over kill on light. Maybe? (kessil ap700)

[elagui]

Hi everyone so i just purchaased a kessil ap700 for my 50 gallon cube sps dominant. I know it might be over kill but im willing to find out. Am starting slow the light is about 11in from the waterline and the max intensity i have it is 60% for only 3 hours a day. Here is a couple of pics

opinions welcomed sorry for the crappy iphone pics

 

[hybridazn]

I wouldn't call it overkill. But it's def a nice light, Congrats and keep us posted on updates!

 

[Brian Kim]

I wouldn't call it overkill either. I'm using a 360 and 160 over my 45 cube

 

[cameronh]

I wouldn't call it overkill either. I'm using a 360 and 160 over my 45 cube

You still have it running like that? Haha I figured you would have changed it by now

 

[Brian Kim]

You still have it running like that? Haha I figured you would have changed it by now

Honestly, thinking about going back to ocean revive. For some strange reason, my corals are responding better to that lighting

 

[cameronh]

Honestly, thinking about going back to ocean revive. For some strange reason, my corals are responding better to that lighting

Mine seem to be liking the kessil alot. I've had almost triple the growth in just two months. Makes me wonder about all the better lights and what they will do!

 

[elagui]

I wouldn't call it overkill. But it's def a nice light, Congrats and keep us posted on updates!

Its funny cause i had it on for a few hours and i saw more polyp extension from some of sps specially my red dragon.

 

[elagui]

I wouldn't call it overkill either. I'm using a 360 and 160 over my 45 cube

How is you tank responding to both fixture? i have an ecotech radion pro gen2 over my tank but for some reason i felt i needed more light. That why i decided to try the kessil ap700.

 

[ronvdp]

You need to maintain a normally timed light cycle. 3 hours a day won’t cut it. Turn the kessil down to 50% and 8-10 hours/day. Observe carefully how the coral respond and adjust accordingly.

 

[hybridazn]

You need to maintain a normally timed light cycle. 3 hours a day won’t cut it. Turn the kessil down to 50% and 8-10 hours/day. Observe carefully how the coral respond and adjust accordingly.

I believe he is light acclimating the corals. They will have a normal lighting schedule in due time

 

[elagui]

You need to maintain a normally timed light cycle. 3 hours a day won’t cut it. Turn the kessil down to 50% and 8-10 hours/day. Observe carefully how the coral respond and adjust accordingly.

so right now i have it to start at 10% at 9am by 12pm its at 50% at 6pm its at 60% by 8 it starts to ramped down and by 9pm its off.

 

[WetWhistle]

I myself would turn it down to about 45 to 50 % and run it for 10 hrs and over the next few months ramp the intensity up. Just because you blast it for a few hrs at high light level doesn't mean the Zooxanthellae are getting enough time to photosynthesize and produce the byproducts for the corals to consume. At that time frame only the Zooxanthellae will produce just enough for themselves to survive. Zooxanthellae can only produce so much at one time and need a longer duration to properly complete the cycle. It is like trying to do 10 cars at a time all at once through the car wash. Only one car can go at a time in a line up. Three hrs at high light levels doesn't produce the same amount of photosynthesis that say 10 hrs at 45 to 50 % intensity would. You will stunt your calcification rates at 3 hrs and could mess up the color and the corals will have to turn to physical feeding to make up for the loss of light. Corals need a proper light cycle for husbandry needs. They have evolved for longer daylight hrs not a few at high levels of light. It will take them longer then three hrs to reach light saturation levels. Just my 2 cents.

 

[elagui]

I myself would turn it down to about 45 to 50 % and run it for 10 hrs and over the next few months ramp the intensity up. Just because you blast it for a few hrs at high light level doesn't mean the Zooxanthellae are getting enough time to photosynthesize and produce the byproducts for the corals to consume. at that time frame they will have just enough for themselves to survive. Zooxanthellae can only produce so much at one time and need a longer duration to properly complete the cycle. It is like trying to do 10 cars at a time all at once through the car wash. Only one car can go at a time in a line up. Three hrs at high light levels doesn't produce the same amount of photosynthesis that say 10 hrs at 45 to 50 % intensity would. You will stunt your calcification rates at 3 hrs and could mess up the color and the corals will have to turn to physical feeding to make up for the loss of light. Corals need a proper light cycle for husbandry needs. They have evolved for longer daylight hrs not a few at high levels of light. It will take them longer then three hrs to reach light saturation levels. Just my 2 cents.

Thanks for the info i will try that. It makes perfect sense what your saying. I dont want to bleach or burn my corals.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

a lux meter will guide you through the intensity changes by telling you exactly how intense the light is rather than guessing what 45% is. you can then adjust the ramp after acclimation to what the corals respond to.

edit: and if it goes well youll be able to slowly increase the intensity to full power (coral dependant) and get the most out of your light without going over dangerious levels. (80 to 100,000 lux in general) If your light only goes to 40,000 lux your pretty safe to ramp it all the way up for shallow water sps. and you could even add a light.

 

[mcarroll]

Instead of throwing around percentages, it would be awesome if you would get a light meter of some kind and tell us what's actual levels you are putting over your tank.

You can get a free [HASHTAG]#lux[/HASHTAG] [HASHTAG]#meter[/HASHTAG] [HASHTAG]#app[/HASHTAG] for your phone that uses the camera and is a great place to start. I would do that now.

A $15 handheld meter is a great investment, though you have to wait for it.

If you have a [HASHTAG]#PAR[/HASHTAG] meter, that will work too, but I wouldn't go out of my way to get one just for this. Not necessary, and very expensive.

100,000 lx equals direct [HASHTAG]#sunlight[/HASHTAG] at sea level. If you set your light so your tank is getting about 40,000 lx at the water surface your [HASHTAG]#corals[/HASHTAG] should do great. They would be fine as low as 20,000 lx or even lower. I have an [HASHTAG]#SPS[/HASHTAG] tank that I run at that level.

 

[mcarroll]

Haha!

 

[elagui]

Instead of throwing around percentages, it would be awesome if you would get a light meter of some kind and tell us what's actual levels you are putting over your tank.

You can get a free lux meter app for your phone that uses the camera and is a great place to start. I would do that now.

A $15 handheld meter is a great investment, though you have to wait for it.

If you have a PAR meter, that will work too, but I wouldn't go out of my way to get one just for this. Not necessary, and very expensive.

100,000 lx is direct sunlight at sea level. If you set your light so your tank is getting about 40,000 lx at the water surface your corals should be great. They would be fine as low as 20,000 lx or even lower. I have an SPS tank that I run at that level.

whats the name of the app i would definetly want to try this.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Haha!

jinx

 

[mcarroll]

There should be several to close from, just verify your results.

Galactica Luxmeter seems to be a good one on iPhone.

 

[WetWhistle]

That is why I mentioned something. If you up the intensity by 2% to 3% per week you will see no ill effects or like saltyfilmfolks mentioned a lux meter to measure. At 2% to 3% per week I have not seen issues when accumulating corals. After I have bumped the intensity up by 10% I like to let it sit for an extra week with no adjustments to allow things to adjust. Then continue on. If you are experienced and can confidently ID problems like bleaching or burning before it causes to much damage you can try 5% per week. On the day you bump it up just make sure to be around so you can visually take a look and see every few hrs. If you adjust and leave you could come home to dead corals.