LIghting Pattern. SPS/Soft Corals

Smiler1875 · Feb 20, 2021

Hi, I have a 60x60x60 cubed tank, looking to grow soft corals/sps, so Zoas/GPS/Torch etc.
I have 45w LED overhead lighting, that came with the tank as a package (Indo reef Grande from a company called Shirley aquatics in Birmingham), it has no wifi/weather plans built in, it has about 6 lighting patterns, utlising white/blue /red/green etc, and can be dimmed. IT looks fine when on with good coverage/brightness.
Was told it was much better lighting for example than the Fluval 3.0 which I liked as programmable for sunset/daylight app available etc, and beginning to regret not getting that light
Question is, I'm unsure of which lighting pattern/colours are best for corals , should it be dimmed/full brightmess and for how long etc, Loathe to ditch and spend another £200 plus on another light, would welcome any advice please

Ron Reefman · Feb 20, 2021

I assume your 60x60x60 cube is measured in centimeters? Here in the US that could be a tank 5 feet x 5 feet x 5 feet!

As to your lighting issues. You need to figure out how many leds in your fixture and how many total watts it uses.

The Current Orbit and Fuval fixtures (and many AIO (All In One) small systems use 0.3 to 0.5 watt leds. These are OK in tanks that are 12 inches deep (30cm) and for fish only tanks that are deeper.

For a tank that is 60cm deep (24 in) you really need 3.0 watt leds.

Smiler1875 · Feb 20, 2021

Ron Reefman said:
I assume your 60x60x60 cube is measured in centimeters? Here in the US that could be a tank 5 feet x 5 feet x 5 feet!

As to your lighting issues. You need to figure out how many leds in your fixture and how many total watts it uses.

The Current Orbit and Fuval fixtures (and many AIO (All In One) small systems use 0.3 to 0.5 watt leds. These are OK in tanks that are 12 inches deep (30cm) and for fish only tanks that are deeper.

For a tank that is 60cm deep (24 in) you really need 3.0 watt leds.

Hi Thanks, yes in cm, so 2ftx2ftx2ft, 210 Litres, no idea of Watt per LED just that system is 45w (whereas the Flucal 60cm Light is 32W), I don't think I have a problem with coverage, just unsure of patterns to use, light colours mix etc as its all manual on the lighting fixture itself, for instance if I ran All blue on highest level for say 8 hrs a day, would that be detrimental, encourage algae etc, should I run Blue/White, what about the Green/Red options (Mixed with Blue)