Reefbreeder...especially value fixture users please help.

JammyBirch · 01/31/2015, 04:52 PM

I have a red cap that is now pink...it just happened a week ago. I had a salinity upset while I was out of town and a significant temp drop. All is now corrected. Cap is still pink.

I chatted with my fish store about it, the first question was what light. I told them led, I got some info suggesting that the white spectrum is not quite right yet in LEDs, I didn't mention the brand or anything. They also asked me if I have green hair pop up in pods once in a while which I do, right now in fact.

Can the Reefbreeder peeps weigh in here? I love the light and need to figure out how to battle some of this stuff. I know there are those that have had and having great success.

What are your thoughts?

MYDRAAL · 01/31/2015, 05:01 PM

Cap just started to bleach some a week ago, when there was issues with tank stability while you were away? Do I understand that right? If so, it may just take more time for your cap to color back up.

JammyBirch · 01/31/2015, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MYDRAAL

Cap just started to bleach some a week ago, when there was issues with tank stability while you were away? Do I understand that right? If so, it may just take more time for your cap to color back up.

Yes, I'm just checking all possibilities. From what I know caps are very hardy and can take some intense light. All other corals are doing great just this one is the problem child.

I'm thinking about running blues only for a few days or cutting the white light time in half, maybe just 3 hours a day. I want to see some recovery here.

ca1ore · 01/31/2015, 06:55 PM

I certainly have been able to keep SPS under the RB lights (for almost 2 years, now). Is the light new to your tank, or have you had it for a while? If the latter, then it may just be the recent issues that are to blame and you need to give it some time. If it is new, then perhaps you need to run the fixture at lower setting for a while.

Early LED fixture just offering white and blue LEDs were problematic, but the RB is a full spectrum light.

Mr_I_Dare_You · 01/31/2015, 06:57 PM

I have the ReefBreeders Photon 24 and a red Monti that I have never had issues with. I would assume that it will bounce back in a few days. How close to the water is the light fixture. If its only a few inches off the water you could try raising it up to get a better color blending. The degree of the LED may play a part as well. Do you know which degree LED your light has?

Rybren · 01/31/2015, 07:37 PM

As ca1ore mentioned. If the lights are new, you have to ramp them up slowly. I have 2x RB type fixtures over my 75G that are replacing a 4-bulb ATI Sunpower. After a month and a half over my tank, the whites/red/green are only at 30% and the Blue/RB/UV are at 60%. The blue channel is on from 11 to 11 and the whites from 2 to 9.

All of my corals are doing great.

scubaprashant · 01/31/2015, 07:53 PM

Give it a few months. It'll come back. As long as you see some polyp extension and it isn't totally white, it'll live. I wouldn't worry about the lights.

JammyBirch · 02/01/2015, 06:54 AM

The light is not new it's the only light I've ever had, it's about 6 months on the tank. The height is 8" off of the water, and the cap is 10" below the surface. Still have polyps all over it.

I run the blues from 8-8, whites 10-6. The blues are at 25%, the whites are at the lowest setting.

I've been target feeding my brain, candy and zoos...phytoplankton. Could that effect the cap? I don't see how it could, some feed the cap also.

Rybren · 02/01/2015, 07:18 AM

I'd try slowly ramping up the light; say 5% per week on each channel until you're at least 50% on the blues. Your current settings of 25% and 10% seem awfully low to me.

I don't think that feeding is the issue - unless you're feeding too much and the water parameters are getting out of whack.

dkeller_nc · 02/01/2015, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JammyBirch

The light is not new it's the only light I've ever had, it's about 6 months on the tank.

If this is the case, and the cap is also not new (i.e., has been in the tank for months), the lighting is unlikely to be the issue. Having said that, it's not at all uncommon for corals that have been maintained under full-spectrum metal halides or fluorescents to color shift under LED light over a few week's time.

There's been a lot of speculation as to why that's the case, most of which centers around the "wavelength gaps" typical of limited-spectrum LED lighting. An attempt to mitigate this issue is why one sees 7 or more frequencies of LED emitters in higher-end fixtures such as Radions or Hydra 52s.

JammyBirch · 02/01/2015, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkeller_nc

If this is the case, and the cap is also not new (i.e., has been in the tank for months), the lighting is unlikely to be the issue. Having said that, it's not at all uncommon for corals that have been maintained under full-spectrum metal halides or fluorescents to color shift under LED light over a few week's time.

There's been a lot of speculation as to why that's the case, most of which centers around the "wavelength gaps" typical of limited-spectrum LED lighting. An attempt to mitigate this issue is why one sees 7 or more frequencies of LED emitters in higher-end fixtures such as Radions or Hydra 52s.

The cap has been in my tank for over a month, but the LFS uses T5 lights only. Maybe that is the difference? The weird thing is it faded in a matter of a few days, after being perfectly fine in my tank for a few weeks.

JammyBirch · 02/02/2015, 04:48 PM

Little update...I think it looks noticeably better today. The little polyps are out and all over the top and bottom. Finger.s crossed, I'll be keeping a close eye on it.

01/31/2015, 04:52 PM	#1
JammyBirch Aquaria Engineering Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Elkland, PA Posts: 1,182	Reefbreeder...especially value fixture users please help. I have a red cap that is now pink...it just happened a week ago. I had a salinity upset while I was out of town and a significant temp drop. All is now corrected. Cap is still pink. I chatted with my fish store about it, the first question was what light. I told them led, I got some info suggesting that the white spectrum is not quite right yet in LEDs, I didn't mention the brand or anything. They also asked me if I have green hair pop up in pods once in a while which I do, right now in fact. Can the Reefbreeder peeps weigh in here? I love the light and need to figure out how to battle some of this stuff. I know there are those that have had and having great success. What are your thoughts? __________________ 25g cube, split 10g sump with refugium, Jebao RW4, reefbreeder value Livestock adds: Osc Clowns, Royal Gramma, Pygmy Cherub Angel, Skunk Cleaner Shrimp, Serpent Brittle Star Current Tank Info: 25 gallon cube

01/31/2015, 06:55 PM	#4
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	I certainly have been able to keep SPS under the RB lights (for almost 2 years, now). Is the light new to your tank, or have you had it for a while? If the latter, then it may just be the recent issues that are to blame and you need to give it some time. If it is new, then perhaps you need to run the fixture at lower setting for a while. Early LED fixture just offering white and blue LEDs were problematic, but the RB is a full spectrum light. __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

01/31/2015, 07:37 PM	#6
Rybren Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 1,642	As ca1ore mentioned. If the lights are new, you have to ramp them up slowly. I have 2x RB type fixtures over my 75G that are replacing a 4-bulb ATI Sunpower. After a month and a half over my tank, the whites/red/green are only at 30% and the Blue/RB/UV are at 60%. The blue channel is on from 11 to 11 and the whites from 2 to 9. All of my corals are doing great. __________________ 120G Mixed Reef, 28G AIO zoa/pipefish tank

02/01/2015, 06:54 AM	#8
JammyBirch Aquaria Engineering Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Elkland, PA Posts: 1,182	The light is not new it's the only light I've ever had, it's about 6 months on the tank. The height is 8" off of the water, and the cap is 10" below the surface. Still have polyps all over it. I run the blues from 8-8, whites 10-6. The blues are at 25%, the whites are at the lowest setting. I've been target feeding my brain, candy and zoos...phytoplankton. Could that effect the cap? I don't see how it could, some feed the cap also. __________________ 25g cube, split 10g sump with refugium, Jebao RW4, reefbreeder value Livestock adds: Osc Clowns, Royal Gramma, Pygmy Cherub Angel, Skunk Cleaner Shrimp, Serpent Brittle Star Current Tank Info: 25 gallon cube

02/01/2015, 07:18 AM	#9
Rybren Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 1,642	I'd try slowly ramping up the light; say 5% per week on each channel until you're at least 50% on the blues. Your current settings of 25% and 10% seem awfully low to me. I don't think that feeding is the issue - unless you're feeding too much and the water parameters are getting out of whack. __________________ 120G Mixed Reef, 28G AIO zoa/pipefish tank

01/31/2015, 05:01 PM	#2
MYDRAAL Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: FWB Posts: 396	Cap just started to bleach some a week ago, when there was issues with tank stability while you were away? Do I understand that right? If so, it may just take more time for your cap to color back up.

01/31/2015, 06:57 PM	#5
Mr_I_Dare_You Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 55	I have the ReefBreeders Photon 24 and a red Monti that I have never had issues with. I would assume that it will bounce back in a few days. How close to the water is the light fixture. If its only a few inches off the water you could try raising it up to get a better color blending. The degree of the LED may play a part as well. Do you know which degree LED your light has?

01/31/2015, 07:53 PM	#7
scubaprashant Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 211	Give it a few months. It'll come back. As long as you see some polyp extension and it isn't totally white, it'll live. I wouldn't worry about the lights.

02/02/2015, 04:48 PM	#12
JammyBirch Aquaria Engineering Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Elkland, PA Posts: 1,182	Little update...I think it looks noticeably better today. The little polyps are out and all over the top and bottom. Finger.s crossed, I'll be keeping a close eye on it. __________________ 25g cube, split 10g sump with refugium, Jebao RW4, reefbreeder value Livestock adds: Osc Clowns, Royal Gramma, Pygmy Cherub Angel, Skunk Cleaner Shrimp, Serpent Brittle Star Current Tank Info: 25 gallon cube