Think I'm having a problem with my LEDs being too bright as I can only raise them about 3" from the water surface. I have them turned down all the way with two layers of screen under them. Before I put the screen some of my corals were starting to turn white I'm guessing from burning. Checked my water and everything seems perfect as far as ammonia- alk. Only thing I can think of is its my lights. Anyone with experience with t5 lamps any info would be appreciated like fixtures bulbs I've read online it's so hard when you don't know what your looking for lol any opinions good bad pls post em.
Thinking of going from leds to t5
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ReefTankRebel
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Make the switch I think you will be happy. ATI make great bulbs and you can find ton of info on bulb combo's on here
sawdonkey
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I think it would be helpful if you posted some details on your system. What LEDs are you running. When you say "turned all the way down," do you mean that they are dimmable and you are running them at 1%? I don't see how this could be too bright?
Tell us more about the Corals turning white. Just the tips, or the whole pieces? All at once or gradually?
Tell us all of your parameters. The issue may very well be your lights, but you may be jumping the gun before figuring out what your problem really is.
Tell us more about the Corals turning white. Just the tips, or the whole pieces? All at once or gradually?
Tell us all of your parameters. The issue may very well be your lights, but you may be jumping the gun before figuring out what your problem really is.
I have the 2 arctic s026 full spectrum on a 120g the highest I can lift them is about 3" from the surface of the water. These are dim able and they are turned as low as they can go. I have one tricolor just turned completely white and a butternut gynopora think that's how u spell it turning white from the top, and there's a shadow on one side of it seems to be holding color. Also had a rusty pink Mille green Mille Stn from the bottom, And they were on the bottom of the tank when this happened. Also had a clam just die I should of put him in a shady area wasn't thinking. Tank has been cycled for roughly a month now.
Temp 81
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 5-10
Alk 9.2
Cal 425
Mag 1440
Temp 81
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 5-10
Alk 9.2
Cal 425
Mag 1440
glb
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I think the age of your tank needs to be taken into account too. It's very new, and new tanks can be unstable. I'd wait a bit on adding coral until you know exactly what the problem is. Good luck!!
bfam4t6
Active Member
I'd recommend switching. T5s offer unbeatable colors, for most all corals.
If you have the dough, go ATI. I have an ATI fixture over one of my tanks, and I love it. Wouldn't trade it for anything, except maybe a newer ATI.
If you can't afford their fixtures, which are quite steep, you try searching for a used one, like I was lucky enoug to come across, or build a retrofit setup. If I remember right, IceCap ballasts are what most people recommend for retrofit fixtures.
Whatever you do, only buy GERMAN BULBS!
ATI brand is my #1 choice, Geissman is my #2. You don't need a #3.
If you have the dough, go ATI. I have an ATI fixture over one of my tanks, and I love it. Wouldn't trade it for anything, except maybe a newer ATI.
If you can't afford their fixtures, which are quite steep, you try searching for a used one, like I was lucky enoug to come across, or build a retrofit setup. If I remember right, IceCap ballasts are what most people recommend for retrofit fixtures.
Whatever you do, only buy GERMAN BULBS!
ATI brand is my #1 choice, Geissman is my #2. You don't need a #3.
ReeferDre
Active Member
I'm with glb I don't think there is anything more important then allowing a tank to mature. It has to find an equilibrium. How did you start the tank? Did you use live rock or dry rock?live sand? Before you go throw money at it and Chang your lighting let the tank mature start with more forgiving corals. Take it slow
d2mini
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As much as I like mh and t5 over led, we're not getting some key pieces of information here. Something is not right.
How old is your tank? You're talking about sps, and not the easiest of sps, which need a mature, stable tank.
I don't understand how a dimmable fixture could be too bright.
Size of tank?
And if these can only be 3" over the water, what do you think you are going to do with a t5 fixture, which also puts out a ton of light? Why only 3"?
Pics and more info needed.
How old is your tank? You're talking about sps, and not the easiest of sps, which need a mature, stable tank.
I don't understand how a dimmable fixture could be too bright.
Size of tank?
And if these can only be 3" over the water, what do you think you are going to do with a t5 fixture, which also puts out a ton of light? Why only 3"?
Pics and more info needed.
What I think the problem is it's too close meaning that the light is more focused in one area to give an example of what I'm talking about if you put a flashlight close to the floor the beam is a tight circle but as you back up from the floor the light gets dispersed over a wider area lowering the intensity. Most people I see with these types of LEDs mount their fixtures much higher than what I can 8-12" off the water. I do realize that my tank is very young and will be unstable also. I really like these fixtures they seem well built very quiet, but I think they will cause me problems in the long run. I will most likely go with the ati dimmable fixture. It's really pricy but you really get what you pay for in this hobby.
NicksMixedReef
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Anything 3 inches from the surface will probably burn the heck out of your corals. Also, keeping an electronic device that close to water especially salt is not a good idea. I'd rethink the setup if I was you
I should of posted a pic before lol but here it is I have about a foot of clearance above my tank. Under the lights I have dirty glass and some plastic screen material I found at Walmart it's helping disperse the light more, but I don't really want to have that up there. I really like these, and for the price I paid they def put out the light, but I really think that is way too close for these things. I mean I can see the red and green light from the red and green leds on the rock I don't think your suppose to see the colors like that I would think your only suppose to see white.
sawdonkey
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My scenario is very similar to yours. You could easily find a new way to hand those from your canopy. I drilled angle iron and C Channel and used the existing bolts in the fixtures.
You could easily get six more inches. Here's what I did:
You could easily get six more inches. Here's what I did:
ReeferDre
Active Member
It looks just fine. There's no way a light dimmed all the way down on a tank that size or or any size would bleach a coral on the sandbed. Even if the light was an inch away from the surface. I don't want to sound mean but you could put a million dollar light over your rank right know and have the same problem. Your tank is not mature enough for SPS. Sorry but that's the honest truth. It looks like you started with dry rock which means you're biological filtration is lacking at the moment. I'm not saying you did anything wrong but you have to allow it to mature. In my opinion good live rock is the most important part of your filtration. If your problems is your lighting your corals would be bleaching(turning white). Not shedding their tissue and dying. Throwing new lighting over the tank or this or that will not stabilize your tank. Allow you system to stabilize wait for coralline algae to start growing before you try SPS again.
My scenario is very similar to yours. You could easily find a new way to hand those from your canopy. I drilled angle iron and C Channel and used the existing bolts in the fixtures.
You could easily get six more inches. Here's what I did:
Yeah I thought about that too, but my ceiling joists are off center. Making it a little tricky. I prob could get another 6" out of it, but not sure if it would be enough.
