Black Box intensity without par meter

[Lobophyton]

Hello, i have a black box 165w light @ 11" height over the lido 120 tank ( 30 gallons total water, 24" height). Still in cycle but there is soft coral in there, 4 different corals, 2 of them seem good the other seems bad, i had t5 2*24w before that. I have no idea which setting to use with the black box. i use 30% blue, 10% white, i don't know if it's too much or not, Par meter is too expensive, any idea? thx

light seems way more intense in the pictures than the way i see it

 

[LouisianaReef]

I see that you said the tank is still in cycle, how long has it been setup?

 

[Lobophyton]

I see that you said the tank is still in cycle, how long has it been setup?

34 days

 

[LouisianaReef]

34 days

I see that you have some algae growing in other. Normally speaking, I would completely cycle the tank with nothing alive in it but you are pass that point.

How you tested your water parameters lately?

 

[Lobophyton]

I see that you have some algae growing in other. Normally speaking, I would completely cycle the tank with nothing alive in it but you are pass that point.

How you tested your water parameters lately?

Using salifert test, don't have everything yet :/

Ca : 420
Mg : 1300
Alkalinity : 9
No2 : 0.1
Salinity : 1.026

Seems like cycle is not finished yet with the NO2 at 0.1, weird thing is that i have some snail and asterina in there, they are doing great

 

[LouisianaReef]

Honesty parameters don't look too bad

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Using salifert test, don't have everything yet :/

Ca : 420
Mg : 1300
Alkalinity : 9
No2 : 0.1
Salinity : 1.026

Seems like cycle is not finished yet with the NO2 at 0.1, weird thing is that i have some snail and asterina in there, they are doing great

We don't really measure nitrite in a salt tank, nitrite is not deadly to livestock like it is in freshwater tanks. What is the ammonia and nitrate level, this will tell you if the tank is cycled. The ammonia should be 0 and should have some level of nitrate. Don't measure nitrite anymore. But if you have snails in there, I expect the cycle is done, 34 days is pretty long for a cycle.

 

[Lobophyton]

We don't really measure nitrite in a salt tank, nitrite is not deadly to livestock like it is in freshwater tanks. What is the ammonia and nitrate level, this will tell you if the tank is cycled. The ammonia should be 0 and should have some level of nitrate. Don't measure nitrite anymore. But if you have snails in there, I expect the cycle is done, 34 days is pretty long for a cycle.

NH3 is 0
Nitrate is 5 ppm

Still can't explain why two of the corals are not in good condition. I liked the t5ho 2*24w light, but i had a fluval sea acnitic + osram 965 6500k light, people told me that 6500k is bad for coral

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

NH3 is 0
Nitrate is 5 ppm

Still can't explain why two of the corals are not in good condition. I liked the t5ho 2*24w light, but i had a fluval sea acnitic + osram 965 6500k light, people told me that 6500k is bad for coral

Yes, your tank is cycled.

Nitrate is very low, and I would bet that phosphate are low as well, possibly 0, since your probably not feeding much to the tank, if at all. Corals need nutrients in the water, and its always hard to get that without fish eating and pooping in the water. Especially the soft corals you added, they especially like higher nutrient water.

Corals also need flow, I see only one powerhead pointed at the water surface, which is good, but maybe get another one in there, on the opposite side to create some random flow patterns.

As for the light, I'm sorry I'm not familiar with the fluval light 6500k. You might want to start a new thread to ask about lighting, to get more opinions on that one. Good luck

 

[piranhaman00]

6500k is the best option for lighting for growth. However, people like their corals to glow ridiculously for some reason so hence we have blue lights

 

[Lobophyton]

Yes, your tank is cycled.

Nitrate is very low, and I would bet that phosphate are low as well, possibly 0, since your probably not feeding much to the tank, if at all. Corals need nutrients in the water, and its always hard to get that without fish eating and pooping in the water. Especially the soft corals you added, they especially like higher nutrient water.

Corals also need flow, I see only one powerhead pointed at the water surface, which is good, but maybe get another one in there, on the opposite side to create some random flow patterns.

As for the light, I'm sorry I'm not familiar with the fluval light 6500k. You might want to start a new thread to ask about lighting, to get more opinions on that one. Good luck

I sometime add a bit of mussel two times a week to feed the zombie snail, maybe i need a bit more ?

6500k is the best option for lighting for growth. However, people like their corals to glow ridiculously for some reason so hence we have blue lights

Good to know i like that spectrum

 

[exnisstech]

I have a 165 watt mars aqua black box over a spare tank I keep running that has a few bubble tip nems and some softies. The box is 8 inches off the water and I run both channels at 100%