I am currently running an ecotech radion xr30w on a 29 gallon mixed reef with a 10 gallon sump. The light is 9.5" above the water line and from the water line to the sand bed is 15". I also have installed the wide angle lenses for a wider spread. I am having issues with acros and some zoanthids dying. For instance I purchased a small frag of red planet acro and it was very vibrant green, in about a month it turned reddish which from what I read is common with this acro when getting too much light. It was never happy in my tank at all and very slowly died. It didn't bleach or anything, it just started to die from the outside edges on the base inward till it was gone. I am running my system ULNS. My calcium, alk, mag, nitrates, and phosphates are good so I am blaming my lack of acropora on my lighting intensity. I am currently running a lighting schedule that I got online from a very successful reef tank at 60% intensity. Does that intensity seem high for a tank that is only 15" deep? Unfortunately I do not have access to a par meter. Insight of what I may be doing wrong is greatly appreciated.
Radion xr30w gen 2 intensity help
- Thread starter M_norrick
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jasonandsarah
Sticks, sticks and more STICKS
With the information given I'd say there's nothing wrong with your lighting intensity. Especially with the wide angle lenses installed 60% should be a pretty good intensity for a 15" tank. Although I'd probably have the light closer to the water with the wide angle lenses. Maybe 7" and your red planet was getting the right light if it was turning red.
My tanks 20" deep and I'm running Gen 3 pro's with regular lenses at 75% and thinking about upping it this morning. I also have 2 54w T5's to help with spred.
What are your nutrients at and also what are your big 3, Cal, Alk and Mag? Do you have other corals in this tank? Specifically leathers.
My tanks 20" deep and I'm running Gen 3 pro's with regular lenses at 75% and thinking about upping it this morning. I also have 2 54w T5's to help with spred.
What are your nutrients at and also what are your big 3, Cal, Alk and Mag? Do you have other corals in this tank? Specifically leathers.
Thanks for the reply. My levels are as follows
Alk 9.8
Ca 450
Mag 1350
Nitrate .2 ppm
Nitrite 8 ppb
Phosphate .03ppm
I do not have any leathers in the tank. Lps are doing pretty good. Just an Aussie acro, and a couple montiporas aren't doing well. I also have zoa colonies that are thriving except for Rastas that are melting away.
Alk 9.8
Ca 450
Mag 1350
Nitrate .2 ppm
Nitrite 8 ppb
Phosphate .03ppm
I do not have any leathers in the tank. Lps are doing pretty good. Just an Aussie acro, and a couple montiporas aren't doing well. I also have zoa colonies that are thriving except for Rastas that are melting away.
jasonandsarah
Sticks, sticks and more STICKS
Alk is a little high for such low nutrients. I personally like to keep my Alk below 8.5 but that's the hough end for low nutrients imo. If you allow your No3 to go up you may have better success. Try to maintain them between 3-5 if you can. Po4 looks good.
All that said and I'm not positive that's your problem? Alk burn would normally be at the tips. But either way this could help. Also start with milli's, pocillopora and other more hardy sticks and see if you have success there first.
All that said and I'm not positive that's your problem? Alk burn would normally be at the tips. But either way this could help. Also start with milli's, pocillopora and other more hardy sticks and see if you have success there first.
Ok thank you very much for the info! That definitely helps for sure. I have actually attempted to bring my nitrates up a bit by adding a couple fish, feeding more, decrease of water change schedule, and also pruning the chaeto in the fuge. Can't seem to get it to budge. I have read of people adding nitrates to their system via dosing but am afraid I'll nuke my system with such a low water volume. I will try to get my hands on some more hardier livestock like you mentioned also. Gives me an excuse to buy more coral 
Fishphi784
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STN is often from alk swings. I would imagine that it may be even less tolerable in an ULNS system. In you opinion, is that a possibility?
SPS, did you ramp up the radions when you added the red planet? With shallow tanks it's not always as easy to place low and raise.
SPS, did you ramp up the radions when you added the red planet? With shallow tanks it's not always as easy to place low and raise.
Yes I guess that is definitely possible. I am in the process of adding a 180 gallon tank to this system. This should definitely help on chemistry stability. I am pretty stable now but I'm sure there is a slight swing with running a geo calcium reactor on such a low volume system. I did in fact acclimate the red planet to the radion using the acclimation program.
