Hydra's 32 and OR blue plus bars

[ant.anestis]

Hello to all!

I have been away from the forum for quite a while due to an illness that kept me in in bed for a long time; everything is OK now though and I am looking forward to join the forum once more!

Moving over to my question...
I have a Reefer 250 which I want to make an SPS dominated tank. All parameters are fine - I think (NO3 - 5, PHOS 0.06, KH - 8.5, CA - 450, MAG - 1350) and my lights are 2 Hydra 32 plus 2 OR3 blue plus bars, 12 inches from water surface. I wanted to go with bars only but a friend of mine closed his tank and sold me a 2nd Hydra so...here I am now.
I am running the attached program plus 8 hours on the bars (6 on the first, after 2 hours 6 on the 2nd - a total of 8 hours of which 4 are simultaneously), and 1 hour on the front bar for viewing pleasure at the end of the day.
Its been a week since I added the 2nd Hydra and I think that my acros (nothing special, just 5 frags), although they are showing some growth, are unhappy. No polyps extension and their colours have become pale.

What am I doing wrong? Please help me, I wouldn't like to lose any of them; quite the opposite in fact, I want them happy and thriving.

If any of you are using the same lights combo, I believe you could guide me.

Thanks once more!

PS. The pic is my euphyllia, which is the happiest coral in my tank right now
PS2. Please excuse any language mistakes, not a native speaker

 

[GoVols]

Glad that you have recovered

Paled out acros may be due to not being acclimated to all your leds.

you could rent this par meter.

Wet Tested MQ-510 Full Spectrum Underwater LED PAR Meter Kit - Apogee

Purchase a Wet Tested Apogee MQ-510 PAR Meter Kit and return it for a refund within 60 days1, EVEN IF YOU HAVE USED IT!Kit include PAR Meter, Sensor Wand, and Carry Case! Measure your lights PAR with Apogee's MQ-510 PAR Meter Kit. When you are done, return the meter back to us within 60 days...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

If you're letting you alk swing up a down then it sure can affect your acros too.

Do not carbon dose with low phosphates and nitrates above 8.0 dKH.

and you could always pull an Triton labs or ATI ICP test to see where your water parameters stand.

ATI ICP-OES Water Analysis

Scientific testing for a complete picture of aquarium health Knowing what’s going on inside your tank’s water shouldn’t be a complicated process. Get a comprehensive look at your tank’s water chemistry using ATI ICP testing. ICP-OES testing has become a mainstay tool of modern reefing. With it...

www.marinedepot.com

 

[ant.anestis]

Hey GoVols!

I don't think I can rent a PAR meter, there is an ocean between me and the BRS
My Alk is stable between 8 and 8.5 for a couple of months now at least; after I got my first acro frag that is.
About dosing... didn't know. I guess I have to stop using NOPOX.
As for the ICP test, I think that I can send my water sample checked, thanks a lot!

What do you think about my light schedule though? Too much?

 

[GoVols]

What do you think about my light schedule though? Too much?

Well,
Take the time to watch this entire video to help find your height and best settings.



Program in the settings and start off with them, in the acclimation mode.

 

[ant.anestis]

Thank you Govols!
I have similar settings apart from the whites which I have them lowered because I don’t like it all too white! One thing I have to correct is the height; I am two inches lower than I should, according to the brs.
My concern is about the OR bars, if they add too much PAR and if I should lower my Hydras in order to get the right PAR.