New Reffer with problems

[Theresa Groomes]

Hi. I am not new at salt water but am new to reef tanks. I have a 250 gallon that measures 6ft long by 3ft deep. I am running two Kessil A360WE lights about 9-12 inches above water lever on open top. I just hung them about a week ago. I had generic lighting before I got them and was having little success. I have soft corals so far and have had difficulties. My corals are loosing color. First my water parameters are within normal limits. I am having problems with my lighting controller. I set it to cycle per instructions but will not come on at scheduled time or go off at scheduled time for that matter. I also would like to ask what intensity and coloring level I should be using. I do have live rock up to about half way in the tank. I am worried. any help appreciated.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Hi. I am not new at salt water but am new to reef tanks. I have a 250 gallon that measures 6ft long by 3ft deep. I am running two Kessil A360WE lights about 9-12 inches above water lever on open top. I just hung them about a week ago. I had generic lighting before I got them and was having little success. I have soft corals so far and have had difficulties. My corals are loosing color. First my water parameters are within normal limits. I am having problems with my lighting controller. I set it to cycle per instructions but will not come on at scheduled time or go off at scheduled time for that matter. I also would like to ask what intensity and coloring level I should be using. I do have live rock up to about half way in the tank. I am worried. any help appreciated.

Two we's over that tank may not be enough. For a 6 foot tank your looking at probably 4 total. What intensity are you running them at now? At 10 inches off the water on a three foot deep tank you probably want to ramp them up pretty high as they need more power to penetrate such a depth.

 

[Theresa Groomes]

I've been running them at 60 %. The depth to penetrate is about 2 feet as I have live rock as well. Right at this moment I only have coral on one side of the tank. I cannot afford two more lights at this time. I bought them from a local pet store who told two should be fine. Ugh. I'm frustrated. Thank you for your help so far. Smiles your way my friend.

 

[Theresa Groomes]

I've been running them at 60 %. The depth to penetrate is about 2 feet as I have live rock as well. Right at this moment I only have coral on one side of the tank. I cannot afford two more lights at this time. I bought them from a local pet store who told two should be fine. Ugh. I'm frustrated. Thank you for your help so far. Smiles your way my friend.

Also I have a 3/4 inch thick glass divider on top of tank that is about 2ft wide.

 

[Crystal Reef Aquatics]

When you can swing it, at least get another light. 2 would be ideal.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Aside from the lighting issues the OP is having, I always want to see what the water pramameters are they are dealing with. Softies always like a little "dirtier" water pramameters.

@Theresa Groomes, can you provide us with these?

 

[manilaboy1vic]

set the color to 20% or lower.. what softies do you have?? zoos, leathers?? according to Kessil Logic the color knob is there to set the color of your choosing... they claim the color knob shouldnt have a huge impact on par.

the bluer you have it the better your softies will look most likely (specially if you have green stuff)..

i have a green yuma and scoly and goblins on fire zoas that just pop like crazy at 20% color on kessils.

and if your running EASY corals like zoos, leathers, whatever.. there is room for mistake.. i would go 75% intensity 20% blues.. thats what im running now on my tank..

top to bottom my tank is 21.5" and have my lights about 6-8inc above water line.. i have a GBTA on the bottom and hes not moving due to lack of lighting.

i was running my lights super high intensity for a while too.. the zoos/leathers/bta/clam (had these for years) i have seemed okay.. they still do under 75% intensity.. softies are pretty tough.. i had a little piece of leather coral just swirling around on the bottom of the tank for a while.. it would still put its polyps out.. lol

not that you should do this.. but i got busy for the past 8 months and didnt pay much attn to my tank, yet the neon green leathers seem to thrive.. if you can find a neon green leather i highly recommend it..

my tank: DT dimensions: 68g 35.5(l) x 19.5(w) x 21.5(h)

i have 2x160we and 1x360we on the tank.

you also might want to dose zooplanton and phytoplankton twice a week, softies love that stuff.. i just started to do that and i think my zoos look better..

i have seachem zoo and phytoplankton,, you DO NOT target feed with it, just a pour it in a high flow area and done... people have target fed with seachem zoo/phtyo and it messed up their corals big time... just a note of caution, their site also says, do not target feed with their product.. its super concentrated.

 

[Theresa Groomes]

set the color to 20% or lower.. what softies do you have?? zoos, leathers?? according to Kessil Logic the color knob is there to set the color of your choosing... they claim the color knob shouldnt have a huge impact on par.

the bluer you have it the better your softies will look most likely (specially if you have green stuff)..

i have a green yuma and scoly and goblins on fire zoas that just pop like crazy at 20% color on kessils.

and if your running EASY corals like zoos, leathers, whatever.. there is room for mistake.. i would go 75% intensity 20% blues.. thats what im running now on my tank..

top to bottom my tank is 21.5" and have my lights about 6-8inc above water line.. i have a GBTA on the bottom and hes not moving due to lack of lighting.

i was running my lights super high intensity for a while too.. the zoos/leathers/bta/clam (had these for years) i have seemed okay.. they still do under 75% intensity.. softies are pretty tough.. i had a little piece of leather coral just swirling around on the bottom of the tank for a while.. it would still put its polyps out.. lol

not that you should do this.. but i got busy for the past 8 months and didnt pay much attn to my tank, yet the neon green leathers seem to thrive.. if you can find a neon green leather i highly recommend it..

my tank: DT dimensions: 68g 35.5(l) x 19.5(w) x 21.5(h)

i have 2x160we and 1x360we on the tank.

you also might want to dose zooplanton and phytoplankton twice a week, softies love that stuff.. i just started to do that and i think my zoos look better..

i have seachem zoo and phytoplankton,, you DO NOT target feed with it, just a pour it in a high flow area and done... people have target fed with seachem zoo/phtyo and it messed up their corals big time... just a note of caution, their site also says, do not target feed with their product.. its super concentrated.

I have a button polyp, green star polyp and a purple hammer which has been trying to rebound. The button polyp is now looking not so good. Ugh. I am still in there swinging though.

 

[Elude82]

My best advice, since buying an additional light or two does not work at the moment. Move all the coral to one half of the tank. And move the two lights over with it.
Will this look weird, yes. But it will solve the issue of light PAR and will save your corals(as long as your water parameters are good).
24 in. Wide spread is about as good as I get with my AI Prime, so I’m assuming your Kessil is about the same.
Do some quick research on each of the 3 Corals. Know their basic requirements: Flow, Lighting, placement. Ensure those are done.
And make sure you are feeding and dosing appropriately.
Good luck, and don’t lose hope.

 

[Stigigemla]

Try to light the mid part of the tank and dont mind the corners. Its just as much light under a singel Kessil 10 inches over the water as under the next one 18 inches away. There are a few corals that can manage in very low light. If You are looking fo a new coral just check how deep it can live in the nature. And dont change the light settings. Corals need a month or two to adjust to the new light settings.

 

[vetteguy53081]

You will need about 5-6 of these Kessils for your tank ( honestly). You can supplement with T5 lights that have actinic blues or a couple of 72" Reefbrites.

 

[Theresa Groomes]

Thank you. Unfortunately there is a 2 ft wide and I inch thick glass in the middle of my tank. Not much light gets through that. I have seen extra kessil but no find a for more at the moment. If I did purchase the reefbites, would I still need the kessils?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Thank you. Unfortunately there is a 2 ft wide and I inch thick glass in the middle of my tank. Not much light gets through that. I have seen extra kessil but no find a for more at the moment. If I did purchase the reefbites, would I still need the kessils?

Yes: 1 or 2 should get you through