LED induced insomnia

myclang · Oct 20, 2012

HEY guys,

I have been having some issues with my lighting schedule for my AI SOL. First things first. SPECS:

54 gallon corner bowfront
1 single AI sol unit, 12" AWL. ALL 70 degree optics for even spread
lighting schedule:
2pm: 45 min ramp 30/40/40
3pm: 15 min ramp 50/60/60
930pm: 45 min ramp 20/30/30
11pm: off

Now I have a very large orange carpet lobo on the bottom (36" from lights) that has been slowly bleaching. Its to my knowledge that only quick bleaching (3-4 days or less) indicates bleaching caused by too high of light. my lobo has been slowly fading for over a few months. I know have a few white bands on one side. I feed twice a week with mysisy/brine shrimp. I also feed corals with REEF CHILI. All my params are fairly normal except slightly ellivated phosphates, which I'm getting a GFO reactor from BRS this week. From what I've put has anyone with LED experience had this happen? I'm almost thinking that my corals are still not getting enough light because, I also have a frag of African Blue Steel zoas 3" from the surface that are also slightly brown. It just seems I'm not getting enough light but, I was told on here that going past 60% really not neccessary or good because, of how intense these leds are.

Michael

MBSL55 · Oct 20, 2012

I'm almost thinking one Sol is not enough but I am not familiar with corner bowfront dimensions so I could be way off.

When I first switched over the AI Sols I had a duncan colony close to the sand bed that did not open until I hit about 60% on the lights. I then ended up running my Sols at 80% at 14' AWL. Total of 3 of them, all switched over to 70 degree optics, over a 70g that was 60" x 12.5" footprint. I ran my lights with a 1 hour ramp up (all colors same intensity) and then all colors at 80% for 8 hours before they ramped down for an hour.

myclang · Oct 20, 2012

54 gallon corner bowfront dimensions are 38 x 27 x 22. I think with the fixture right in themiddle of the basically triangle it's enough spread. I think I just need to start ramping up slowly. I did end up moving the percentages up to 60/70/70 and in a couple days I'll move it up a few more. Maybe I do need to creep more towards 80%. I was just under the impression that anything over 70% with the SOLS is going to be way too intense and I should keep it maxxed at about 70.

I do love your tank though. Love the seamless look!

MBSL55 · Oct 20, 2012

Thanks! I would just add 5% a week and back off if you see bleaching

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myclang · Oct 20, 2012

Just so weird to think that too little and too much cause the same thing in my LPS :/ Thanks for the input!

myclang · Oct 27, 2012

Alright so I've done a few things. First off I purchased a GFO/Carbron Reactor from BRS. Gonna start dosing slowly with GFO due to my Phosphates >.25ppm per testing. This will start to combat my brown and green algae. Second. I have started ramping up my AI SOLS to improve coloring in my LPS. I have closed brain on the bottom of my tank aprox 36" from lights. W 75% B75% RB 80%. going to keep them all at 80%. I have all lenses set to 70 deg lenses to have even spread.

Here's my problem while my closed brain coral had browned most likely due to lack of PAR from my lights being set so low, my Large orange carpet LOBO next to it seems to have be thinning and been slowly bleaching well before I turned up the lights. I'm in a dilema here both corals are LPS in the same spot (next to eachother), yet one is browning due to lack of light and the other slowly bleaching? Do some LPS lose zooanthelle and bleach slowly over a period of months like mine if they're not getting enough UV? I never fed my LOBO thinking it was getting enough light until recently. I now just have begun feeding Brine Shrimp and using Reef Chilli.

THOUGHTS? Any help would be beneficial.

Mike

myclang · Oct 27, 2012

I should also note that my closed brain in the past week has already started to green back up from its dull brown but, my poor LOBO.

3Twinklets · Oct 27, 2012

I feed Oyster feast and switch off also between Phyto feast and Bio Plankton and Roggers. I feed all of my LPS in the late evening when the night lights are on. My Sols and Vegas are set very near MBSL55's settings.
I also use Korallen Phols Xtra and LPS Amino Acid.
I also believe that your corals were not getting enough light and it may take a little time for them to color back up.
Also, are you dosing Iodine regularly?

myclang · Oct 27, 2012

Yes I started dosing iodide 3 weeks ago when in purchased a drag of pumping Xenia.which are growing great!

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myclang · Oct 27, 2012

I went through MBSL55's tank thread again. hig light heights are nearly IDENTICAL to my setup. while his were at 80% for the SOLS mine was way way down at around 60% with the 70% lenses. I'm almost 100% certain that my LPS on the bottom were not getting enough PAR. Even looking at my reverse space monster ZOAS halfway up that are reaching, and my African Blue steel zoas which are near the very top of tank have been slightly brown. It has to be I've had it set way too low. :/