From MH to LED!!

Diazreeflife · Oct 26, 2014

My lighting setup up started with 2 250 watt MH AND 2 actinic T5. I kept the T5 and replaced the MH's with 2 reef radiance DM-165E. Which look amazing!! I just can't seem to get a handle on the proper settings my coral lps lobo coral is starting to die off with a few other corals. Right now I have the whites set to 45% my blues at 100%. Any advice?

jt17 · Oct 26, 2014

LEDs are stronger than they look. While the intensity doesn't look as strong as the MH it's there. Lower the power by a third for both colors. Unfortunately the damage is done but many corals are resilient. With any change in lighting its always best to go low and slow. just like BBQ

and then slowly increase the intensity.

Diazreeflife · Oct 26, 2014

jt17 said:
LEDs are stronger than they look. While the intensity doesn't look as strong as the MH it's there. Lower the power by a third for both colors. Unfortunately the damage is done but many corals are resilient. With any change in lighting its always best to go low and slow. just like BBQ and then slowly increase the intensity.

So u suggest going to 30%?

NanaReefer · Oct 26, 2014

I would start your whites at 20% intensity max. Blues 40-50% max.

TJ's Reef · Oct 26, 2014

+1 to Nana's advice ^above^ A lot of PAR in those LED's, IMO even more than quality 400w MH's. I run my DIY setup at only 44-45% overall and is a full blown SPS dominated mixed Reef.

Cheers, Todd

NanaReefer · Oct 28, 2014

I've got the Reef Radiance LumenTek pro180. These lights are very very strong!!! I actually run my whites starting at 1% and ramp up/down to 20% max from 9:30am-3:00pm. Blues at 50% max starting at 2% 9:00am-7:00pm. Plenty plenty of light, par, pur, lux or whatever-lol.

heathd.hd · Oct 28, 2014

+1 my leds run at 20% white max. 50% blue.

heathd.hd · Oct 28, 2014

My program also runs 4 hrs no white at all. But It's from 9 am - 11 pm.

Rjramos · Oct 28, 2014

I went from 2- 250MH with 2 65w pc to reef radiance 120's. I started off them off like 20% white, and 50% blue. Now after a year, 50% white, 80% blue. Everything improved with the gradual ramping over time except my XXL 20 year pearl bubble that sits in the middle of the tank, not directly under the LED fixtures. As of a month ago, and for experimental purpose, I placed a 250MH w 10000k bulb in the rear middle of the tank for 3 hrs from 12-3pm each day. I turned down the whites of the LED's to 25% during this time also. Now, everything is taking off. Only thing is I got an ugly shadow in the middle from the tank bracing now. I protein skim but do not run carbon so my water is never transparent clear which might filter out light and protect my corals.