lighting for reef tank

[sergifed91]

I don't think the lights I currently have are doing the trick. it's keeping my corals alive but no real growth to them. the dimention of my tank is 12.75 in L x 48.5 in W x 25 in H, I am currently using the aquaticlife reef edition edge led 48". I also don't really feed the corals. I do weekly water changes and Like I said don't see any growth to the corals at all. recommendations Please.

 

[sa6hir]

Have you tested for cal, mag, alk. Yes lights play a role so do trace elements. Lights are mainly for photosynthesis and the elements for skeleton growth

 

[sergifed91]

Have you tested for cal, mag, alk. Yes lights play a role so do trace elements. Lights are mainly for photosynthesis and the elements for skeleton growth

I have tested the CA, MG and ALK. last time I tested was a few days ago.
ALK 10
MG 1350
CA 450

 

[Water Dog]

The big three look good... what’s your nitrate and phosphate? Also, what are you keeping in terms of coral?

 

[sergifed91]

The big three look good... what’s your nitrate and phosphate? Also, what are you keeping in terms of coral?

nitrates I keep less than 10 and ph is at 8 and PO4 at .2

 

[sergifed91]

I really don't think my lights are strong enough to help with growth. so Im looking at sb reef lights.

 

[Seminoles76]

I don't think the lights I currently have are doing the trick. it's keeping my corals alive but no real growth to them. the dimention of my tank is 12.75 in L x 48.5 in W x 25 in H, I am currently using the aquaticlife reef edition edge led 48". I also don't really feed the corals. I do weekly water changes and Like I said don't see any growth to the corals at all. recommendations Please.

What type of coral are you keeping?
More than likely that light is fine for LPS/Softy and if that is what you are keeping you may not necessarily need more light. If you have SPS, I'd agree with you and say you don't have enough/right light.
Your PO4 is what most would consider high and could possibly be inhibiting growth, so I'd look to bring that down to under .1.

 

[sergifed91]

What type of coral are you keeping?
More than likely that light is fine for LPS/Softy and if that is what you are keeping you may not necessarily need more light. If you have SPS, I'd agree with you and say you don't have enough/right light.
Your PO4 is what most would consider high and could possibly be inhibiting growth, so I'd look to bring that down to under .1.

green devils hand leather coral
neon green birds nest
orange ric
2 red polyps
green polyp
and a leather toad stool mushroom coral.

there all surviving but like I said no real growth and looking at the lights all day today. they really are not that bright and vibrant. so I think it is my lights causing this issue.

 

[sergifed91]

think I might of solved my problem. gonna give it some time. the programming from the factory was only utilizing the sunrise and sun set mode. and not the day light. so I changed the programming to sunrise 6 am to 6 pm. daylight 8 am to 7 pm and sunset 7 pm to 12 am. then off for 6 hours then the cycles begins again. and I am feeding the corals every other day or 3 days a week.