What is the right amount of light?

[necrio]

So, its been a few months since I setup my favorite tank. Its a biocube 29 with a reefbreeders nano lite light. I cut out the PC lights for a small window for the RB lite.


So, I have had it at I guess 40% for most of its life, but I increased the blues to 55% and maybe white/others to 45%.

But, how to tell what is too much/not enough?

I have growth in both situations, can't really tell which is faster or better.


Mixed reef.

 

[rovster]

No one has the answer to that, especially with all the variables associated with LEDs. If things look good, then leave it alone. Water quality is key. In my strongly held opinion, the PC lights are good enough on their own for a mixed reef, LEDs are a step up. The problem is that we are always tweaking and changing and trying to squeeze whatever we can out of things, instead of just leaving things alone. The key is not getting things stable, its leaving things stable. I love when people come on here and said I dosed XYZ and 2 days later I see new growth, LOL! Sounds like your tank is in a good place right now. Leave it alone and watch closely for any positive or negative change.

To go back to your original question, if corals start to pale, zoas shrink, LPS shrivel and bleach, it might be too much light. If you increase the intensity too quick you could get recession, and I find zoas tend to puke their guts out.

All this I speak from my own experience

 

[Ludwigia73]

Agreed... if it's a good light, and you see a little growth at 40%, you could ramp up to 50% in a month. If you get better growth, maybe 60% another month down the road. At some point the colors may begin to suffer or polyp extension may suffer, that's when you back down. Never make big jumps in any parameters, including light.