Turning up the lights

[mermster]

Just thought I’d bounce this idea of any willing to reply here.

I’ve got a 32” SB reef light that I’ve been running (10%W 40%B) for some time now over a mixed reef. Seeing great growth from my LPS, but very slow growth from my SPS up higher in the tank. Finally got a PAR meter into the tank, and the numbers were low (shocking at 10/40 I know...).

Did some playing last night and decided I wanted to go to 30%W 60%B to get more of the par values that the sps need.

My question is, how long should this change occur over to avoid bleaching? I’m thinking going up 5% on both channels every 2 weeks until I hit my target, but I’m just wandering if that’s being overly cautious.

Any input is appreciated, and thanks for reading!

 

[Crabs McJones]

Just thought I’d bounce this idea of any willing to reply here.

I’ve got a 32” SB reef light that I’ve been running (10%W 40%B) for some time now over a mixed reef. Seeing great growth from my LPS, but very slow growth from my SPS up higher in the tank. Finally got a PAR meter into the tank, and the numbers were low (shocking at 10/40 I know...).

Did some playing last night and decided I wanted to go to 30%W 60%B to get more of the par values that the sps need.

My question is, how long should this change occur over to avoid bleaching? I’m thinking going up 5% on both channels every 2 weeks until I hit my target, but I’m just wandering if that’s being overly cautious.

Any input is appreciated, and thanks for reading!

@saltyfilmfolks this is your area of expertise!!

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

@saltyfilmfolks this is your area of expertise!!

Thanks Crabs!

I’d bump it up 50 par a week.

What I do for ease, is to find the hot spot at the top of the tank. And add the addition par there till you get you’re number.
That’s a pretty small par jump, so it won’t take long.


Fwiw, I just bumped my SB in my 55g 150 par in one day.
But I am also a loon.

 

[themcfreak]

I have been slowly increasing PAR on my current build for a couple of months now by 1% a week on my Radion Pro. I think it is a bit slow, but I didn't want to risk it (Currently getting roughly 200 PAR at bottom of tank and if I get it to 250ish PAR, that means that near the top of the rock my PAR will end up at 380 in 1 spot, but average around 250-300 everywhere else. (and that 1 spot doesn't have any coral or anything, just a hot spot of light)

 

[mermster]

Thanks for the input guys! I’ll get the par meter out next Thursday and bump it up 50 at the top. That’s only about a month long project then [emoji3]