Best light setting for viparspectra?

[MysticBlue]

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!!

 

[dstockwell]

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.

 

[MysticBlue]

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.

What corals are you growing?

 

[Uncle99]

What corals are you growing?

Same as above.
Grow anything.

 

[MysticBlue]

Same as above.
Grow anything.

I’ve gotta ask what’s your secret to such a beautiful reef lol!!!

 

[Glenner’sreef]

One of my most successful tanks with those lights!!! Montis, Digis, Oregon Torts, Green Slimers, ENJOY!!!

 

[Uncle99]

I’ve gotta ask what’s your secret to such a beautiful reef lol!!!

Thank you.
Stability. That was it.

 

[dstockwell]

What corals are you growing?

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.

 

[bryan3536]

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.

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 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]

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]

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.

 

[bryan3536]

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.

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]

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.

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

 

[bryan3536]

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

So what are you running them at with the diffuser?

 

[EugeneVan]

So what are you running them at with the diffuser?

blue (CH1) at 77% for 8 hrs and white (CH2) 22% for 6 hrs without burning the coral.

 

[dstockwell]

I need to look at that, my numbers were taken with the diffuser panels off. Wonder how much more light I can add.

 

[bryan3536]

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’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%.

 

[ncjeepguy75]

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]

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