Kessil Tuna Blue Lighting Questions

[AnOldSaltyDog]

Hello, I just upgraded to a kessil tuna blue with the programmable controler. I'm looking for feed back on what type of light cycle I should run for a 34g cube that houses a birds nest sps, hammer lps, zoas and other assorted softies. Thank you in advance for any replies.

 

[Eckolancer]

12 hours with hour ramp up and hour ramp down time then maybe 50-100% intensity. All blue except maybe 2 hour middle of day for high whites.

 

[AnOldSaltyDog]

Lighting knowledge isn't my strong suit...for some reason I've been under the impression that growth is limited under blue lighting. Thanks for the reply by the way.

 

[SteveSTL]

What kind of light did you have before? I'd start off with the acclimation setting just to get the corals used to the LED.

I have a 360 over a 27 gallon (mixed, no SPS):

5 color 5% intensity @7am
40% color 25% intensity @10am
35% color 65% intensity @ noon
30% color 50% intensity @ 4pm
30% color 15% intensity @ 6pm
0% color 0% intensity @7pm

 

[AnOldSaltyDog]

What kind of light did you have before? I'd start off with the acclimation setting just to get the corals used to the LED.

I have a 360 over a 27 gallon (mixed, no SPS):

10% intensity, 10 color @7am
30% intensity 20% color @10am
65% intensity 60% color @ noon
40% intensity 40% color @ 4pm
10% intensity 10% color @ 6pm
0% intensity 0$ color @7pm

It was a Finnex LED of unknown type, it was included with the tank when I got it. It was small but seemed to support decent growth from my zoas, toady, kenya tree and hammer. Honestly I was surprised at it how well it worked. When I upgraded to my 34g cube my buddy let me borrow his unused kessil to grow out some of his corals. He is currently in the middle of getting his water parameters under control because he has too many fish in his tank at the moment. I learned the hard way with acclimation to t he new light, didn't fully realize how powerful these kessil are, fortunately nothing was too shocked. Lol...

 

[AnOldSaltyDog]

By the way what are the advantages or disadvantages of doing a black out period on one's tank?

 

[SteveSTL]

Depends on the length. Longer blackouts can be helpful against pest algae, etc (that's a complete blackout - no lights, covering the tank so no ambient light gets in, etc.). I will do short blackouts (a day or 2 of not turning on the light - not completely covering the tank) just because it's not always sunny in the ocean. I don't know if it gives the corals a rest but it doesn't seem to hurt them. I'll also occasionally run the acclimation program just to mimic a cloudy stretch of weather.

 

[mcarroll]

Hello, I just upgraded to a kessil tuna blue with the programmable controler. I'm looking for feed back on what type of light cycle I should run for a 34g cube that houses a birds nest sps, hammer lps, zoas and other assorted softies. Thank you in advance for any replies.

Don't take me as disagreeing with anyone...don't think there's any wrong way...this is just my way.

You want tropical, so:



And you can see that doesn't vary much throughout the year...almost not at all.



I do sunrise and sunset with blues like I think most people do. But I think it might be more accurate to do the whites (or an even mix) instead...then bring up the blues to whatever your max. is for the peak of the day.

Another way to think about that curve if you're doing on/off cycles instead of dimming:

All figures from here:
http://www.pveducation.org

 

[AnOldSaltyDog]

Don't take me as disagreeing with anyone...don't think there's any wrong way...this is just my way.

You want tropical, so:



And you can see that doesn't vary much throughout the year...almost not at all.



I do sunrise and sunset with blues like I think most people do. But I think it might be more accurate to do the whites (or an even mix) instead...then bring up the blues to whatever your max. is for the peak of the day.

Another way to think about that curve if you're doing on/off cycles instead of dimming:

All figures from here:
http://www.pveducation.org

Thank you for this information, makes sense...I'll program a routine and see how it goes!

 

[Kershaw]

I have sps And lps. Here is how mine is.
Color 10-1130 start 15% end 100%
Color 1130-1800 100%
Color 1800-2000 start 100% end 15%

Intensity 10-1130 start 15% end 90%
Int 1130-1800 90%
Int 1800-2000 start 90% end 15%

 

[Kershaw]

This works for well for me but I will be reducing blue a bit to see how the coral like it.