Kessil A180WE light schedule reccomendations

[Edgara7981]

Hello, I am looking for reccomendation's for a kessil A180WE I currently have it 12" above water and for a 60 gallon tank I have kessils recommended light setup but my corals don't like it. I had some LPS corals but they died. I now have a mixed tank of softies like bubble tips and carpet corals. And i am looking for help on a good light setup.

 

[minus9]

A single 160 probably won't cover a 60g that well on it's own. What are the dimensions of the tank and what are your current settings?

 

[Edgara7981]

Its a cube 24×24×24 all around for length width and height and current setting is the one kessil put on their site and recommended on the phone

 

[Edgara7981]

A single 160 probably won't cover a 60g that well on it's own. What are the dimensions of the tank and what are your current settings?

And the current settings is what kessil recommended on their site

 

[minus9]

At that depth, the 160 isn't going to get you very deep. I would look at the 360x with some led bar supplements. Quanta Pro Meso Blue

 

[minus9]

What is your current intensity for the peak hours?

 

[Edgara7981]

I currently have it at
8:00 0% 10%
10:00 10% 25%
12:00 30% 45%
14:00 55% 45%
16:00 30% 30%
18:00 0% 0%
It is what kessil reccomended

 

[minus9]

Can you post a pic of your tank? Full tank shot with light.

 

[minus9]

If you had to pick a color % that you really liked, what would it be?

 

[Edgara7981]

Can you post a pic of your tank? Full tank shot with light.

 

[minus9]

Do you have a par meter or way to borrow/rent one? If not, then we'll do it old school.
I'm not sure which % is your intensity, but I'm assuming it's the second #?
Here's my suggested schedule for you. It's based off of a 12hr cycle, which what I've been using with Kessil's for the past 7+ years.
Time/Int/Color
7:55 - 0 - 0
10:00 - 40 - 25
14:00 - 50 - 30
16:00 - 50 - 30
18:00 - 40 - 25
20:05 - 0 - 0
You can adjust the color to your personal preference, but you need to extend you peak hours and intensity. What you'll do is slowly raise the intensity at 10:00 and 18:00 by 5% every other week. Once you reach your mid day intensity, then you'll wait a week, then raise the intensity at 14:00 and 16:00 (mid day) by 5%. So you're slowly raising the intensity in smaller increments. You'll have to observe your corals (and nutrients/alk uptake) during this time. If they seem stressed, then back down 5% and wait a week or so. Then move forward until things looks happy and healthy. Go slow and take your time.
In the meantime, if you can find another 160 second-hand, then this will take you a lot further with coverage and coral options down the road.

 

[Edgara7981]

Do you have a par meter or way to borrow/rent one? If not, then we'll do it old school.
I'm not sure which % is your intensity, but I'm assuming it's the second #?
Here's my suggested schedule for you. It's based off of a 12hr cycle, which what I've been using with Kessil's for the past 7+ years.
Time/Int/Color
7:55 - 0 - 0
10:00 - 40 - 25
14:00 - 50 - 30
16:00 - 50 - 30
18:00 - 40 - 25
20:05 - 0 - 0
You can adjust the color to your personal preference, but you need to extend you peak hours and intensity. What you'll do is slowly raise the intensity at 10:00 and 18:00 by 5% every other week. Once you reach your mid day intensity, then you'll wait a week, then raise the intensity at 14:00 and 16:00 (mid day) by 5%. So you're slowly raising the intensity in smaller increments. You'll have to observe your corals (and nutrients/alk uptake) during this time. If they seem stressed, then back down 5% and wait a week or so. Then move forward until things looks happy and healthy. Go slow and take your time.
In the meantime, if you can find another 160 second-hand, then this will take you a lot further with coverage and coral options down the road.

Ok thanks and what about low blue color's I wouldn't use any?

 

[minus9]

The color is completely up to you, so pick something that speaks to you and go with it. My personal preference is between 20-40% for most things, but I do like to kick up the whites during peak hours, acropora appreciate it (and so do clams). Kessil logic dictates that the spectrum will always be healthy for corals, it just rebalances the power between whites/blues.
This is why I mentioned your personal preference, you can't pick a bad setting. When you ramp the color from 0 to your preferred #, it will ramp from the deepest blue to your set point. The ramp up/down will be your super blue look. But if you prefer that look always, then go for it. I try to pick a more natural color (to my eyes at least).
Hope this helps/answers your question?

 

[Spare time]

I would increase the intensity slowly to 100%, especially if you are mounting it that High. I'm mainly suggesting this for the anemone. If the corals are not happy and you can rule out everything but the light, it is definitely not from too much light.