SPS LED Schedule Growth

SkipperTheSohalTang · Sep 11, 2014

If like to know what best brings out the color and grows. I have a Maxspect R4ZER Nano 60w over my tank. At first I had a lot of blues and a little white and the color was great, not I have a little more blue than white and I've got more growth. how can I balance that? What are your schedules for LEDs and most importantly for a Maxspect fixture? Thanks

jpines · Sep 11, 2014

I've been running a maxspect razor--27" version--for the past 4 months. I run 50% White and 80% blues for most of the day, ~7 hours, and then an additional 3 hour period of 85% blues. There's also a 1-2hr ramp up and down period between....this is by no means perfect, but I've seen some good growth and coloration with my SPS over the last month on this schedule. If I didn't have so much lps/softies I'd probably run my white a little higher, but I like the color I get with these levels and I'm happy with the growth.
Exact schedule is:
White Blue
0930 0% 1%
1030 0% 1%
1230 50% 80%
1900 50% 80%
2000 0% 85%
2300 0% 0%

Triggreef · Sep 11, 2014

I also run nearly that same ratio, but my ramping is not as drastic. My main blast is 5 hrs at 90 percent blues & 60 percent whites. On both sides of that I just cut each percentage in half until it's nothing. I also took a long time to get up to those higher percentage without burning any corals. Now my new corals I have to start at the bottom.

jpines · Sep 11, 2014

Triggreef said:
I also took a long time to get up to those higher percentage without burning any corals. Now my new corals I have to start at the bottom.

Same here

StaySalty · Sep 12, 2014

Triggreef said:
I also run nearly that same ratio, but my ramping is not as drastic. My main blast is 5 hrs at 90 percent blues & 60 percent whites. On both sides of that I just cut each percentage in half until it's nothing. I also took a long time to get up to those higher percentage without burning any corals. Now my new corals I have to start at the bottom.

jpines said:
I've been running a maxspect razor--27" version--for the past 4 months. I run 50% White and 80% blues for most of the day, ~7 hours, and then an additional 3 hour period of 85% blues. There's also a 1-2hr ramp up and down period between....this is by no means perfect, but I've seen some good growth and coloration with my SPS over the last month on this schedule. If I didn't have so much lps/softies I'd probably run my white a little higher, but I like the color I get with these levels and I'm happy with the growth.
Exact schedule is:
White Blue
0930 0% 1%
1030 0% 1%
1230 50% 80%
1900 50% 80%
2000 0% 85%
2300 0% 0%

How far off the water surface and what size tanks are u guys running them on? Also r u guys using the 90 or 120 degree optics?

jpines · Sep 12, 2014

I'm running the standard tank mount that comes with the light..I'd guess about 10" above the water on a 24" deep tank. I'm using the standard optics

ritter6788 · Sep 12, 2014

I have the Maxpect razor 160w, 120 degree optics hung 12" over a 40 gallon breeder. I don't keep many softies or lps but the few I have look good under that light also. I've changed the intensity and and photoperiod but so far I'm happy with this set up. Water stability has been my biggest problem in this frag tank. Now that it's more stable I'm getting good growth and color from this light.

10am 0, 0
11am 0, 100
12am 100, 100
6pm 100, 100
8pm 0, 100
10pm 0,0

rdevoe11 · Sep 12, 2014

ritter6788 said:
I have the Maxpect razor 160w, 120 degree optics hung 12" over a 40 gallon breeder. I don't keep many softies or lps but the few I have look good under that light also. I've changed the intensity and and photoperiod but so far I'm happy with this set up. Water stability has been my biggest problem in this frag tank. Now that it's more stable I'm getting good growth and color from this light.

10am 0, 0
11am 0, 100
12am 100, 100
6pm 100, 100
8pm 0, 100
10pm 0,0

I'm running the exact same setup with the 160w, 120 degree optics, 12" over a 40 breeder. I keep a fair number of lps and zoas but i also have 4 bubble tips and a small collection of sps.

t1 - 0 w 1 b
t2 - 0 w 90 b
t3 - 30 w 90 b
t4 - 30 w 90 b
t5 - 0 w 90 b
t6 - 0 w 1 b

I also have the light on a digital timer to shut off completely for 3 hours at night. Still working up to 100 b and maybe 50 w

cdness · Sep 12, 2014

120 degree optics, 120W Apollo Solar Blast LEDs I run the following ramps according to my APEX:

[ ActLED_I1 ] ( base_Var1 )
Program Type: Advanced
Display Icon: Up/Down Arrows
Program:
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Time 10:00 to 12:00 Then ASunrise
If Time 12:00 to 20:00 Then AMidDay
If Time 20:00 to 22:00 Then ASun
Set
If FeedD 000 Then AMidDay
If Temp > 82.0 Then OFF

[ WhtLED_I2 ] ( base_Var2 )
Program Type: Advanced
Display Icon: Left/Right Arrows
Program:
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Time 14:00 to 16:00 Then DSunrise
If Time 16:00 to 17:00 Then DMidDay
If Time 17:00 to 19:00 Then DSun
Set
If FeedD 000 Then DMidDay
If Temp > 82.0 Then OFF

PROFILES
[ ASunrise ] ( PF1 )
Type: Ramp
Ramp Time: 120
Start Intensity: 0
End Intensity: 75
[ AMidDay ] ( PF2 )
Type: Ramp
Ramp Time: 0
Start Intensity: 75
End Intensity: 75
[ ASunSet ] ( PF3 )
Type: Ramp
Ramp Time: 120
Start Intensity: 75
End Intensity: 0
[ DSunrise ] ( PF4 )
Type: Ramp
Ramp Time: 120
Start Intensity: 0
End Intensity: 35
[ DMidDay ] ( PF5 )
Type: Ramp
Ramp Time: 0
Start Intensity: 35
End Intensity: 35
[ DSunSet ] ( PF6 )
Type: Ramp
Ramp Time: 120
Start Intensity: 35
End Intensity: 0

So basically:
Blue:
10:00 to 12:00 = 0% - 70%
12:00 to 20:00 = 70% hold
20:00 to 22:00 = 70% - 0%

White:
14:00 to 16:00 = 0% - 35%
16:00 to 17:00 = 35% Hold
17:00 to 19:00 = 35% - 0%

I decreased the whites a bit as they really overpower the blues. Also I have been regaining lots of the color I was losing at higher percentages.

Just for an added spectrum fill, I am adding 2 60" T-5HO GE 6500 lamps to be powered for about 1 - 2 hours during the daylight midday time. This will give them the growth spectrum needed and let the LEDs handle the color.Some of the nicest tanks I have ever seen in person run these lamps for part of the day. I figured it can't hurt to try them.