Lighting for coral growth.

[James5214]

So I can not find the sweet spot with my light that my corals like. I have a ai prime 16hd. I have been running my UV V around 64 and RB B around 54 and G R around 5 and CW around 28. Should I hike my blue channels up more and my uv channels down? What gives you guys best coral growth? If anyone has a prime with a preset or have experience with the signature series lights let me know. I have zoas and pipe organ and xenia and a Duncan. It's a 20 long. Light is mounted about 10-11 inches above water line. Thanks

 

[vetteguy53081]

So I can not find the sweet spot with my light that my corals like. I have a ai prime 16hd. I have been running my UV V around 64 and RB B around 54 and G R around 5 and CW around 28. Should I hike my blue channels up more and my uv channels down? What gives you guys best coral growth? If anyone has a prime with a preset or have experience with the signature series lights let me know. I have zoas and pipe organ and xenia and a Duncan. It's a 20 long. Light is mounted about 10-11 inches above water line. Thanks

You may need a second unit or go to hydra 26/32
For now:
White 14
Blue 80
Violet 70
Uv. 45
Red 7
Green 4

 

[James5214]

So green a little higher and I have my white turned up more than that. So maybe drop that down some?

 

[James5214]

Should I add red sea AB+ in morning when lights first turn on or in evening? And should I turn skimmer off for like 15 minutes?

 

[JNalley]

I highly recommend you check out the AI Prime/Hydra Reef Group on Facebook. There are hundreds of presets there and some very helpful people.

 

[James5214]

I don't have a Facebook account. But may be making one today

 

[helmsreef]

Before I switched to Kessil's I used 6 Ai primes, my suggestion would be add one more light if you can. If not set your UV to 100 and your blues to 100, whites to 15-20, red to 5. I never used green. I had great growth with my lps and sofites but the lights just were not enough for my sps.

 

[JNalley]

I don't have a Facebook account. But may be making one today

There are quite a few people who create a fake account with a fake name just to be in some of the groups... Facebook groups is literally the only good thing about facebook lol

 

[James5214]

Yea because I honestly don't want a FBook because my family will bug me and I dont do social media in general. No Instagram Twitter nothing. Never really like social media. But may make a fake one as u suggested

 

[James5214]

Any suggestions on when to add red sea AB+ that would best benefit the corals?

 

[JNalley]

Any suggestions on when to add red sea AB+ that would best benefit the corals?

I add mine at night under my moonlighting. It's fluorescent yellow so you can see the cloud move across the tank under the purple and blue lights. Also feeler tentacles are out at night so I feel like it's doing more, lol. I do turn off my skimmer for 15 minutes (it's automated with my Dosing schedule).

 

[James5214]

Ok thank you. I was doing it when lights first came on as I have freshwater planted tanks and they use most of nutrients like nitrogen and potassium and iron during day while photosynthesizing. Guess corals are totally different lol. Will start doing once lights are out

 

[Cell]

It's incredibly difficult to gauge lighting without a par meter.

 

[ScubaFish802]

New BRS AI Prime 16 HD Settings

Has anyone tried the new BRS settings for their AI Prime 16 HD? Any thoughts? I respaced mine as a result of the video. I am a little disappointed that they wanted 3 Primes over a 36" tank for SPS as I have a IM30L, which while not a typical 40 gallon breeder still has the 36" footprint. I...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[JNalley]

If you get into automated dosing, AB+ needs to be kept refrigerated. So you can use one of these:
or one of these:

For the fridge style one, you can use it to keep phyto cool too. You just need to drill holes in the top for dosing tubes.

 

[James5214]

I've been keeping in my normal fridge is that not ok?...

 

[James5214]

Yes and I have asked my LFS if they have a par meter to rent out and they do not.. maybe marine warehouse has one? I'm in Tampa FL btw

 

[JNalley]

I've been keeping in my normal fridge is that not ok?...

That's fine, you're still manually dosing. But if you want to dose with an automatic doser, you just plug in the tiny fridge next to your tank somewhere and run dosing tubes to it.

 

[James5214]

Oh I didn't see you say automated. Sorry ahaha. That's way far down the road from me. Just getting into the salty side. But definitely want to give my corals the best optimal growth and food supply

 

[Cell]

Not sure why the link is crazy long, but you can "rent" from BRS aka buy and return one for what amounts to a $100 rental for 60 days.

MQ-510 Full Spectrum Underwater LED PAR Meter

Purchase a new Apogee MQ-510 PAR Meter and return it for a refund within 60 days, EVEN IF YOU HAVE USED IT! Measure your lights PAR with an Apogee MQ-510 PAR Meter. When you are done, return the meter back to us within 60 days from the purchase date for a refund, even if you have used it. If you...

www.bulkreefsupply.com