AI Prime: setting suggestions for nano?

[Tithra]

I just got my AI Prime light today and I'm at a bit of a loss for how high/low I should adjust the light intensity.

Tank is an 8 gallon aqueon evolve, I'm using the goose neck so the light sits about 12 in above the tank. Corals are all LPS/easy (different euphyllia, acans, ricordea, some zoas etc). All of the corals were added this week, so although the tank is cycled, nothing about this tank is established yet.

Right now I have everything down to 25%. I worry about running the intensity too high since its juch a small tank but I also don't want to under do it.

Suggestions are much appreciated!

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Hello! You may want to drop the intensity just a bit for acclimation. Those little lights are pretty powerful. On that tank and height I honestly couldnt tell you accurately. Just want to play it safe untill an experienced member stop in.
Im a light meter guy. I set my light intensities with a LUX meter. so much easier than guessing, as so many do. If you have an Iphone you can download an app that with practice, you can measure the amount of light pretty well.
galactica lux meter. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/galactica-luxmeter/id666846635?mt=8
try it with you kitchen light and go out sid etill you get the hang of it.
On your tank you will want about 10,000 to 13,000 lux to start acclimation.

hope it helps!

oh this is the real lux meter. very easy.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AQT68CO/ref=sr_ph_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1461190331&sr=sr-1&keywords=lux+meter

 

[Flameback Pair]

Better to under do it than over do it. Here's a good thread on Nano-Reef site:
http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/3598...al-only-please-no-discussion/?view=getnewpost

 

[Tithra]

Hello! You may want to drop the intensity just a bit for acclimation. Those little lights are pretty powerful. On that tank and height I honestly couldnt tell you accurately. Just want to play it safe untill an experienced member stop in.
Im a light meter guy. I set my light intensities with a LUX meter. so much easier than guessing, as so many do. If you have an Iphone you can download an app that with practice, you can measure the amount of light pretty well.
galactica lux meter. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/galactica-luxmeter/id666846635?mt=8
try it with you kitchen light and go out sid etill you get the hang of it.
On your tank you will want about 10,000 to 13,000 lux to start acclimation.

hope it helps!

oh this is the real lux meter. very easy.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AQT68CO/ref=sr_ph_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1461190331&sr=sr-1&keywords=lux+meter

I actually have a lux meter that's been converted into a PAR meter...I honestly just haven't broken it out on this tank yet. I'm a planted tank person and new to salt, so I understand lighting needs well for planted tanks but I'm still learning what's considered high/low in a reef tank.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I actually have a lux meter that's been converted into a PAR meter...I honestly just haven't broken it out on this tank yet. I'm a planted tank person and new to salt, so I understand lighting needs well for planted tanks but I'm still learning what's considered high/low in a reef tank.

WHAAAAAAAAA?
wow. you are gonna do great here. As much money as folks spend on lights they generally dont know how to check really. And wont belive the rest of the photosynthetic world revolves around the meter.

as a general rule above 450 par is wasted light. there's a lot of guessing and assumptions and huge myths as corals are very adaptable to different lighting conditions, assuming good slow acclimation.
low as a guess is 0 to 50 par, 50 to 200 med 200 to 400 high.

there are corals that require higher(or survive it)still being researched actually

If you like research, Dana Riddle is the most widely known. Google Dana riddle Lux Advanced aquarist.

A myth buster about corals and their needs, light wise and otherwise.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-03/cj/index.php

A kinda long winded thread
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/lux-meter-par-meter-whats-the-difference.237738/

Ill stand by my lux est earlier for you as that is likely around 75 to 150 par in your tank with that light. so a fairly good safe starting point.
once you read that article, youll see you dont actually have a lot of low light animals. likely you'll run in the 250 or 300 par range later on.

And welcome to reef2reef. A lot of really nice encouraging and helpful folks here. I hope to see a build thread from you.
Jason

 

[Tithra]

WHAAAAAAAAA?
wow. you are gonna do great here. As much money as folks spend on lights they generally dont know how to check really. And wont belive the rest of the photosynthetic world revolves around the meter.

as a general rule above 450 par is wasted light. there's a lot of guessing and assumptions and huge myths as corals are very adaptable to different lighting conditions, assuming good slow acclimation.
low as a guess is 0 to 50 par, 50 to 200 med 200 to 400 high.

there are corals that require higher(or survive it)still being researched actually

If you like research, Dana Riddle is the most widely known. Google Dana riddle Lux Advanced aquarist.

A myth buster about corals and their needs, light wise and otherwise.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-03/cj/index.php

A kinda long winded thread
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/lux-meter-par-meter-whats-the-difference.237738/

Ill stand by my lux est earlier for you as that is likely around 75 to 150 par in your tank with that light. so a fairly good safe starting point.
once you read that article, youll see you dont actually have a lot of low light animals. likely you'll run in the 250 or 300 par range later on.

And welcome to reef2reef. A lot of really nice encouraging and helpful folks here. I hope to see a build thread from you.
Jason

Thank you for the info! I'll take a look at the links when I have some time this weekend...and I suppose I'll pull out the PAR meter lol.

Here's a link to the build thread I started if you're interested

First saltwater Nano
https://www.reef2reef.com/index.php?threads/First-saltwater-Nano.243741/