MysticBlue
Active Member
Hey so I’ve got two viparspectra lights over a 75 gallon and I’m wondering what the best setting is. I do not have any sps but I would love to have some. Any suggestions are appreciated!!
Best light setting for viparspectra?
- Thread starter MysticBlue
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OP
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MysticBlue
Active Member
What corals are you growing?I have two 10 inches above water on a 55. 25 Blue 2 White. Theses are the numbers from this setting to give you an idea.
Uncle99
10K Club member
OP
OP
MysticBlue
Active Member
I’ve gotta ask what’s your secret to such a beautiful reef lol!!!Same as above.
Grow anything.
Uncle99
10K Club member
Thank you.
Stability. That was it.
dstockwell
2500 Club Member
So far just that little rose coral that came on a iece of live rock. I’m at 5 months in with 4 fish, corals yet to come.
Hey dstockwell and Uncle99, this is really helpful. Do you have about 19-20" of water depth on that 55 gallon? What are your timer settings?I have two 10 inches above water on a 55. 25 Blue 2 White. Theses are the numbers from this setting to give you an idea.
I have three of these on a 180g. It is about 20" to my sandbed. Four years ago(!) I set them up 7.5" off the water, values 55 blue / 15 white . . . and I haven't touched them since. It was a brand new tank (my first), and I was growing SPS pretty well for a while, but made a HUGE rookie mistake that killed off all of my SPS and tank has been on autopilot for 2 years - feeding fish and water changes but little else. I'm finally giving it attention.
Was thinking of moving my lights up to 10-12" and bumping up my CH2, I think you've given me a good place to start if I do that. I have my blue (CH1) on 12.5 hours per day (11:00-23:30), and the whites (CH2) on 6.5 hours (15:30-22:00), wondering if that latter bit is enough.
dstockwell
2500 Club Member
18 inches to sand bed lights 10 inches from top of water. I have my blue (CH1) on 10 hours per day (11:30-21:30), and the whites (CH2) on 5.0 hours (15:30-22:30). Anymore white than that for me too much algae.
EugeneVan
Active Member
I have 2 viparspectra 300 for my 200 gal. Those LED are very strong. You have to start the lighting in very low setting and slowly increase the brightless. I can grow any SPS, LPS without issue. When I first start using the light, the blue (CH1) is at 35% and white (CH2) at 6%. After about 7 months, I have blue (CH1) at 77% for 8 hrs and white (CH2) 22% for 6 hrs. Here are a few pictures of my coral.
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Very nice. I have the 165's so probably not packing the same punch those 300's are, but your point is well taken. Not exactly scientific, but I bet my 7.5" height/15% white (CH2) setting probably results in par numbers that are similar to what dstockwell and Uncle99 are seeing at 10" height/25% white (CH2). I want to back them off the water a little to get more diffused/blended light and give myself a little extra room to work on the tank, and I'll and crank up the whites 5-10% to compensate for the added 2.5."
I wonder if going even a little higher is a good idea - I have some room to play with. Manual doesn't recommend more than 12" off the water though.
EugeneVan
Active Member
I have the same question when I was using those light fixtures. I end up going to home depot and bought 1 piece of LED lighting diffuser. I cut it to fit the dimenions of the lighting fixture. It spread out the light very nicely and get rid of the so call disco effect. As well I can turn up the intensity of the CH1 and CH2. Give it a try, it is a very affordable investment. I sheet of the LED diffuser is about $20. https://www.homedepot.com/p/OPTIX-A...Lay-in-Ceiling-Light-Panel-1A90001A/207054944
I’m just realizing I misread your settings I think. You guys are only going 25% on Blue (ch1) and 2% on White (ch 2)? Dang. MYbe my setting way too high at 55%/15%.I have two 10 inches above water on a 55. 25 Blue 2 White. Theses are the numbers from this setting to give you an idea.
ncjeepguy75
Active Member
I have 3 Viparspectra 165s on my 120gallon about 8 inches above the water...I had them at 60 blue and 18 white but noticed things were not opening as good as could be so I just cranked them down a bit.. 24 blue and 8 white... Will keep you posted!
billyocean
10K Club member
I've had 2 300s on my 125 ant about 14" above the WL set at 78% blue and 1%white. White comes on for 2 hours while I'm at work because I don't like the way it looks..lol. Here's some par numbers
