Reefbreeder V2/ LED power question

[steallife904]

I have been in hobby over 12 years. I am no pro but know what I am doing for the most part . I have only been on LEDs a couple years now (only had black boxes and nor reefbreeder V2s). Ever since setting up the V2s my coral has struggled. I really think it just because I cannot get the proper power %. Have done test, even doing ATI test and all showing levels are stable or where I expect them to be for mixed reef. I feed the tank frozen almost daily and spot feed at least 2 or 3 times a month. I have had very nice reefs previously. Maybe something has just been off but really traces back to LEDs. So... what power are you guys running your LEDs at and how long? I am kinda afraid to turn them up but im thinking I just keep them to low.

Tank is 27in tall, like is a good 8-10 in off water. Has 6 color channels and at peak I have the blue channels around 50%. White never more than 25% but I prefer the blue look. Reefbreeders had a chart for reference but wasn't totally helpful. Just recommends like 60% for mixed reef.... well how long? And how does that work if I do sunrise to set . Just finally tring to go all in and fix this.

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

I have the V2's & run their 12K program.
Whites are 100% for 6 hrs, 3 hrs up & down on both ends, other colors run lower % but on the same timing schedule. Height about the same.
I just turned off all the red lamps & my glass has been clean for 3 days vs daily cleaning with them on.

 

[steallife904]

Have been afraid to go up to 100% but maybe I will go for 80ish. Instead of white though I would probably do the blue channels that high. So thinking 3 hour ramp up starting at 9AM and then from 12-6 have my blue channels 80-100%, then back down.

im thinking my issue has been not having the lights powered up enough for enough time. At the peak power right now its only that for 1 hour. They ramp up then right back down.

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

Yeah 1 hour is definitely not enough time.

 

[steallife904]

I ended up changing the power on hours (12PM-6PM) only. Left everything else the same. I just changed channel 3,5 and 6 (the blues) to 60% power during that time. So now I have 6 hours of 60% power from those 3 channels. Was ALOT less before that. Channel 3 was my highest at 55% but only at 12PM. After 12 I started to reduce it down each hours. the other channels where less and reduced the same.
Have a feeling this is a big issue with my coral. Should have though that I just wasn't giving them enough light for long enough. Just always thought I was to high with the power or didn't want to fry everything. Will run this a bit and maybe bump up to 80% in the future, may 80% for 12PM and 1PM then back to 60% until 6PM.

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

Sunlight on the reef lasts quite a long time if you think about it.
I run 6 hrs. max. with 3 hr. ramps before & after.

 

[steallife904]

Your right and it's funny now but should have been common sense to me it needed more time at the higher settings. Today was first day it ran on higher power and my lps is open bigger than I have seen in a long time! May have solved my light issue lol

 

[Opus123]

Have you looked at their excel file with their hourly recommended percentages for each channel? They have suggestions for SPS and mixed reefs.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/9a8qc2yy...0&preview=Photon+Program+Recommendations.xlsx

 

[steallife904]

question for reefbreeder owners, how high above the water line is your light fixture? I am now trying to take into account the height above the water line my lights are and the amount of power I have the lights. Right now mine are about 10 in above the water. My tank is 27in tall. I have increased my blue channels to max out at 65% for 6 hours, been running it for a few weeks now. Im still not sure if I have it to high or low. I have a favia coral that's about 8in off the bottom on the rocks that's receding some and I am trying to rule out if its to high or low lights.

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

I went by the height of the included rail to set mine.
See if you can get a hold of a par meter to check @ various depths.
I think BRS rents one.

 

[NeonFish]

I adjusted their schedule to start at 12 noon, so I can see my livestock at night after work. 27" to the sand bed:

Mixed Reef/LPS Schedule Program Numbers
Deep Red Green Royal Blue White Cool Blue Violet
CH 1 CH2 CH3 CH4 CH5 CH6
9:00 0 0 0 0 0 0
10:00 0 0 0 0 0 0
11:00 0 0 0 0 0 0
12:00 10 10 10 10 10 10
13:00 20 20 60 20 60 60
14:00 20 20 60 20 60 60
15:00 20 20 60 20 60 60
16:00 20 20 60 20 60 60
17:00 20 20 60 20 60 60
18:00 20 20 60 20 60 60
19:00 20 20 60 20 60 60
20:00 20 20 60 20 60 60
21:00 20 20 60 20 60 60
22:00 10 10 10 10 10 10
23:00 0 0 0 0 0 0
1:00 0 0 0 0 0 0

 

[NeonFish]

reefbreeder dropbox link recommendations