who wants to know what corals do best under what light intensity?

[kevensquint]

I know I do, We test Ca, Alk, PH, S.G etc.. all very important for a healthy reef. But if we all agree that lighting is one of THE most important factors in keeping corals, I didn't say its the most, but ONE of the most important factors.. why do we hardly test it? From what I have researched recently there are many factors that will determine what coral will thrive under what light, where it was collected, species, water clarity etc..." We suggest that lighting, water motion and alkalinity all seem to be important for the maintenance of SPS pigmentation. Serious hobbyists should obtain a submersible light meter as light levels can change significantly over the space of just a few inches," Dana Riddle and Andy Amussen. That being said, I am sure as a group (and quite a large group we are), we can narrow it down from low light, medium and high to something more specific. Numbers. A friend and I, both keep mixed reefs and we both have corals that do better than others. We have just ordered 2 Milwaukee light meters. I don't know how to go about this, but it would be very helpful to all reefers if somehow there was a web page ,thread or data base formed where reefers could enter the light measurment next to a specific coral that they consider to be thriving. As more and more reefers would contribute the readings would narrow down to certain parameters until we would finally end up with a ballpark figure for recommended light intensities for many common corals. Example acropora formosa- 500-1000 PAR. Most meters measur in LUX, but this can be converted to PAR. I tried this idea out in the discussion forum to deaf ears. Remember the goal is to find a rough or guidline in LUX or PAR to keep specific corals happy. It is impossible to say X coral needs 650 PAR. But E.Bornman himself replied to me in a thread the other day that for two corals one being low light and one high light, he would try to keep them under 50-300 PAR and 500-1500 PAR respectivly. According to his experience.What do you think?

 

[DaddyJax]

I also believe that there is a lack of spectrum needs due to the location of the collected coral(Fiji,Tonga,Bali...). Is there is a need for more red in some places than others? Is one reef more shallow for the need for red or deeper for the need for blue? I have also looked for some more info on this but have found very little. What I have come to accept is that wild colonies that survive change color due to the lack of spectrum and increase or decrease in par as well or die.

 

[kevensquint]

I have found a good amount of info, mainly by Dana Riddle, some articles by A.Calfo, E.Borneman and of course S.Joshi. Try these, http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2002/Feature.htm and http://www.athiel.com/lib4/par1.htm and http://www.reefs.org/library/talklog/d_riddle_042698.html and http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2005/10/short , http://www.reefs.org/library/aquarium_net/1298/1298_2.htmlone more http://trickstr.tripod.com/lighting.htm .I am still searching for more.

 

[kevensquint]

What a shame, 78 hits and one response. As far as my idea goes I'll do it for my own personal interest. But there must be a reason for all those lighting questions in this forum, so take advantage of the links I provided, some interesting points on lighting by a respected reefkeeping expert.

 

[kevensquint]

What a shame, 78 hits and one response. As far as my idea goes, I'll do it for my own personal interest/benefit. But there must be a reason for all those lighting questions in this forum, so take advantage of the links I provided, some interesting points on lighting by a respected reefkeeping expert.