Led lights-white

fish head · May 3, 2017

Just a quick question
Im using the hydra 52-hd with speaking to another coral guy with years upon years of experience he mentioned not to run the whites 20 percent ?
UV at 30 percent max
If not it will bleach out the corals ?
I keep my lights ten inches from the water in height
Just after any input

Thank you
Happy Reefing !!!

mcarroll · May 3, 2017

Tank dimensions?

Whether your new light bleaches corals or not depends heavily (but not exclusively) on whether they're already adapted to the light level you're providing.

What you describe is true of corals that are acclimated to a different level of light than what you provide.

But, for example, if you take a light meter into a store to measure the light over the coral you're buying and then you come home and use the light meter to find a similarly-lit spot in your tank, then you'd most likely have no worries.

I say most likely because water flow and available nutrients will also have an impact. What flow and nutrients the coral is actually acclimated to is also important, if you can find out.

saltyfilmfolks · May 3, 2017

I think the color combo thing from the lfs is superstition and uniformed.

This is a better explanation ff why corals bleach. https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/h...d-i-dont-know-what-to-do.210035/#post-2401666

Pongo · May 3, 2017

Thank you for that link, a very good read.

ReefLEDLights · May 4, 2017

Gotta Disagree...

Back in the Day, my reef had a few a 400 watt MHs and 110 watt VHOs... Hard core SPS Reef Keepers still use the 400 watt MH/T5 combination with excellent results...

The hydra is weak in the UV or better known as 410-420nm. This is a primary grow spectrum for corals...A single VHO will put out more of this spectrum than the hydra...You should have this at 100%

Some can grow small frags with reduced light but here are a few advantages of High or more natural intensities of light

-Wholesalers generally keep their SPS under MH in shallow tanks as do quality LFSs...This allows for easier acclimation.
-Aquacultured SPS is near the equator were at these shallow depths the coral are grown with light intensities above the Hydra 52
-PAR values above photo-inhibition 350-500 PAR cause SPS to develop reflective pigments which can look better.
-Large SPS Colonies have shaded areas...These will benefit from intense light that is reflected.

Overall I like to see around 200 PAR on the sand bed. My LEDS are a bit more powerful than the Hydras or Radion. They are 14" above the water and my SPS are growing quite well with my ORA Red Planet doubling in size in only 3 months.

Bill