AI Prime photoperiod and intensity

Elusive Kumquat · Mar 13, 2016

I currently have an AI prime on my 45 gallon cube (24"x24"x18"). The light is mounted about 12" above the water. Starting at 12pm the V, DB, B, ramp up to 50% by 1pm then to 100% by 3pm. Also at 3pm the other colors start to ramp up to 50% by 4pm ramping down at 8pm off by 9pm with blues still at 100% which then start ramping down to 50% by 11pm off completely at 12am. I do run the lunar lights.

I'm mainly trying to grow zoas, shrooms, and a few LPS corals. My tank recently crashed a few months before the new light was added. I believe the crash was due extremely low alkalinity. That beside the point I was looking for some feedback on my lighting schedule and intensity to make sure I have the right amount of light. Most of the corals are still recovering from the crash so it is hard to tell whether my light is set optimally for my tank. Any feedback would be appreciated. Thank you.

RMS18 · Mar 20, 2016

Always better to start low and work your way up. If you have access to a meter that will help you find the sweet spot sooner. I played the guessing game for to long and it created frustration and loss of some corals. I rented a par and had it all set in one day with acclimation mode. Now i have to frag corals and sell them because they outgrow my tank.