Is there one answer?

[Mark Bradley]

So I came into marines in August 2019 after years of keeping Malawi’s. I wanted to do it as best I could and replicated a very nice set up, in a LFS, from an equipment perspective. So I’m very happy about my reactor, my protein skimmer (although it’s not without it challenges) and my Reefer 170.
However, when it comes to lighting I am very confused. I have a Reef Photon LED and have read numerous posts about its set up - the numbers of opinions around levels of whites and blues is huge so, to a relatively newbie like myself, you end up with no choice but trial and error.
A LFS, that has numerous display tanks working well, told me that ‘all blues’ and limited whites was the best approach (they have a large selection of corals for sale under very heavy blue lighting) - today I read an article that said no whites could hinder corals because much needed algae wouldn’t be able to grow.
It seems to me that the only way to really do this properly is to do par readings and pick corals appropriate for the par - but meters aren’t cheap but perhaps is a necessary piece of kit?
Against what I’ve said my corals seem to be doing ok (growing and showing good colour) - I’d just like it to be because of me rather than in spite of me.
The Reef Photon offers settings that apparently replicate reefs of the world - not sure how accurate they are or whether doing that is the perfect answer?
Any thoughts out there from a slightly frustrated reef keeper

 

[Euphyllia97]

In my opinion it depends a lot on the corals you have and where they are coming from. You can probably make them adapt to any light setting provided there is enough light. Don’t know if this is true but I have the feeling that the white light can be beneficial for photosyntheses and have seen accelerated growth compared to the more blue light.
Again this is not a rule as it will depend a lot on the amount and type of lights.

What works best for me is not going to work best for you.
I would just try to stick as close to the lights in your LFS or the light that you find the most attractive.

 

[Mark Bradley]

For reference here is a picture of what I have. Just behind the Yellow Tang is a low light part (currently with some Zoas but I want to put more in that part but ‘fear’ it’s too dark. BTW - the white was increased for this photo.

 

[Nano sapiens]

Against what I’ve said my corals seem to be doing ok (growing and showing good colour) - I’d just like it to be because of me rather than in spite of me.

In this hobby when your corals are growing and have good color long term, you're all good. There is the tendency to want to fiddle with lighting to get that 'perfect spectrum/intensity', but what often happens (especially when people are starting out) is that the corals end up having to constantly readjust which causes undue stress. Worse case scenerio, they are unable to adapt to the constantly shifting spectrum/intensities and perish. Basically, go really slow if/when you adjust lighting.

Some white is useful to help bring out some non fluorescent pigmentation in the corals and for our own viewing pleasure, but too much can be visually unappealing (washed out look), potentially stressful for the coral and may encourage nuisance algae. I'm an 'old school' reef keeper that likes a bit more white than is in vogue these days, so to my eye your tank photo coloration actually looks quite nice (I realize that you've turned the white channel higher for the photo). One thing to remember is that all typical white LEDs contain a significant portion of blue light since it is their 'base color' (warm white has the least blue, cool white has the most).

As far as those Reef Photon settings that apparently replicate reefs of the world, I'd be a bit careful about playing around with those as you don't want the corals to have to constantly have to adjust to changing lighting parameters.

Check out the R2R lighting forum 'stickies' if you really want to take a deeper dive

 

[homer1475]

Exactly why I dumped LED's and went back to T5's. To much guessing on whats correct, or listening to other reefers that prefer that windex look(hate that FYI)"all blue, and just a touch of white". Sure maybe for you, but I hate looking at my tank which looks like a windex bottle. Corals need FULL SPECTRUM. Ask yourself when was the last time you saw the sun, no less in the ocean, as all blue? While I've never dived, I can almost certainly say the ocean at any depth does not look like a windex bottle. I'm sure at depth it's more blue looking, but no where as blue as some of these windex tanks. You know the ones where people post pics for ID, and all you see is blue.

No settings to play with, no spectrum shifts to play with, no white, blue, every other color in the rainbow adjustment knobs to play with, etc, etc.

T5's are just simple on and off, no guessing on spectrum or par. They just plain work with no guessing.

 

[Victor_C3]

Exactly why I dumped LED's and went back to T5's. To much guessing on whats correct, or listening to other reefers that prefer that windex look(hate that FYI)"all blue, and just a touch of white". Sure maybe for you, but I hate looking at my tank which looks like a windex bottle. Corals need FULL SPECTRUM. Ask yourself when was the last time you saw the sun, no less in the ocean, as all blue? While I've never dived, I can almost certainly say the ocean at any depth does not look like a windex bottle. I'm sure at depth it's more blue looking, but no where as blue as some of these windex tanks. You know the ones where people post pics for ID, and all you see is blue.

No settings to play with, no spectrum shifts to play with, no white, blue, every other color in the rainbow adjustment knobs to play with, etc, etc.

T5's are just simple on and off, no guessing on spectrum or par. They just plain work with no guessing.

That is exactly why I’ve never went with LED’s since I started reefing in 2006. It’s just easier to go with T-5’s and not have to constantly fidget with all the controls required of LED’s.

 

[ChiFlyGuy]

You can always try to find someone local to borrow/rent a par meter from. Check your clubs in the area if you have them. Worst case BRS offers par meter rental for $60 I believe.