Too much light or not enough?

[reret10]

Hey guys
I've been running a 120 watt Ocean Revive LED light about 12 inches above my tank for about 18 months now and i've found that although I get decent growth, my SPS corals have slowly gotten whiter and whiter and now, I feel like I should really do something about it. I've been dosing 2 part for years so my alk and calc have all been decent and fairly stable and my nitrates and phosphates are always too low to test for in the kits I use but the coral still seem to get whiter and whiter. I run my LEDs at about 50% with the whites on from 8 till 6 and the Blues on from 6 till 8. Any idea of I'm giving them too much or not enough light? I feel like it's not enough light but I'm worried that If I keep upping it, the problem will just get worse and same with the opposite approach. Hopefully, these pictures can help show what the deal is. Also, I've been trying to find a way to borrow a PAR meter so hopefully I can do that soon.
Cheers,
Ian

 

[jda]

Turn the whites down and see if it helps. This is not likely a quantity thing, rather a quality of light. Your whole post is a pretty typical SPS under LED posts - birdsnest is huge, acros are so-so in color but grow a bit. There are folks who do well with some acros under LED, but they are the exception and not the majority - the majority have posts like yours. If you are serious about SPS, keep your eye out for a good T5 unit and give it a shot.

 

[reret10]

Yeah, I've been thinking about incorporating T5 light but going entirely T5 would raise my electric bill as well as run pretty hot (I live in the desert so that's a really big problem). Do you think I could build a fixture with say, one 18" white T5 bulb and one actinic to supplement the LEDs? Or would that just be a waste and I should just switch over entirely to T5 for good color? I feel like a combination of lights would be the best of both worlds but it could be a hassle.

 

[reret10]

For instance, in addition to my LED fixture, add this: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3733+13822+29413&pcatid=29413

Would that help with color?

 

[jda]

Best of both worlds is a fools errand. Going part way on two things is as good as not doing anything. Go all the way on something, no matter what it is.

 

[reret10]

The idea isn't to drop down on the LED usage as much is it is to add supplemental light of the spectrums more necessary for good SPS growth and coloration. I'm just wondering how the addition of the T5 bulbs would counteract the LED system already in place. Obviously it doesn't help as indicated by your response but I don't understand how that could do more damage. It seems like too much light isn't as much of a problem as quality like you said so why would adding supplemental better quality light be bad? Obviously it's not nearly as bright as the sun so I doubt it would be too much light, and if so, couldn't I raise the fixture.
Sorry I'm not trying to argue at all, I'm just trying to understand the strong negative connotation towards hybrid lighting systems that your previous comment so directly conveyed.

 

[jda]

You are seeing the effect of a substandard light for the corals that you are keeping. Why would you want to keep it at all. Even at half power or supplemented, it is still substandard. Why add 2 T5 bulbs which are better light, when you can add 4 and go all in with them?

The old timers used to say that you cannot ride two horses with one arse.

 

[sirreal63]

Looks like hungry corals to me. What are you feeding?

 

[reret10]

Honestly, nothing specifically. I just feed the tank parts of those marine cuisine cube things. But I should be feeding more right?


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[sirreal63]

I would but I would also caution you to increase your feedings slowly. The tank may not have enough critters to handle an overload of food. This is self correcting, as you slowly feed more the life in the tank should increase to consume any leftovers.

You can buy food designed for stony corals but I make my own. It is important to remember that as light increases so must food to maintain proper nutrition. Light alone isn't enough to have healthy corals. All living creatures require nutrition, corals are no different.

 

[Ron Reefman]

I agree with Jack, feeding can help.

And I think jda really doesn't like leds as much as he like t5. :love1: There's nothing wrong with that. Lots of others here feel the same way. I think t5 do a better job of light coverage and less dark shadows. But I'd rather use leds because I like no bulb replacement, cooler temps, sunrise/sunset control, 6 channel color control (without replacing bulbs) and the ability to switch to several different light displays when I'm showing off the tank to people who haven't seen it before.

I suspect your PAR is a bit low, not a lot, but 10% to 20%.

I'd also recommend you bump up the blue channel. I use an OceanRevive T247 over my frag tank and my sps (including colorful acros and digis) color up just fine. But I run WAY more blue than white. It's a work tank, not a display tank, so I'm at 90% blue and 10% white. That's generally about the same total PAR as you are running. If I was you I'd try running the blue channel at double or even triple the white channel. Like 35% white and 80% blue. If things color up some, you could try 25% white and 90% blue (it's still just a very cool white tank). If that doesn't work, your t5 fixture would also be a good upgrade if you really think you need it.