Coral Problem w/ Newly Installed Kessil 360WE's

[Martyd]

My friend just installed, with my encouragement, two Kessil 360 WE's on his standard 90 gal reef, 48x18x25. The Kessil's replaced two 250w HQI DE MH bulbs that were supplemented with four T-5's (two daylight and two actinic). Prior to the switch, his mixed reef, which consists primarily of soft and LPS corals was thriving.

Now, not so much ... Nothing looks as good as it did and many of the LPS corals (hammers and torches) are not opening at all. Visually, the Kessil's look dimmer than the MH bulbs. Assuming there is nothing else wrong with the tank (and I don't believe there is), is this a case of the corals needing to acclimate to the new lights or not enough light?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Marty

 

[reefndude]

How long has the new lights been installed?

 

[Martyd]

One week tomorrow.

 

[JMSKI333]

I would say that the corals needs to be acclimated to the different lights. Have you compared the par of the two lights to each other?

I would imagine the light coming from the Kessil's is prety intense for LPS. Any way to raise them up and maybe shorten the light cycle by a coupe hours and then lower them down and increase the cycle every coulple days?

When changing lights, you always need to start slow. I would double check the tank parameters though too to rule that out.

 

[Electro4112]

Its my belief that with LEDs you have to acclimate coral to LEDs, what percentage is he running the kessil 360we there supposed to be used with apex so you can create different effects, but also the white and blue channels can dimmed thru apex.

 

[JMSKI333]

Any update on coral health?

 

[Martyd]

Some things are opening a bit more, but they don't look great. I'm not sure what to make of it. He's now running the Kessil's at 50% intensity and blue/white mix and they look ridiculously dim. I realize that there is a PAR difference between the new and old bulbs, but I didn't expect this.

 

[Ron Reefman]

Do you know the old and new PAR values?

 

[Martyd]

I don't have access to a meter.

 

[Salty_Box_Reef]

Any updates? The meter wouldn't work correctly anyways. They might look dim but they need a lot of time to acclimate, as the light is considerably different than a t5 or mh. I would have started off even less than 50/50.

 

[ReefKeeper09]

When I originally made the change to LED's acclimation was a need. I hung my fixtures higher than recommended and lowered them down as time progressed. The figures I had at the time weren't dimmable.

 

[Hurricane Aquatics]

Marty,

I just saw this. I am a Kessil expert. Please let me know if you figured this out. If not, I can give you a light setting and schedule for your needs.

 

[chefb_5]

keep us updated!

 

[dangros]

@JPowell490, what height off the water, intensity, color do you recommend on a 90g mixed reef w/2 360we's?

 

[Reef_a_holiks]

I have two 360we over my 90 gallon running with the kessil spectral controller. My max setting , which is mid day on the lighting schedule is 85 percent intensity and 75 color. After owning kessils for the first time I also find them to be quite weak when it comes to intensity to support all types of coral. but then again i have seen nice SPS tanks running only kessils .

 

[Reef_a_holiks]

I have mine about 10 inches above the water .

 

[Dtackett]

leds always look dim compared to MH. it looks dim to us but may be too strong for the coral.

 

[wpeterson]

+1 to what others have said, you made a big change to both spectrum and intensity. These lights should be sufficient for your LPS, but it may take a few weeks to acclimate the corals to the new lighting.

Each coral colony is a complex ecosystem which balances different concentration of zooxanthellae, each of which have preferences for slightly different spectrums. The corals can adapt, but it takes some time for the ecosystem to come to the new balance. Lowering the intensity of the Kessils as you have done will help prevent damage during their adjustment.