Share AP700 Kessil Lighting schedule
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minus9
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I've always used a 12hr lighting cycle for all of my Kessil's. 8am to 8pm. I ramp up from 0 to 74% for 3hrs, then I have a mid day point 3hrs later @ 76%, back down to 74%, then a 3hr ramp down to 0%. This is my current schedule for my 2 AP700's, but I use the 12hr cycle (with different %) for the 160's I had over my 22g and the a80 over my QT.
Color usually follows the ramp schedule starting at 0% then 30% to 35% (holds this setting for the peak period of 6hrs for the 160's & a80) then back to 0%. The color for my 700's starts at the 1st blue setting, then goes to half way of the 2nd and 3rd blue setting for the 6hr peak, then back to the 1st blue setting.
I use the mid day point as a way to increase lighting intensity slowly. I usually bump up the mid point 2%, wait a week or two, then bump up the points before and after the mid day to match. This gives the coral even more time to adjust to changes. You could easily change the whole peak time at once with no problem, but this is what I've been doing for the past 4 years and it works for me. I run T5's with my 700's, which only run during the peak times. I'm in the process of replacing the T5's with the Orphek OR2 bars (blue plus), which I've added to the front of my tank. Although they are a deeper blue than the T5's, I'm going to run the 700's at the 3rd or 4th blue setting when they're all installed.
Btw, I would start your lights a little lower, 40% to 50% to start, depending on what lighting you had before? Either way, it's better to start lower and slowly ramp up, then to start to high and burn everything. Corals can live a lot longer under lower light, so you'll have time to adjust, just go slowly. Also, a par meter will help.
One more thing, I use the slight diffusion lenses on my 700's, only to minimize the hot spots. If I could raise the lights higher, then I wouldn't use them. Currently my lights are 9" to 10" from the water. Hope this helps?
Color usually follows the ramp schedule starting at 0% then 30% to 35% (holds this setting for the peak period of 6hrs for the 160's & a80) then back to 0%. The color for my 700's starts at the 1st blue setting, then goes to half way of the 2nd and 3rd blue setting for the 6hr peak, then back to the 1st blue setting.
I use the mid day point as a way to increase lighting intensity slowly. I usually bump up the mid point 2%, wait a week or two, then bump up the points before and after the mid day to match. This gives the coral even more time to adjust to changes. You could easily change the whole peak time at once with no problem, but this is what I've been doing for the past 4 years and it works for me. I run T5's with my 700's, which only run during the peak times. I'm in the process of replacing the T5's with the Orphek OR2 bars (blue plus), which I've added to the front of my tank. Although they are a deeper blue than the T5's, I'm going to run the 700's at the 3rd or 4th blue setting when they're all installed.
Btw, I would start your lights a little lower, 40% to 50% to start, depending on what lighting you had before? Either way, it's better to start lower and slowly ramp up, then to start to high and burn everything. Corals can live a lot longer under lower light, so you'll have time to adjust, just go slowly. Also, a par meter will help.
One more thing, I use the slight diffusion lenses on my 700's, only to minimize the hot spots. If I could raise the lights higher, then I wouldn't use them. Currently my lights are 9" to 10" from the water. Hope this helps?
minus9
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I don't use the red and green. I tried using it, but only 8% or so and didn't really like it and didn't see the benefit. If you wanted to use it to bring out some pinks and reds a little, you might like it, but I didn't see much improvement with my corals.
