Such a thing as too much light?

feixjai · 04/28/2018, 06:33 PM

Hello RC,

I recently got back into the hobby with a 6 gallon pico and was considering different lighting options.

I came across some pretty good deals on older kessil a150s, which brings up my question:

Is there a such a thing as too much lighting for a tank?

I know about light acclimating corals, but once they're acclimated can I slowly increase the intensity to 100%?

Googlymoogly · 04/28/2018, 06:37 PM

yes you can have too much light... SPS like high par but there are lots of corals that dont like alot of light. So it depends on what coral you put in the tank.

Reef noob_ · 04/28/2018, 06:38 PM

I don’t remember where I saw it, but there was a test done to answer this exact question and above 400-500 PAR there is nearly no gain in growth or color as you increase lighting. I’d just run them pretty low.

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ramseynb · 04/28/2018, 06:40 PM

Not to mention, you're going to bleach SPS with PAR much higher than that most likely.

Bpb · 04/28/2018, 07:28 PM

Not all corals are the same, not all sps are the same. Some can tolerate much more than 500 par before photosaturation. You’re correct though. Most corals commonly kept can grow just as well under less light. I’ll just say this. It’s no coincidence that the fastest growing and largest colonies in the tank are the ones positioned the highest up

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feixjai · 04/28/2018, 08:28 PM

Thank you everyone for your responses!

My tank will most likely be softies with some rock flower nems or maxi minis.

I'll reconsider getting the a150 and look into the a80s

04/28/2018, 06:33 PM	#1
feixjai Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 64	Such a thing as too much light? Hello RC, I recently got back into the hobby with a 6 gallon pico and was considering different lighting options. I came across some pretty good deals on older kessil a150s, which brings up my question: Is there a such a thing as too much lighting for a tank? I know about light acclimating corals, but once they're acclimated can I slowly increase the intensity to 100%?

04/28/2018, 06:38 PM	#3
Reef noob_ Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: holmdel, NJ Posts: 555	I don’t remember where I saw it, but there was a test done to answer this exact question and above 400-500 PAR there is nearly no gain in growth or color as you increase lighting. I’d just run them pretty low. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ ________________________ New Build in progress http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2528685 90 gallon DT, 65 Gallon Fuge, Chinese LEDs, LPS and Soft coral reef

04/28/2018, 06:40 PM	#4
ramseynb Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: New Braunfels, TX Posts: 630	Not to mention, you're going to bleach SPS with PAR much higher than that most likely. __________________ How do you make an octopus laugh? Ten tickles!

04/28/2018, 06:37 PM	#2
Googlymoogly Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Posts: 69	yes you can have too much light... SPS like high par but there are lots of corals that dont like alot of light. So it depends on what coral you put in the tank.

04/28/2018, 07:28 PM	#5
Bpb Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 3,148	Not all corals are the same, not all sps are the same. Some can tolerate much more than 500 par before photosaturation. You’re correct though. Most corals commonly kept can grow just as well under less light. I’ll just say this. It’s no coincidence that the fastest growing and largest colonies in the tank are the ones positioned the highest up Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

04/28/2018, 08:28 PM	#6
feixjai Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 64	Thank you everyone for your responses! My tank will most likely be softies with some rock flower nems or maxi minis. I'll reconsider getting the a150 and look into the a80s