SPS.

The hair algae issues are only about two plus months old but the tank has been running almost 18 months. The growth is almost nil in that tank. Never saw any growth even prior to the hair algae infestation. The 180g is connected to the same system with the same nutrient levels and sps have grown over twice their size in the same period. I am in agreement with the nutrient levels inhibiting sps growth, but I still want to know if my lighting is adequate.