sps liking lower light w/leds

[JT3069]

Just wonder if it's just me, but i went from 250w halides to leds.
They could handle 95% full power,but did not look good,so recently moved
them down to 45-55%
Im noticing better growth and coloration

Has anyone else noticed this when they switching to leds?

 

[Tropboi561]

I noticed this too. They don't like high lights of LEDs in my tank.

 

[rodneyri]

what LEDs do you have, and are you saying all colors are 45-55%, how long is your light period...im curious to hear more about your observations

 

[steevareno2002]

Yes my AI's are at roughly 60% with more blue than white. They bleach SPS easily!

 

[viper12775]

same here but i run rb at 95% 10k at 40 any higher and they start bleaching

 

[JT3069]

what LEDs do you have, and are you saying all colors are 45-55%, how long is your light period...im curious to hear more about your observations

i have a standard 90g rr
48 leds
12cw
24rb
12uv

With a mixed combination of 60,80, and no optics

I use the apex w/vdm module, and have cw at 40% rb at 55% and uv at 35%
I have a sunrise that is set to start at 10% and ramp to there perspective % over the course of 4 hours
Then daylight for 6 hours
Followed by a two hour sunset

 

[rodneyri]

thanks for that, intersting as i have a vertex illumina (no optics), i have whites at 75% for 6hours and ramp up/down over a period of 2hours before and 4 hours after the whites with my b;rb at 90%.

Im adding 10 violets, 10 cyan and 10 pink this weekend...might start testing a lower intnsity on my lights and see the effect.

 

[ajcanale]

Noticed this very thing as well. went from 100% to 65% on maximum phase, after signs of bleaching. Backed white/blue/green spectrum's down, leaving only deep blue and red constant. Have had good results.

 

[JT3069]

thanks for that, intersting as i have a vertex illumina (no optics), i have whites at 75% for 6hours and ramp up/down over a period of 2hours before and 4 hours after the whites with my b;rb at 90%.Im adding 10 violets, 10 cyan and 10 pink this weekend...might start testing a lower intnsity on my lights and see the effect

any time! i plan on anding more, in time.How is your grow/coloration?
i've never seen your brand of light in person, but have read some reviews.

Noticed this very thing as well. went from 100% to 65% on maximum phase, after signs of bleaching. Backed white/blue/green spectrum's down, leaving only deep blue and red constant. Have had good results

same here but i run rb at 95% 10k at 40 any higher and they start bleaching

Yes my AI's are at roughly 60% with more blue than white. They bleach SPS easily]

They would not bleach, I had pretty high lighting on my old 75
ex... My red planet would still be pink but would lose it's yellow green color
had amazing grow when it looked like this!
Trying to find the balance of good color while still getting good growth.

 

[ajcanale]

Bleaching did occur in my system though. I lost one of my three Bonsai frags to RTN. Of the three it was receiving the most light. The other two turned a very pale brown but have since regained their color. Not a coincidence.

 

[salty55]

Im sure its because LEDS have more PUR (photosynthetic usuable radiation) than other types of lighting. That goes to show PAR isnt everything.

 

[CUNAReefer]

Some LEDs can put out some unbelievable amounts of PAR. I was able to test some Apollo LEDs (Supplemented with a Chinese fixture) with a new Apogee PAR meter. For your convenience, I have provide a link to the PAR results below:

http://www.michiganreefers.com/foru...55-apollo-par-results-over-90-gallon-sps.html

One reason why you experience more growth with less light is something called photo inhibition. Once you exceed light saturation points you can actually cause less growth or even stop growth all toghether. Here is a great link to an article by Dan Riddle

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2007/3/aafeature1

On a final note, you can have much more success measuring your PAR and placing your corals based on the measurements. I've gotten much better color and growth when lowering the PAR to 400 at the middle highest point of my T5 lit tank.

Warmest Regards,
James

 

[reefsahoy]

i have ai nano on a 18# cube and cooked my ric and other lps at 35%. at first i thought it was my water q, then i realized that some of the lps that were in the corner of the tank did ok. i lowered the light to under 25% and they are alot better. still trying to figure out the led intensity thing so still in the learning process beofre getting some corals. you guys have any pics of your sps using the ai lights?

 

[T.MONEY]

Im running my Radion's at 50% and they have been here since i got them the first week they came out. If I turn them up more they fry all my corals, I was planning on taking them to 60% this week finally.

 

[Msleckro]

This is a great thread! I have a DIY Cree with 36 rb and 18cw. I was running them at 65% for a long time for 8hours. Then switched to 6.5 hours at 40% and my growth has been awesome! Colors are much richer also.

I did notice that after about two weeks the growth has slowed a little. I was thinking about doing a little test with high light intensity for a week, then lower light for two weeks. What do you guys think?

 

[JT3069]

i have ai nano on a 18# cube and cooked my ric and other lps at 35%. at first i thought it was my water q, then i realized that some of the lps that were in the corner of the tank did ok. i lowered the light to under 25% and they are alot better. still trying to figure out the led intensity thing so still in the learning process beofre getting some corals. you guys have any pics of your sps using the ai lights?

here is one i'm still playing with the white balance to show the true color's
i'm finding this to be one of the hardest parts lol
these are diy, crees

I did notice that after about two weeks the growth has slowed a little. I was thinking about doing a little test with high light intensity for a week, then lower light for two weeks. What do you guys think?

i say go for it, mine are growing like crazy at the moment, with the lower light

 

[kenghmoob]

I have (3) Radions over a 180 gal tank. I have the Radions up to 90%. All are doing perfectly fine. Note all SPS are still only frags and are towards the top of my tank. The top of my rock are approx. 6-8" from the water line.

I started at 65% and weekly ramp it up 10%. Been at 90% for about a month now