Mars aqua 165 watt led

[Brandonn]

Hello I have a 20 gallon aquarium , it’s been set up since March 2019. I have a mars aqua , I’m not sure how high I should hang it , I have a anemone , frog spawn and a gsp. I need to know how high to hang the light so I don’t bleach my corals. It’s currently about 5-6 inches above water , tank height is about 16”

 

[Billldg]

Welcome to R2R!!!

Don't know much about that light fixture, but height isn't the only thing you have to worry about. You also have to worry about intensity on the light fixture, that can also harm corals. Not knowing much about that light I would suggest raising it to at least 8 in's and back off on intensity and then steady start to raise the intensity and look at how the corals r reacting, r they hiding or are they coming fully out and such. Good luck

 

[virtual reality]

Wecome to R2R.

 

[Brandonn]

Hello I have a 20 gallon aquarium , it’s been set up since March 2019. I have a mars aqua , I’m not sure how high I should hang it , I have a anemone , frog spawn and a gsp. I need to know how high to hang the light so I don’t bleach my corals. It’s currently about 5-6 inches above water , tank height is about 16”

Welcome to R2R!!!

Don't know much about that light fixture, but height isn't the only thing you have to worry about. You also have to worry about intensity on the light fixture, that can also harm corals. Not knowing much about that light I would suggest raising it to at least 8 in's and back off on intensity and then steady start to raise the intensity and look at how the corals r reacting, r they hiding or are they coming fully out and such. Good luck

 

[sbash]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!!!

I have many 165 watt LED fixtures, and I hang them for aesthetics, then adjust the brightness accordingly.

So, I suggest you hang the light so that it fills the tank, then dial down the brightness accordingly. Start with the blues at 50%, and the whites at 10-25% and make minor adjustments every week.

 

[Brandonn]

Also the blues are dimmed to roughly 35 and whites are at 15

 

[WhoaTangs Clan]

I have similar black boxes and I have them about 9 or 10 inches above the water. My tank is 24" deep though. And I run whites at 15 and blues at 40. They turn on at 6 am blue only turn off at 10pm. Whites come on at 9am turn off at 6pm.

Tank in November of 2017

Tank in December of 2018

In November of 2018 I upgraded the middle light to an orphek atlantik v4.

 

[Brandonn]

I have similar black boxes and I have them about 9 or 10 inches above the water. My tank is 24" deep though. And I run whites at 15 and blues at 40. They turn on at 6 am blue only turn off at 10pm. Whites come on at 9am turn off at 6pm.

Tank in November of 2017

Tank in December of 2018

In November of 2018 I upgraded the middle light to an orphek atlantik v4.

Welcome to R2R!!!

Don't know much about that light fixture, but height isn't the only thing you have to worry about. You also have to worry about intensity on the light fixture, that can also harm corals. Not knowing much about that light I would suggest raising it to at least 8 in's and back off on intensity and then steady start to raise the intensity and look at how the corals r reacting, r they hiding or are they coming fully out and such. Good luck

My anemone is fully open and so is my frogspawn, gsp has been hiding for 2 days

 

[sbash]

Also the blues are dimmed to roughly 35 and whites are at 15

That's a great starting place, in this picture, I have mine at 100% and 25% (blues and whites respectively). So just slowly ramp up 10% per week until you are comfortable...

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/zoo-med-50-gallon-low-boy-frag-tank.309299/page-5#post-5794279

 

[Crabs McJones]

Welcome to R2R!

#WelcometoR2R

The black boxes are great lights, however they are highly focused beams of light. I would hang it up high or keep the intensities way down

 

[Brandonn]

That's a great starting place, in this picture, I have mine at 100% and 25% (blues and whites respectively). So just slowly ramp up 10% per week until you are comfortable...

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/zoo-med-50-gallon-low-boy-frag-tank.309299/page-5#post-5794279

How many inches would you suggest me hanging it? I feel like this is too low

 

[sbash]

How many inches would you suggest me hanging it? I feel like this is too low

If you get full light coverage, then it is fine. If you have shadowing on the ends, then move it up until everything is lit! There are not hard and fast rules around these things. I have one tank with some shadowing, so low light softies and palys (true palys) grow well there.

 

[Bleigh]

I have similar black boxes and I have them about 9 or 10 inches above the water. My tank is 24" deep though. And I run whites at 15 and blues at 40. They turn on at 6 am blue only turn off at 10pm. Whites come on at 9am turn off at 6pm.

Tank in November of 2017

Tank in December of 2018

In November of 2018 I upgraded the middle light to an orphek atlantik v4.

Wow!!! That is some amazing growth!

Plus, you should totally make a build thread! I'd love to see what all you have done and are planning on doing!

 

[Bleigh]

Welcome! Glad people were able to give you some info!

 

[Peace River]

Welcome to R2R!!!

Use the advice above as a starting point then watch your corals - they will let you know!

 

[Ruben's Reef]

!!! Welcome to R2R !!! I had the 165w and 300w Viparspectra ( similar lights ) on my tank at 12" above the tank on my 40g and give me a good growth. I have those set up to 25% white channel and 80% blue channel.

 

[redfishbluefish]

They typically say that LEDs should be 12 - 14 inches above the water line to get the spread and blend of light. But, because you have a small tank, I believe 8 - 10 inches is fine.

As far as intensity, I 'd recommend purchasing a LUX meter (cost around 15 bucks) and target a LUX of 20,000 to 25,000 just above the water. Set your blues to whites ratio to what is pleasing to your eye. I have mine set at 60B/30W.

THIS is the LUX meter I have.

 

[Brandonn]

If you get full light coverage, then it is fine. If you have shadowing on the ends, then move it up until everything is lit! There are not hard and fast rules around these things. I have one tank with some shadowing, so low light softies and palys (true palys) grow well there.

Sounds good , I have the light raised to 10” above water line.. my whites don’t come on until noon. I run my blues from 11-6 , 11:00 being the hour to imitate sunrise and 5:00pm being sunset. Whites run from 12:00 to 5:00 pm

 

[vetteguy53081]

take your lights to 8"

 

[Brandonn]

take your lights to 8"

Just raised it 10”