I'm fairly new to the hobby. I have had my tank running since March. I have a RedSea Max e 260 with 2 hydra 26LED lights. Seems that every coral that I add doesn't survive, and I'm thinking it's the lighting as they all turn white. I'm adding mostly soft or LPS corals. Can anyone suggest some settings that are working for them? Thanks so much!
Hydra 26
- Thread starter Mary Budin
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Ling_Thing
Valuable Member
We need more info, what are your water parameters and what light schedule are you running and have you done a par test?
My water parameters are all good except my calcium and magnesium are a little low at 380 and 1170. That's being worked on with addition of calcium chloride and diligent monitoring. I'm thinking my light settings are too high. I've been using the recommendations for creating radons AB + spectrum from bulk reef supply, as it seemed to get good reviews. I feel frustrated on figuring out what these lights should really be set at.
siggy
My Aquariums Going Again
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Get yourself on the list to use the Par meter, or you could rent one from BRS. A Lot of people buy the seneye also or
USB Smart Quantum SQ-420X PAR Sensor
PAR (photosynthetic active radiation) is the easiest way to measure the available light for corals consume and use for photosynthesis. With LED lights giving more and more control to the consumer the best thing is a PAR meter that is affordable and simple to use. With PAR readings you can...
www.bulkreefsupply.com
Pete Hammersley
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There are many things that can cause corals to struggle in a fairly new tank, and yes lighting is one of them so let’s just talk about that instead of dragging every other possible factor into the equation.
I have 1 of the hydra 26 lights for a 155 tank, so fairly equal ratio to your setup. Also my tank has lps and softies.
I would recommend having the lights mounted a minimum of 8 inches above the tank if possible, more if possible to get the light spread better. I have a plastic light diffuser on mine, available online.
On the app for the light, I would keep all blue / purple lights the same, all running at approx 55 to 60%. The red and green on 5% or less, and adjust the white by eye to what you like, about 20% works for me.
Photo period, I ramp up for one hour in the morning, down for 1 hour at night, with 10 hours total lighting. I have it on 2% blue through the nigh.
The most important thing is not to adjust too much in one go, and when you’ve got it how you and the corals like it, to leave it alone and let it adapt to the consistent light.
Hope this helps.
I have 1 of the hydra 26 lights for a 155 tank, so fairly equal ratio to your setup. Also my tank has lps and softies.
I would recommend having the lights mounted a minimum of 8 inches above the tank if possible, more if possible to get the light spread better. I have a plastic light diffuser on mine, available online.
On the app for the light, I would keep all blue / purple lights the same, all running at approx 55 to 60%. The red and green on 5% or less, and adjust the white by eye to what you like, about 20% works for me.
Photo period, I ramp up for one hour in the morning, down for 1 hour at night, with 10 hours total lighting. I have it on 2% blue through the nigh.
The most important thing is not to adjust too much in one go, and when you’ve got it how you and the corals like it, to leave it alone and let it adapt to the consistent light.
Hope this helps.
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I had the E260 with the Hydra 26HD’s and still have 4 of them on my S650
These are the Red Sea Reef Spec settings which are also in the instructions and what I’ve always used other than I go blue from around 7pm
My light period is 9am to 10pm
But if nothing is surviving it’s probably not just the lights, so we maybe need a full list of water parameters
These are the Red Sea Reef Spec settings which are also in the instructions and what I’ve always used other than I go blue from around 7pm
My light period is 9am to 10pm
But if nothing is surviving it’s probably not just the lights, so we maybe need a full list of water parameters
AdamB
Valuable Member
I have hydras and don’t run the whites over 20% and others as high you are running . Your lights might be an issue depending on what type corals you have ..
I am attaching BRS researched hydra 26 specs. That mimic Radions if you would like to try?
Yes , I would definitely need more info about parameters and details of what your growing ..
I am attaching BRS researched hydra 26 specs. That mimic Radions if you would like to try?
Yes , I would definitely need more info about parameters and details of what your growing ..
