Overkill for lighting, or just the right coverage?

[ForTheLoveOfCoral21]

I currently have 13.5 evo nano and have high end corals and SPS.

I currently have a AI prime 16 (newest prime) for light.

I feel like it doesn't have the BEST total coverage im looking for higher par even on the sides of the tank as its a coral heavy tank.

Would upgrading to the Hydra 32 be WAY over kill?

 

[Uncle99]

If your corals look great, I would not change any lighting.
This could lead to very unhappy corals, especially SPS.

Light increases can easily kill.

 

[ForTheLoveOfCoral21]

If your corals look great, I would not change any lighting.
This could lead to very unhappy corals, especially SPS.

Light increases can easily kill.

Great points here, and yes i know id have to do a slow acclimation.

So far the SPS look good with GREAT polyp extension , i have the light slightly tilted to the right side of the tank where most of the sps frags are.

It has only been a week since i started with 6 higher end frags, so during shipment they lost some color.

Your points all sense, i will give it 2-3 months and see where they are at then.

Thank you for the awesome response!

@Uncle99

 

[Uncle99]

Welcome.
Great polyp extension like you have is a clear indicator of happiness. A good place to be IMM.

It’s OK to push the edge of better as long as your fine if you lose a piece or two, that’s how we learn.

It’s seems sometimes, when I push the “edge of better”, the change resulted in something not as good, or, some untimely losses. How many times have I wished I left the DT alone?

As long as I use the correct spectrum, medium intensity, and a 9 hour photoperiod, 5 of which are at peak intensity, the corals seems to be able to work on each side of that.

When polyps are right out there, now I touch nothing. This “lack of doing something” can reap great benefits as well.

 

[welsher7]

Why not just add a second prime? It would allow you space the lights further apart than they are on the hydra32 , that would eliminate the center hotspot. Then you could mirror your current light schedule.

 

[ForTheLoveOfCoral21]

Why not just add a second prime? It would allow you space the lights further apart than they are on the hydra32 , that would eliminate the center hotspot. Then you could mirror your current light schedule.

How would i mount that ? Same way?

 

[welsher7]

I’m not sure how you have the first one mounted but maybe the 18’ neck would work or mount from the ceiling or hang from a shelf/bracket over the tank. Post picture of the tank and I’m sure we could help.