Is there a problem or am I a impatient reefer

[slacker036]

What should I look for changing in my coral wise, what signs should I be watching for?

Honestly just better polyp extension and any kind of growth at this point should be noticable. It might take a week or two before you see anything though. everything in this hobby is hurry up and wait.

 

[muzikalmatt]

What should I look for changing in my coral wise, what signs should I be watching for?

I'm not sure you'll see anything super demonstrable at first. Like @slacker036 said you'll probably see better PE and hopefully some actual growth (maybe some baby heads on the duncan showing up). With the zoas, typically if they're getting stronger lighting they won't be stretching out as much reaching for the light. They'll start to look a bit shorter/more compact.

 

[ApoIsland]

This is the lighting I run it should be ok but I do need to get a different light.

I realize so many people say you can grow coral with no white light but that has not been the case for me at all.

I would at the minimum bump that white up to 25% immediately and reduce the red and green to 5% or less. Eventually I would want to see 35-50% on the whites if it were my tank.

 

[slacker036]

Lights and ATO what I’m looking at buying the aquanest M8 I hope those will work ok enough!

I dont know much about the Aquanest M8 but from the prices I am seeing you may be able to do a little better for the price I am seeing for those. There are quite a few that get good reviews out there for less, I run Hyrda 32HDs with OR3 bars but as far as I am concerned its just prefrence when you get into higher end lights.

 

[Impala67]

I dont know much about the Aquanest M8 but from the prices I am seeing you may be able to do a little better for the price I am seeing for those. There are quite a few that get good reviews out there for less, I run Hyrda 32HDs with OR3 bars but as far as I am concerned its just prefrence when you get into higher end lights.

I was looking at those but the shadow a lot and I already have a invasive mushroom problem that I’ll have to get a bright light to kill off!

 

[Tamberav]

I was looking at those but the shadow a lot and I already have a invasive mushroom problem that I’ll have to get a bright light to kill off!

huh... bright light doesn't kill mushrooms. They just adjust their size, zoo and move to wherever is favorable. You will need to manually remove them.

You may want to consider a kessil.. it is a lot easier for new people to play with spectrum without worrying about messing it up for corals. The light will auto adjust so corals get what they need. So you set it to whatever color you like and then turn the brightness up from there.

 

[muzikalmatt]

huh... bright light doesn't kill mushrooms. They just adjust their size, zoo and move to wherever is favorable. You will need to manually remove them.

You may want to consider a kessil.. it is a lot easier for new people to play with spectrum without worrying about messing it up for corals. The light will auto adjust so corals get what they need.

I second Kessils! I have the A360WE Tuna Blue over my main tank and just put the A160 over my 10 gallon build. Love the shimmer on these lights and like @Tamberav said, other than adjusting the blue knob to your liking the light handles the rest for you and they will definitely grow corals.

 

[Impala67]

huh... bright light doesn't kill mushrooms. They just adjust their size, zoo and move to wherever is favorable. You will need to manually remove them.

You may want to consider a kessil.. it is a lot easier for new people to play with spectrum without worrying about messing it up for corals. The light will auto adjust so corals get what they need. So you set it to whatever color you like and then turn the brightness up from there.

Not these types of mushroom there impossible to remove and they hate bright light it’s the white fuzz type mushroom and it’s taking over all the shaded areas!!

 

[Tamberav]

Not these types of mushroom there impossible to remove and they hate bright light it’s the white fuzz type mushroom and it’s taking over all the shaded areas!!

Pics?

Any spotlight type lighting will give you shaded areas. That light you were looking at is a spotlight type.

 

[Impala67]

Pics?

Any spotlight type lighting will give you shaded areas. That light you were looking at is a spotlight type.

I know I know I have hair algae I’m in the process of removing it it’s just on this rock, but you see the sponge type stuff it’s all over my rocks!!

 

[Tamberav]

I know I know I have hair algae I’m in the process of removing it it’s just on this rock, but you see the sponge type stuff it’s all over my rocks!!

oh thats not a mushroom... sponge may be it.. a filter feeder if so

 

[slacker036]

I actually really like the Kessil lights as well. I had just already started with the Hyrda's so Kept going down that road. you can mitigate some of the shadowing with using multiple fixtures.

 

[Impala67]

I actually really like the Kessil lights as well. I had just already started with the Hyrda's so Kept going down that road. you can mitigate some of the shadowing with using multiple fixtures.

Ya the problem is my budget is only like $700 and i have already a hefty electricity bill!!

 

[AnotherReefHobbyist]

Ya the problem is my budget is only like $700 and i have already a hefty electricity bill!!

Kessils are led, and you could probably get away with a set for under $700. ( might have to go used depending on if you do 160’s or 360’s )

 

[slacker036]

Ya the problem is my budget is only like $700 and i have already a hefty electricity bill!!

thoughts on supplementing the Current Orbit with an Orphek bar or one of the reefbrite strips?

Not a lot of control with them but if you have controll on the Orbit you can just have it on a smart plug for on and off at the high point of the day?

 

[AnotherReefHobbyist]

thoughts on supplementing the Current Orbit with an Orphek bar or one of the reefbrite strips?

Not a lot of control with them but if you have controll on the Orbit you can just have it on a smart plug for on and off at the high point of the day?

That actually seems like a great idea! Probably in the $400 range for two.

 

[Impala67]

https://reefbreeders.com/shop/photon-48-v2/. This is what I’m looking at as well I’ve heard a lot of good things about it and it seems legit it to mention the par on this sucker is great to grow sps under!!

 

[slacker036]

https://reefbreeders.com/shop/photon-48-v2/. This is what I’m looking at as well I’ve heard a lot of good things about it and it seems legit it to mention the par on this sucker is great to grow sps under!!

I have also heard good things about the Reef breeders, the smatfarm lights seem to get reviewed well also

 

[Impala67]

So is been a week know some corals are looking good others not so much my candy cane, toadstool, Duncan’s, acan, and zoas are looking fantastic but my RFA, hairy mushroom, and regular music are doing very poorly there shriveled up and not looking healthy and suggestions?

 

[slacker036]

Any updated pictures of the problem corals? Might help diagnose, I know my toadstool will stay closed for more than a week at a time of it wants too.