Aquarium lighting question.

[ChanceB2002]

Hello, I have a waterbox 25 with an AI Prime light I’ve noticed my zoas are kind of stretching toward the light so I feel like I need to turn it up. My question is how fast can I turn the light up so I don’t hurt my corals and if anyone had any suggestions on a better program for my AI prime. It currently runs at 50% on most of the spectrum but I feel like that’s low. I appreciate any help, thank you in advance

 

[James M]

How high is the light from the water surface ?

 

[ChanceB2002]

8 1/2” from bulb to water surface

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Turn it up. I have that light on a 15 gallon softie tank ( mushrooms and zoa’s ) and it’s set at 70%. My tank is 12” deep.

I would increase it 5% per week until you get to 80% and then monitor and decide on further action.

 

[rishma]

I use a hydra over the same tank. In the past I have adjusted my lights up 30% over a 3 week period, same spectrum. This worked well, but I knew the final par was in my target range for my corals. More recently I used 6 weeks to shift my spectrum because I didn’t have a par meter and just observed the corals to make sure everything seemed happy. This also worked well for me.

Could I have gone faster? Probably, but in my experience only bad things happen fast in a reef tank.

 

[ChanceB2002]

Awesome, Thank you! Should I stick to the same schedule just at a higher percentage or go with something like the Saxby schedule? I’ve seen people talk nicely about it on Facebook.

 

[exnisstech]

My Ai has an acclimation mode. Maybe crank the light up and set the acclimation mode for 30 days or longer and just see how they respond? You can double the output and start at 50 % so it starts the same as it is now.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Awesome, Thank you! Should I stick to the same schedule just at a higher percentage or go with something like the Saxby schedule? I’ve seen people talk nicely about it on Facebook.

Sure that’s a good idea if you want. The main idea is that your blues should be much higher than 50% so whatever program you choose adjust it accordingly. Cheers

 

[ChanceB2002]

You guys are awesome, thank you very much!