Do I need more light?

[andrew james]

In the attempt to get super serious about SPS I decided to start auditing all my systems a making a list of things that might be deficient.
Everything is growing ok and color seems good.
Right now I have a few small Acro colonies and some frags that are doing well. My LPS overall are good but I did have a polyp bailout on one of my torches last week, which was really upsetting.
Other than that I have no issues.

Light 6 bulb Giesemann Matrix Dimmable fixture w/ ATI 4x BP 2x Actinic and 2x ReefBrite XHO 50/50 My photoperiod is 8 hours at full power and 4 hours with only Actinics at 10% for four hours front and back, to extend viewing time.
The fixture is hung 12" over the water's surface so I have room there if I need to lower it. Tank is 22" deep.
PAR is a little over 500 on the surface and 220 center front on the sand.

Other things of note;
Reefer 425xl
200 Gallon sump in basement full of liverock pumped into the RedSea Sump below DT.
4x Jebao pumps setup in Apex with a random flow pattern that increases flow during photoperiod.
I would consider the tank to have strong flow.
AquaForest Probiotic Salt - I do auto water changes of 6 gallons per day on 320 gallon system
Calcium reactor with added ZeoMag
Carbon reactor
Red Sea Coral Colors
Red Sea Energy
13 small fish - Wrasses, clowns and basslets
I have to dose KNO3 to keep my Nitrates up.

water parameters are super stable at,
Salinity - 1.026
Temp. - 79
Ph - 8.0 -8.3
Alk - 8
Ca - 420
Mg - 1400
NO3 - 2 ppm
PO4 - .03 ppm

I'd like to start thinking about getting some higher end SPS so with all that in mind I'd like everyone's opinion, should I try for more light, less or stay where I'am.
Any other thoughts that might turbo charge growth would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Flippers4pups]

I think that you have all the bases covered for SPS. Your lighting should be sufficient. The only thing is that you may run out of room as the colonies grow with your rock work and current location of corals.

 

[andrew james]

The Green and pink acro colonies on the center column are encrusted but do you think I should space the other while I still can? They all have a good 6 inches between them which may be hard to see in the photo. Also I've been thinking as I grow I'd get some Tonga sticks to span the columns and get rid of the BTAs on the right column.

I actually want to get rid of my Nems I have 7 clowns and they really abuse them to the point that I've had a BTA die from what I think is over use.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Most SPS dominate tanks I've seen don't roll the dice with nems. One releases and ends up in a powerhead and it's "adios Muchacho's", dead SPS tank.

Carpets can be in the same boat.

Placement of fast growing SPS: montipora caps, digata's, some stags, etc..... for future growth encroaching on neighboring colonies is key. That's your call.