Attn SPS pros, LED light schedule/intensity help!

[Rskillz]

Hey guys, I currently have a 93 rimless cube and it's been up about 9 months. I have 2 Reefledlights p47 LED units powering the tank and need some input.

In case you aren't familiar, it's these lights http://reefbuilders.com/2013/11/20/reefledlights-builds-holy-union-diodes-carbon-fiber

I house mostly SPS and I'm not getting the results I'm looking for. The lights are about 6-8 inches about the water and I run them with a Neptune Apex.

The light has about 24 Royal Blue XTEs, 6 XPE Blues, and 15 XTE cool white

If this was your tank, what would your light schedule/intensity be? Just basics, not worried about any fancy ramping/storms, etc.

Thanks!

 

[johnanddawn]

I have a very similar DIY setup but without the controllability so I guess I don't know exactly your ability to ramp up and down but...

I would try royals for about 12 hours hitting your max intensity for about 4 hours mid day

And whites for about 4 hours maybe 2 of that hitting max intensity mid day

Than don't change duration, change intensity

your max running percentages should start low and build up slowly over time, add a couple percent to each week till you get to where you want to be.
With two of those on a 93 you have a lot of light, your max intensity may not have to be very high a par meter would help
Also depending on the optics you might be a bit close to the water too, if they are the carclo ripple wides you are definitely too close

 

[cultivatedcoral]

What results are you getting that you do not like?

 

[swk]

When I first got my LEDs I tried to make it all fancy with sunrise and sunset, etc. all I did was screw myself up.

I have dumbed it down and have had dramatic improvements. Lights come on at noon and stay at one intensity until 6 pm when they start to fade down. That's it.

 

[swk]

Btw - definitely NOT a sps pro, but just my experience

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Bump for a great question...

 

[rovster]

My free advice is to run a solid 5-6 hours of constant high intensity in the 12-18k range, whatever you do on either side of that is up to you.

 

[NeverlosT]

Ive been having lots of success with mixed lighting. An ATI T5 powermodule and two diy all royal-blue LED strips. Leds run at 55% for about 10 hrs. T5s run for about 6 at 100%.

Either way, creep up on your LED intensity and watch the corals to see if it is too much