Radion Photoperiod question

Sdoutreefer · Mar 4, 2014

My Radions come on at 8:00am with deep blues at 15% ramping up with more white every hour or so and peak at 1:30pm, 14k spectrum (I added some red and a little blue) at 75%. They stay at the peak until 5:00pm and start ramping down into 20k. Finally at 10:00pm deep blues come on at 25% ramping down to zero (lights out) at 11:00pm. My tank is a 40 breeder and lights are hung at the suggested height in the instructions book.

So here's my question/problem:
Are my lights on for too long? Are they too bright for such a shallow/small tank? I'm fighting with a pretty nasty GHA and am starting to think the lighting could be some of the problem..
My tank is SPS dominant with zoas, a single chalice, 2 clams and a RBTA.

I'm also interested in other people's lighting schedules on SPS tanks, especially tanks with the same depth of a 40 breeder.

DSP · Mar 4, 2014

Following along

AJsTank · Mar 4, 2014

I'm getting really good growth with what I'm doing here. If you notice, mine come on at 7:15 and shut off at 11:00 pm, but the ramping up and down is low. I'm hitting it at 75% at 10k for 3 hours to give the corals the growth and then ramping down with 14k and 20k for color. My SPS frags have all doubled in about 60 days.

Sdoutreefer · Mar 7, 2014

Ok thanks maybe I'll give it a try.

Anyone else?

mfinn · Mar 7, 2014

IDK about the light being the cause of the algae, but almost 15 hours of light on it can only help grow it.
I'd cut back a few hours on either end.

Sdoutreefer · Mar 7, 2014

mfinn said:
IDK about the light being the cause of the algae, but almost 15 hours of light on it can only help grow it.
I'd cut back a few hours on either end.

Ya its not the cause. There's obviously another problem. Was asking if cutting back the time would help getting rid of it...

KoleTang · Mar 7, 2014

What is your P04 and N03?
Filtration?

I'd cut back on the light, lower nutrients, and raise the Mg with Kent Tech M to loosen up the algae.

mfinn · Mar 7, 2014

KoleTang said:
and raise the Mg with Kent Tech M to loosen up the algae.

Kent Tech M is good for battling bryopsis. Haven't anything concerning hair algae.

Sdoutreefer · Mar 7, 2014

KoleTang said:
What is your P04 and N03?
Filtration?

I'd cut back on the light, lower nutrients, and raise the Mg with Kent Tech M to loosen up the algae.

Both untraceable. Although untraceable, I know No3 and Po4 are my problems, and am currently trying to get rid of them, dosing Red Sea NoPox. Filtration is fine as well. I'm just curious if my photoperiod is too long and cutting back will help the process of trying to rid of the GHA. Tech M is only good with byropsis, FYI.

KoleTang · Mar 7, 2014

mfinn said:
Kent Tech M is good for battling bryopsis. Haven't anything concerning hair algae.

Sdoutreefer said:
Both untraceable. Although untraceable, I know No3 and Po4 are my problems, and am currently trying to get rid of them, dosing Red Sea NoPox. Filtration is fine as well. I'm just curious if my photoperiod is too long and cutting back will help the process of trying to rid of the GHA. Tech M is only good with byropsis, FYI.

It does in fact work with GHA. I've used it first hand. The algae gets more pale and is easier to pull off the rocks.

DSP · Mar 7, 2014

mfinn said:
Kent Tech M is good for battling bryopsis. Haven't anything concerning hair algae.

+1 good for bryopsis

mfinn · Mar 7, 2014

KoleTang said:
It does in fact work with GHA. I've used it first hand. The algae gets more pale and is easier to pull off the rocks.

Good to know. Hope I never have to use it.

mfinn · Mar 7, 2014

Sdoutreefer said:
I'm just curious if my photoperiod is too long and cutting back will help the process of trying to rid of the GHA.

Can't see where it would hurt. You do have a long light schedule.

P3FE · Mar 7, 2014

I dont know what kind og Radions you have over your tank but I'll give you my stats so you can have another reference. I have a 60g cube 24x24x24 SPS dominant with a single Ragion G2 hanging 8" above water level. I have them running 12 hours a day with a moon cycle at the end of the day.Here is the schedule:
11:00-Blue 25%
12:30-All Blues 35%
14:00-20k 70%
15:30-14k 70%
18:30-20k 70%
20:00- All Blues 35%
21:30- Blue 25%
23:00- Off, Start Moonlight

Its simple schedule that has gave me good growth and it works for me. At the pick of the cycle I get 800 par at the water surface, around 375 middle of the tank and around 180 at the sand bed. I hope this can help you out.

Sdoutreefer · Mar 7, 2014

P3FE said:
I dont know what kind og Radions you have over your tank but I'll give you my stats so you can have another reference. I have a 60g cube 24x24x24 SPS dominant with a single Ragion G2 hanging 8" above water level. I have them running 12 hours a day with a moon cycle at the end of the day.Here is the schedule:
11:00-Blue 25%
12:30-All Blues 35%
14:00-20k 70%
15:30-14k 70%
18:30-20k 70%
20:00- All Blues 35%
21:30- Blue 25%
23:00- Off, Start Moonlight

Its simple schedule that has gave me good growth and it works for me. At the pick of the cycle I get 800 par at the water surface, around 375 middle of the tank and around 180 at the sand bed. I hope this can help you out.

Perfect! This is what I wanted. Pretty close dimensions, only 12" depth difference. I'm gonna have to give it a try. When does your moonlight turn off and what percentage does it run?

P3FE · Mar 7, 2014

Sdoutreefer said:
Perfect! This is what I wanted. Pretty close dimensions, only 12" depth difference. I'm gonna have to give it a try. When does your moonlight turn off and what percentage does it run?

They run for two hours at 3%