SPS too much or too little light

[Tokyoyankee]

Hi

I currently don't have a par meter and wanted to see what others think in terms of whether there's enough or not enough light. Water Chemistry is spot on SG 35ppt Alk 7-7.5 ppm No3 - zero po4 0.01ppm. I'm currently running 3 AI blue sol at w 60 b 80 rb 80 but will be switch to ATI Sunpower T5.

 

[JoeDaReefer]

What depth aquarium?
-Joe

 

[Tokyoyankee]

2 feet

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[SaltyWalter]

I kept sps in a 75 gal under 2 Sol blues at 100% both blue channels and 35% white 12" above the tank, had lps too so didn't go higher on white light so I'm sure your fine.

 

[Tokyoyankee]

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[Tokyoyankee]

The lights are sitting roughly 2-3 inches above the water line. I'm using the stock AI lighting stand that came with the lights

 

[brad65ford]

Looks like you need more food for the coral (dirtier water) and yes lower light when you have less nutrients. Wonder what your par is at the water surface with the fixtures that low. Currently I'm running a rb led fixture and seeing only 330 par at the surface. I have multiple different types of sps corals and all are doing well. Not saying your system needs to be as low like as mine just saying you might be cooking them. Also it takes some time for coral to come back after adding food or lowering light. What's your schedule ?

 

[Tokyoyankee]

I've made some small adjustments with the lighting. Now W60 B70 RB 70. It was too blue before. My lighting schedule looks like this.

7am w60 b70 rb70
5pm w20 b40 rb45
6pm w5 b20 rb 25
8pm w0 b10 rb15
2am w0 b0 rb0

 

[SaltyWalter]

Wait, you lowered your blue? And you run white for 10 hours at 60%?

To each his own but I personally would run 2 hours of both blue channels alone I the morning before whites come on. And run the whites at their highest intensity for about 5 hours with a ramp up and down for a couple hours at each end of that.

Just my opinion but with lights that close to the surface its highly unnecessary to run that much white light!!

 

[Tokyoyankee]

Wait, you lowered your blue? And you run white for 10 hours at 60%?

To each his own but I personally would run 2 hours of both blue channels alone I the morning before whites come on. And run the whites at their highest intensity for about 5 hours with a ramp up and down for a couple hours at each end of that.

Just my opinion but with lights that close to the surface its highly unnecessary to run that much white light!!

I lowered my blues as I'm looking for a 18k look. I've lowered the power and wait to see signs of improvement in coloration and general health. I'm down to w50 b60 rb60.

 

[crsturmer]

Ive always wondered about the best way of getting SPS lighting correct too. When making changes how long do you wait for to see if the change has helped or hindered? Hours? Days? Weeks? Getting lighting correct is the most frustrating part of reef keeping IMO as most other parameters are more easily measured and tweaked.

 

[Tokyoyankee]

Ive always wondered about the best way of getting SPS lighting correct too. When making changes how long do you wait for to see if the change has helped or hindered? Hours? Days? Weeks? Getting lighting correct is the most frustrating part of reef keeping IMO as most other parameters are more easily measured and tweaked.

Depends, but I personally wait a week to confirms changes. I too would like to know what other's average wait is in seeing affects on SPS

 

[StaghornE]

The monti looks good and both the stylo and acro can take more light. I would make sure your acclimating your corals yo the light properly.

 

[Tokyoyankee]

The monti looks good and both the stylo and acro can take more light. I would make sure your acclimating your corals yo the light properly.

Thanks for your feedback. I often read that AI Sol Blues put out a lot of power but have experienced otherwise. I only say this bc when I purchase them, the LFS seems to always have way brighter systems than mine. I'm still confused on dull coloration and browning. I'm really looking forward to getting ATI T5s over them!

 

[Geeray]

Thanks for your feedback. I often read that AI Sol Blues put out a lot of power but have experienced otherwise. I only say this bc when I purchase them, the LFS seems to always have way brighter systems than mine. I'm still confused on dull coloration and browning. I'm really looking forward to getting ATI T5s over them!

The par is very high right under the light but the coverage is poor. I'm getting decent coverage with 2 sols over a 2ftx2ft area.

 

[brad65ford]

Thanks for your feedback. I often read that AI Sol Blues put out a lot of power but have experienced otherwise. I only say this bc when I purchase them, the LFS seems to always have way brighter systems than mine. I'm still confused on dull coloration and browning. I'm really looking forward to getting ATI T5s over them!

systems are different I wouldn't go by other peoples tanks as to what to keep your lightning intensity. Par meters are great for help judging what you have going on. For all you know your corals could be seeing 300-500+par when they only needed 150-200.

 

[Tokyoyankee]

systems are different I wouldn't go by other peoples tanks as to what to keep your lightning intensity. Par meters are great for help judging what you have going on. For all you know your corals could be seeing 300-500+par when they only needed 150-200.

Very true. Might have to pony up the dough to get a par meter. Do LEDs lose par as the fixtures age? Their about three years old now

 

[brad65ford]

Very true. Might have to pony up the dough to get a par meter. Do LEDs lose par as the fixtures age? Their about three years old now

highly doubt it, if anything you are talking like 1 percent if that. Please report back what they were at (before you recently adjusted them). Its amazing how powerful these leds are, you noticed a lot of guys having greater success are hanging led fixtures very high and increasing intensity.

 

[timnem70]

Agree with brad65ford. LEDs have a light spectrum we can't see and in that respect tend to set our fixtures to higher intensity settings thinking, well,"it looks good" but the corals are saying "whoa dude". Do what you want and good luck

 

[Aquattro]

I ran 6 Sol blue over my 180 at w96, B100, RB100 and would have turned them higher if I could. Mostly SPS, some euphylia on the bottom. Lights 6" of surface.