Vertex Illumina SR260 issues

[toronto_discus]

For the past 6 months I was having issues with no PE on any of the sps. All sps would slowly died off after 2-3 weeks. I always thought my water parameter was giving me issues until I recently gave up and dumped my sps into the sump. Surprisingly, the polyp came out with my cheap light bulb purchased from home depot.

My light intensity is not enough that strong (30% white, 60% Royal blue and blue) and I can't believe it is killing all my sps. LPS and palys are growing perfectly. I have since reduced to 20% white, 30% RB and blue.

Base on above observation, can I conclude that the illumina is killing the sps?

I am so tempted to switch to T5. Any thoughts and brands that you can recommend? My tank is 180G (72x24x24)

 

[Ron99]

Is it possible something in your tank is leaking electricity? I had a problem with a voltage leak from a heater years ago that killed my sps and fish slowly.

How deep is your tank and at what depths were your SPS vs. the LPS and palys?

 

[msderganc]

What are the dimensions of the tank and which size light do you have over them?

If anything I'd say you might be low in light intensity. PE is not necessarily dependent on light intensity (PE is usually strongest at night when the corals cannot get nutrients from the light). How were they dying off? STN? Bleaching?

What are your tank's phosphate/nitrate/calcium/magnesium/alkalinity levels? What fish are in the tank?

 

[toronto_discus]

Tank dimension Is 72" x 24" x 24". Water parameters are good.

Alk 8
Ca 410
Mg 1350
Ph 8
Temp 79
Salinity 1.025.

Since I reduced the light intensity, I am not getting STN anymore and I'm able to maintain. However, there's no growth or PE. I assume my water parameters are ok because once I put a frag in the sump, all he polyp comes out (with regular light bulb). I see most people keep their illumina at 100% blue and 50% white.

 

[msderganc]

Well, I'm not sure, other than there may be some type of predator in your tank (SPS will retract polyps to avoid them).

I have a similar sized tank (60x27.5x27.5) with a 48" illumina and my corals are doing well even though the tank has only been up for about five months. I have great PE on most of my corals, and I'm seeing pretty good coloration and growth.

Again, corals put polyps out at night (generally more than the day) so the PE could just be due to that.

Where are the corals coming from? Were they under a different light system? How did you acclimate to light and water?

 

[toronto_discus]

What's your light intensity, duration and how high you hang your light off the tank.

Well, I'm not sure, other than there may be some type of predator in your tank (SPS will retract polyps to avoid them).

I have a similar sized tank (60x27.5x27.5) with a 48" illumina and my corals are doing well even though the tank has only been up for about five months. I have great PE on most of my corals, and I'm seeing pretty good coloration and growth.

Again, corals put polyps out at night (generally more than the day) so the PE could just be due to that.

Where are the corals coming from? Were they under a different light system? How did you acclimate to light and water?

 

[msderganc]

My light is about 6" off the water.

Right now, my blues/royal blues ramp from 6-10:30, then stay at 100% until 2:15. They then ramp down and finish at 7pm.

Whites (and warm whites) are similar in timing and peak at 75%.

UV peaks at 50%, Reds at 40% (might reduce this a bit for algae), and greens at 35%.

 

[jmvaldes80]

So, I did some investigation on the Vertex Illumia and why BRS and Premiumaquatics doesn't carry the illumina.

I started by emailing a British vender to inquire if they ship international. However, they shut me down quick. No, they did not with no explaination. Try to figure out why they would not dare to ship internationally, I remembered the patent issues and how more importantly the fixture will not work on our grid. (UK 220/US 110).

I then searched for countries with the same grids as the US, turns out Canada has the same grid. I then emailed JL Aquatics in British Columbia. I got word from them that they do ship to the US, but that there is one US retailer left, Proline Aquatics in California.

Ecstatic that there possibly might still be a vendor in our great nation, I saught out Proline Aquatics' sales team.

There is **** news and good news... **** News: Vertex illumina is extinct... Went out of product last year. Good News: there is a new model coming out Spring 2016.

Let's see! Just around the time I'll be ready to fire my 40 build up.