Do you think there is a threshold, a level of light intensity and duration at which photoinhibition is induced with the corals in captivity no matter how slowly we acclimate them to the ever increasing light intensity of the Illumina with just a few clicks of a button on our computers? Even with the SR260, I don't foresee myself ever turning everything up to 100% no matter how long the acclimation period may be. What's your opinion on that?
I have read somewhere that above certain light levels, light actually "poisons" corals via the intensity overwhelming Zooanthellates. But in my opinion, having dived for many years on many coral reefs, I have seen first hand what sort of light intensities corals get in shallow water at peak light times during the day...far more than we could ever provide by artificial means. Many sps grow and thrive in 1 or 2 foot of water and the light they get at peak times is just monstrous !!! But the colours are spectacular.
In fact, Acro Al who is recognised Internationally as a serious sps expert, and also lives in the same City as me, keeps his corals under direct sunlight and his tank is truly spectacular...something I can only aspire to under artificial light, no matter how strong it is. His advice to me is always blast them with high light intensity....and so far he is right as far as the results in my tank go.
I personally believe it is a multi-dimensional issue.......if we get all the other parameters such as water chemistry, stability and flow under as tight control as possible, then sps will thrive under quite massive light. On the other hand, if the basic parameters are not right, then something gotta give !!!
Whatever the methodology chosen to up the light levels, I am sure that slowly, slowly is essential, and then the coral has plenty of time to adjust its own structure to compensate, without undue stress.
But that is just my opinion and I am sure that there are other views out there
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