Bleaching problems, tips on height and hours photo period

[Rixar]

Hi guys

I am having some problems with the expulsion of zooxanthellae, And some new sps are bleaching within a few days of introducing them into the aquarium, My parameters are fine and stay stable over time.
I am running 6 ATI bulbs, in a powermodule accessory, Over a period of 8 hours all at once , The bulbs are as follows:

FRONT

Aquablue special
Blue plus
Blueplus
Aquablue especial
blue plus
blue plus

The accessory is 6 inches above the water, The tank is 19 inches deep,

Could you give me advice on the right height? Is the duration of the photo period correct?


regards

 

[Scott.h]

Is it a dimmable ati? If so what percentage? How far down are the frags?

 

[Rixar]

The corals are in the lower part, thr accesory not dimmable.

 

[Scott.h]

Well I can tell you my ATI is at 7" above the tank, and my tank is also 19" deep. I have an 8 bulb with the same bulbs as you but added purple plus and true attinic for the other two. My rockwork ends a little more then half way down where my sps are and it's set at 50%. I've ran it as high as 55% but with very low nutrients I seen negitive effects so I backed it down a touch. My apogee 500 registered 260 par at 55%. I ramp up and down one hour each on 2 bulbs. Full 50% all 8 bulbs for 9 hours. I also supplement led attinic at t5s off for 2 hours in the evening.

It sounds like you may need to raise the fixture a few inches.

 

[Rixar]

I have some problems with the language, I do not know if I have translated well, do you use your bulbs only 50% throughout the period?

 

[mcarroll]

I don't know if this applies in your case, but if you're running low nutrient levels that will also complicate things for your corals under high light...and especially during a big light change where they need to adapt.

 

[Scott.h]

I have some problems with the language, I do not know if I have translated well, do you use your bulbs only 50% throughout the period?

Yes. I have about 30 species and that has been sufficient

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Raise the light to 14 inches.

Or raise the light to 12 inches and remove two tubes.

 

[Rixar]

Hello again guys

A friend from my city, he has lent me a luxometre seneye, I followed your advice, I raised my screen to 10', I wanted to share the measurements with you, to see if everything is fine

PAR

In the sand bed: 170
5' from the sand: 215
10 'from the sand: 230
12 'from the sand: 270
15 'from the sand: 330
In the water line: 450


Are these numbers okay? I have some acans in the sand, and the sps easy on the 5 'I only put acroporas above 12'.

thanks guys

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

It's pretty good.

When you use higher light, like you have. It is easier to have higher nutrients and lower alkalinity.

 

[Rixar]

Thank you for your attention, I am very grateful for your help

I have programmed the 6 bulbs for 7 hours, and 1 hour with only 2 blue bulbs for sunrise and another for sunset, do you think it is enough time?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Can you control all the bulbs?

Like 2 for two hours , then 4 then six?

 

[Rixar]

Sunrise only 2 blue plus - 1 hour

I light 4 more bulbs, All together are 6 bulbs - 7 hours

Off 4 bulbs
Susent only 2 blue plus - 1 hour

Total: 9 hours


Did I explain myself well? is this correct photoperiod?

I am sorry for my bad english jejejeje

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Yes that's fine. Very good.

With high light. You want lower alkalinity. Or it can burn corals.

Also you might want higher nutrients. No3 and po4.

To make it easy. You might want only 100 par in the sand.

 

[Rixar]

I thought that in order to keep hard corals I need a minimum par of 200.
Is not this correct? I have read a lot of information and all recommend an par higher than 200

My parameters are in a safe position:

Alk: 8.1 red sea test
Ca: 420 red sea test
Mg: 1350 red sea test
No3: 2 red sea test
Po4: 0,03 hanna phosphorus

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Yes your parameters are good. And a bit on the low end.

All corals have different light needs.
Some hard coral need lower light and some soft corals need higher light. It is a bit tricky.

But most corals will do well in a range from 100 par on the bottom of the tank and 400 on the top.

In your par reading, it seems like the top reading was not accurate. My opinion.

It is an ok amount of light usually. But if you are having problems I would use less light.

 

[Rixar]

Tomorrow adjust the height of the accessory, when you say 400 pair at the top, is referred to in the water line?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Yes. Top of the tank. The waterline.

My experience says, a six tube light should be more than 400 par at 10 inches.

 

[Rixar]

Tomorrow, when the lights come on again, I'll make measurements, I'll tell you the results, thanks again for all your help.

 

[Scott.h]

If they don't adjust well you could probably get away with raising the fixture a bit more. I agree, top to bottom numbers look a little off. Sps should be fine where you are at. I've had to shade my acans with rockwork a bit. They don't need much light at all. Mine are doing better at about 35 par then they were on the bottom receiving more than 100 par. My nutrients are a touch lower though, which changes things a bit.