Here is my lighting plan - Help!

[Hallowhead]

Howdy,

So I now have my 2x kessil 160we full integrated to my apex. That's not my issue however, my issue is that my corals (especially zoa's seem to do better at the end of the day. Towards the end of my lighting schedule.

Could my intensity at mid day be too high? Blue line is my intensity and orange is my blue.

 

[Mrtakeoff53]

It depends. I have a Kessil A360we and I run mine at 80% on an SPS dominate tank. I wouldn’t imagine 40% would be too much for Zoas unless a) they are in the top of the tank or b) directly under the light. The only way to know for sure is to rent a PAR meter and measure your light output. This will give you hard data to determine if your PAR is too high for your corals.

 

[Hallowhead]

It depends. I have a Kessil A360we and I run mine at 80% on an SPS dominate tank. I wouldn’t imagine 40% would be too much for Zoas unless a) they are in the top of the tank or b) directly under the light. The only way to know for sure is to rent a PAR meter and measure your light output. This will give you hard data to determine if your PAR is too high for your corals.

Do you control via fusion?

I am still confused on the whole won't turn on until 10 % intensity??

 

[Mrtakeoff53]

I control it via APEX fusion here is my set-up.

7:00: Kessil comes on and begins ramp up. It starts at 15% intensity/11% color

12:45-4:00 pm:80% intensity/40% color. Ramp down begins at 4:00 back to 15% intensity and 11% color

8:00 pm: off

I use the Kessil outlet to power the Kessil from 7:00 to 20:00 only.

I just treat 10% and under as off and I don’t worry about it. It’s strange but it’s more of how to think about your programming than anything else.

Do you control via fusion?

I am still confused on the whole won't turn on until 10 % intensity??

 

[Hemmdog]

I’ve found zoas don’t love kessil spectrum over 20% color. Fwiw

 

[Hallowhead]

I’ve found zoas don’t love kessil spectrum over 20% color. Fwiw

But pushing 20 all day isn't good for other fish / corals correct ?

 

[Mrtakeoff53]

Corals and fish are much more used to blue light than white light. Think about those blue planet documentaries we’ve all probably watched. The light on the reef is very blue and the creatures there are very used to it. I have a royal gramma. I used to run my lights at around 60% white. It wasn’t until I lowered it to 40% (more blue) that he came out. It’s a deep water fish and doesn’t like the white light. Very shallow reefs are much more white so the answer is, it depends on your tank inhabitants.

 

[Hallowhead]

I have lowered my lights to 35% from 40% we will see if any impact is had. Don't corals grow best under whites ?

 

[Hemmdog]

I have lowered my lights to 35% from 40% we will see if any impact is had. Don't corals grow best under whites ?

Most of the usable spectrum for corals is violet and blue, they use some red and green from the white spectrum, not much though. 35% is still higher than I’ve ever ran my kessils. My zoa/ euphyllia tank they go up to 20% at peak 100% intensity, acro and mixed reef tank 30% and 100%. My corals get washed out looking and brown if I add even 5% more white, Ive experimented with it a lot lol.

 

[Hemmdog]

Fish don’t care at all, fish would be equally as fine if it was unlit and just receiving light from sources in your house.

 

[Hallowhead]

Most of the usable spectrum for corals is violet and blue, they use some red and green from the white spectrum, not much though. 35% is still higher than I’ve ever ran my kessils. My zoa/ euphyllia tank they go up to 20% at peak 100% intensity, acro and mixed reef tank 30% and 100%. My corals get washed out looking and brown if I add even 5% more white, Ive experimented with it a lot lol.

My intensity is half of yours ! I wonder if I should lower blues and raise my intensity ugh so many options !!

 

[Hemmdog]

My intensity is half of yours ! I wonder if I should lower blues and raise my intensity ugh so many options !!

There always is lol

 

[Hemmdog]

Oh mines on 360’s (zoa&euphyllia) and 360x’s(acro & mixed reef), so they are even stronger, so I’d for sure run yours at 70 % intensity then increase to 100 over a month.

 

[Hallowhead]

Oh mines on 360’s (zoa&euphyllia) and 360x’s(acro & mixed reef), so they are even stronger, so I’d for sure run yours at 70 % intensity then increase to 100 over a month.

yikes... you're scaring me. I will slowly push back to 60. I had better growth at 50+ so maybe that's what I need

 

[Hallowhead]

Oh mines on 360’s (zoa&euphyllia) and 360x’s(acro & mixed reef), so they are even stronger, so I’d for sure run yours at 70 % intensity then increase to 100 over a month.

So it's the end of my cycle lights are at full blue's and 12 intensity... My corals are the best they've looked in a while. I am struggling to understand how stronger intensity is the solution when low intensity and low blues is making them fully extend.

 

[Hemmdog]

So it's the end of my cycle lights are at full blue's and 12 intensity... My corals are the best they've looked in a while. I am struggling to understand how stronger intensity is the solution when low intensity and low blues is making them fully extend.

I have lps in my zoa tank’s so that’s why I crank it up, just zoa/softie tanks are fine at low intensity if they are getting good spectrum.

 

[Hallowhead]

I have lps in my zoa tank’s so that’s why I crank it up, just zoa/softie tanks are fine at low intensity if they are getting good spectrum.

I guess I'd really need to get a par meter.. I'm thinking gonna see how tomorrow is and than lower blues first before raising intensity

 

[Mrtakeoff53]

So it's the end of my cycle lights are at full blue's and 12 intensity... My corals are the best they've looked in a while. I am struggling to understand how stronger intensity is the solution when low intensity and low blues is making them fully extend.

I believe it’s the natural day/light cycle. Corals feed at night, especially soft and LPS corals. They get their full light spectrum during the day (ramp up, then down) and they know when night is coming. At low intensity and blue light, they sense night and extend their polys to feed and look their best. A good, solid light schedule give them their energy, hopefully without too much light. It’s a balance for each tank.

 

[Mrtakeoff53]

How are the corals looking. Still good?

 

[Hallowhead]

They're looking better ! A combo of more feeding and adjusting lights