LED lighting Help

Paul C. · Aug 19, 2012

Hey everyone, I have to post again and ask for some opinions.. I have written several times before about my Radions, their settings, and power levels.. Its been a few weeks now, and i am happy with my current levels. Things appear to be happy, except for a few pieces of chalices. I have noticed several have start to recede. I have moved them into the low flow, and low light areas as i have read is the thing to do.

My question is this, can lower amounts of whits light cause this? I have turned them down, in fear of bleaching. But wonder if i went to far.. I can turn them up a bit obviously, and just keep the power level down, and slowly increase as everything becomes used to the settings.

Also, if a chalice start to recede. Should i consider dipping?

Thanks everyone...Paul C.

Reef Breeders · Aug 19, 2012

Paul, it makes no difference which color you turn down (whites/blues). Turn them both down to lower the intensity, as no one color causes bleaching, they all do in too high of an intensity. I would not dip, just wait it out and lower the intensity.

DrewF · Aug 19, 2012

Anemonekeeper, what if my Led doesn't have a dimmer? Is there a screen I can add to lower intensity?

Poseidon · Aug 19, 2012

Regular window screen will cut intensity. Some use multiple layers with great effect.

Reef Breeders · Aug 19, 2012

Poseidon said:
Regular window screen will cut intensity. Some use multiple layers with great effect.

+1, also, if you havent bought it yet, get a dimmable one. You will not regret the extra controlability!

Paul C. · Aug 19, 2012

So, the color levels aren't necessarily as important as the power level to protect against bleaching....

Paul C. · Aug 19, 2012

Also, when it comes to par readings, do all the colors produce the same par readings or say whits produces the highest, then Blue and so on..

Poseidon · Aug 19, 2012

I plan on testing that soon with my fixture, but I can tell you from previous experience with T5, the Blue + put out as much PAR or more then the Aquablue Special. (which is a white bulb.)

Our eyes are not good at determining actual brightness, which is why a PAR meter is so important. (My local club has one for club members to borrow.)

Reef Breeders · Aug 19, 2012

Your PAR meter will not tell you that accuritely, as it cannot guage the 450nm spectrum of the royal blues. They both have spikes in the 450nm range, and the readings must be compensated by about 20% to get an accurite answer.