Coral not growing

Guttersnipe · Oct 30, 2018

I think lighting is the problem here.

Amoo · Oct 30, 2018

If I see another thread with these Current Orbit Marine lights and nems not doing well I'm going to punch kittens...

._Z_. · Oct 30, 2018

I used to have those lights, they are a bit weak. You could try increasing the photoperiod to 12 hours a day. Do this slowly over the course of a few weeks if you decide to go that route.

CCK_8814 · Oct 30, 2018

._Z_. said:
I used to have those lights, they are a bit weak. You could try increasing the photoperiod to 12 hours a day. Do this slowly over the course of a few weeks if you decide to go that route.

I have had them as well. They did OK on a fish only. I wouldn’t even try putting them on a reef though. But that’s just me. Could be because I have kessils AI & radions on my other tanks and know how much of a difference higher quality LEDs can make.

Kit_Kat · Oct 30, 2018

Amoo said:
If I see another thread with these Current Orbit Marine lights and nems not doing well I'm going to punch kittens...

Sorry I bought what I could afford. If you want to buy me a 500.00 light, I would be very appreciative.

CCK_8814 · Oct 30, 2018

You could look into the 16” Chinese black box full spectrum LEDs. 2 of them would be a nice upgrade and probably cost the same or even less as the orbit did.

reefwiser · Oct 31, 2018

I have measured the par on the Current Orbit Marine lights and it was very low. Would be fine on a fish tank but is not a great light for any light loving animal. I bow front is a tough aquarium to light as the curve in the front doesn't work well with standard light fixtures.

Amoo · Oct 31, 2018

Kit_Kat said:
Sorry I bought what I could afford. If you want to buy me a 500.00 light, I would be very appreciative.

It honestly has nothing to do with being able to afford something or not.

What it is about would be researching what you're putting in your tank and the requirements of each thing. Even if you can't afford a PAR meter, that's fine, Current Orbit Marine offers PAR numbers on their website. You can take that data:

And from there figure out what is and isn't viable inside your tank.

So I'm not knocking you for not being able to afford something. I'm also not saying what you have sucks or anything like that. What I am saying is, before you purchase you need to do research or at least come here and ask. Animal lives are at stake.

CCK_8814 · Oct 31, 2018

Amoo said:
It honestly has nothing to do with being able to afford something or not.

What it is about would be researching what you're putting in your tank and the requirements of each thing. Even if you can't afford a PAR meter, that's fine, Current Orbit Marine offers PAR numbers on their website. You can take that data:

And from there figure out what is and isn't viable inside your tank.

So I'm not knocking you for not being able to afford something. I'm also not saying what you have sucks or anything like that. What I am saying is, before you purchase you need to do research or at least come here and ask. Animal lives are at stake.

Well said. I think the ultimate point is as a responsible reef keeper/tank owner you’re taking on the responsibility of caring for living creatures. Part of that responsibility means doing research and learning what each of said creatures individual needs are which includes everything from water parameters to lighting. When purchasing an anemone doing some quick reading on care would reveal they require high light, most online livestock sites even state they recommend metal Halide or T5’s for sufficient lighting. We’re all on a budget, very few people are out there that can buy any piece of equipment anytime they want. For myself, to buy the equipment I needed (such as my kessils, AI’s & Radions) it required determining what each tank was going to house as far as livestock and coral then planning lighting accordingly. It took me several months to afford 3 radion xr30 G4 pros. But I knew they were what was best for my tank and the inhabitants that were soon to be in it so I made it happen. Nothing good happens fast in this hobby, that includes at times saving up to buy the exact piece of equipment you want. The dry good for sale section on this forum is filled with great deals on used lights. That’s where I would start my search for replacement lights. If you have a fellow Reefer local to you ask if they can house your BTA’s for the time being until you can afford and get a light upgrade that way everyone wins. Don’t be afraid to ask questions here either. I’m new to this forum but have browsed it for years when I was a newbie. It wasn’t until recently I felt as though I was “seasoned” enough to add input and help others to start paying back all the helpful info provided to me over the years.

TheHarold · Oct 31, 2018

Insufficient lighting IMO.

Retro Reefer · Oct 31, 2018

I agree on lighting, my brother in law had a COM on a tank and it just didn’t cut it.. we added 2 t5 bulbs using cheap single bulb fixtures and his tank is doing much better.

Kit_Kat · Oct 31, 2018

Ok I get it. Lighting is the problem. I was thinking about when I had my nems in a 13 gal tank, they were big, bubbled and pink. What do y’all recommend in lights?

CCK_8814 · Oct 31, 2018

Kit_Kat said:
Ok I get it. Lighting is the problem. I was thinking about when I had my nems in a 13 gal tank, they were big, bubbled and pink. What do y’all recommend in lights?

What size/dimensions tank? What’s your budget? What’s your end goal for the tank (i.e. what type of corals do you hope to keep)?

toti21 · Oct 31, 2018

CCK_8814 said:
Calcium is low, I shoot for 440. Phosphate is very high, should try to be between 0.03-0.05. If you meant current USA orbit as current for your lighting those lights are really not that great. The will keep stuff alive but not grow much, maybe softies. I would look into a lighting upgrade.

I had this light before and I switched back to my old T5s. The T5s worked better than these lights.

Flippers4pups · Oct 31, 2018

I know your on a budget. I personally run CCB'S. (Cheap "Chinese Black Boxes") Mars Aquas. Around a $100 will give you more than enough par and intensity.

https://www.amazon.com/VIPARSPECTRA-Timer-165W-Aquarium-Dimmable/dp/B00UMXAR5S.

Would need two boxes.

Or a better size for your tank would be:

https://www.ebay.com/i/221811397887...56467&rvr_ts=cbe6806c1660a99c57918865fff7b67a

CCK_8814 · Oct 31, 2018

Flippers4pups said:
I know your on a budget. I personally run CCB'S. (Cheap "Chinese Black Boxes") Mars Aquas. Around a $100 will give you more than enough par and intensity.

https://www.amazon.com/VIPARSPECTRA-Timer-165W-Aquarium-Dimmable/dp/B00UMXAR5S.

Would need two boxes.

Or a better size for your tank would be:

https://www.ebay.com/i/221811397887...56467&rvr_ts=cbe6806c1660a99c57918865fff7b67a

I second the black boxes if you’re on a budget. For a 48” tank you’re going to be better off with 2 of the 16” black boxes vs the single large one. Believe the large one only covers 40”.

vetteguy53081 · Oct 31, 2018

Bump Calcium up, bring flow to moderate and 95% blue and 40% white and are you feeding? (such as reef roids)

Kit_Kat · Oct 31, 2018

vetteguy53081 said:
Bump Calcium up, bring flow to moderate and 95% blue and 40% white and are you feeding? (such as reef roids)

Yes 3X a week. My wave makers are not adj.

Errattiq · Nov 1, 2018

I can’t speak highly enough of those Chinese black boxes. They made made my 110 rimless look awesome without the premium paid for name brand lights..

Errattiq · Nov 1, 2018

Errattiq said:
I can’t speak highly enough of those Chinese black boxes. They made made my 110 rimless look awesome without the premium paid for name brand lights..