Ecotech Radion XR30W light channels.

[Waters]

What is the maximum that everybody is running their white, green, and red channels at? If I run them any higher than 15%, I seem to start getting a lot of algae growth. I run the other channels at 100% with a overall intensity of 60% at my high points.

 

[mfinn]

Was there a reason you don't use any of the pre-set programs?

 

[Waters]

The majority of the preset programs are too intense with a lot of red/greens which I wanted to avoid. What are you currently running?

 

[mfinn]

I use a modified high growth program.
I set my intensity to 70%. Changed the color at the 2 high points to a 20k look. Added a point inbetween the original 2 high points, and set that to a 14k color.
I left all the individual colors alone.

 

[Waters]

Are you using the pros or the regular XR30Ws? Maybe I should take another look at some of the programs.....I was worried about bleaching and excessive algae growth. I am using the Pros and have read a ton about their strength and ease of bleaching corals (I have a mixed reef). My current program never goes lower than 19K. Would you mind sharing yours? Based on your pics, your tanks definitely appear to be thriving.

 

[mfinn]

Are you using the pros or the regular XR30Ws? Maybe I should take another look at some of the programs.....I was worried about bleaching and excessive algae growth. I am using the Pros and have read a ton about their strength and ease of bleaching corals (I have a mixed reef). My current program never goes lower than 19K. Would you mind sharing yours? Based on your pics, your tanks definitely appear to be thriving.

First, I don't know how to share it. lol
The original high growth program looks just like a upside down box with hardly no ramp up time. I changed that so I have a hour or so ramp up to a 20k at 70%, and then ramp down.
Then in the middle of the day it goes up slightly higher to the 14k color.

I am using gen 1's that have been upgraded to gen 3's.
I recently added a 4th gen 1 to the other 3. It hasn't been upgraded yet and you can really tell the difference in light color. Then gen 3's have a much crisper blue color compared to the original gen 1.

I am a firm believer in using the acclimation program when doing any major changes in the program. Even bumping it up by 5%, I'll let it acclimate atleast a week.
I think that alone is where some have problems with bleaching, plus I also suspect that so may have other issues that just happen to been present and thinking a light increase will help, actually may be the straw that broke the camels back.

 

[reefwiser]

Here is my schedule.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/gx4bu2wl7b78o1z/nav sig900 4-2-14.etg.xml?dl=0

Nav's schedule. [emoji106]

 

[Waters]

Thanks I ended up increasing the reds, greens, and whites for about an hour and a half in the middle of the day moving towards 17-18k. I will watch algae growth and the reaction of the corals before I make any larger changes. My tank has run predominately at 19-20k since it has been set up.