Black Box LED settings

Jason82 · 09/16/2019, 04:54 PM

I’m curious what light settings everyone is having success with if you are using Chinese Black Box LED’s. I added a GSP (first coral) to new tank 8 days ago. It still has not opened up. I’m worried that possibly I’m running these lights too bright.

My set up is WiFi and uses the aquarium light app. So the white and blue channel are set up in values from 0 - 255.

The lights ramp up and down throughout the day with the brightest setting at white = 100, blue = 200 and night blue at 255 (moon light). So whites are running at 39%, blues are running at 78%, and moon light is at 100%.

I know there are a number of you using these lights. Looking forward to you answers.

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Kmiller035 · 09/16/2019, 04:57 PM

I use the presets for the seasons on mine. Have you tried those yet?

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Jason82 · 09/16/2019, 04:59 PM

I looked at them, but have not used them.

Kmiller035 · 09/16/2019, 05:00 PM

Left mine on the spring setting and grew sps, lps, everything.

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Jason82 · 09/16/2019, 05:03 PM

I just played with them again. They are not bad, but I was looking for more control and the ability to mimic the sun from morning too evening.

Kmiller035 · 09/16/2019, 05:04 PM

I ran a custom setting for a while too. Never went over 200 in whites. Had 3 fixtures over 180 gallons

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Jason82 · 09/16/2019, 05:05 PM

Tank looks good. thanks for sharing your photo. Gives me hope!

mcgyvr · 09/16/2019, 05:30 PM

Id suggest holding off on corals for a bit...looks like your tank is brand new and not even through the ugly stages yet.....

As to your lights with the height that you have them your settings are probably fine...maybe a bright by a bit..

Jason82 · 09/16/2019, 05:37 PM

Yes, I'm just now starting to grow some Coraline. Added the Icecap 3k yesterday. As you can see, I started to get some hair algae started. It is receding at the moment. The GSP was a small $10 frag. Any idea, why it will not open up?

mcgyvr · 09/16/2019, 05:40 PM

It is not uncommon for corals to take some time to adapt to a new tank..

What are your water parameters?

Jason82 · 09/16/2019, 05:48 PM

Salinity - 1.027
PH - 8
Temp - 77
Mag - 1500
Alkalinity - 9 dkH
Calcium - 340 (Ive been using Instant ocean, so every time I do a water change, I loose here. Just replaced it with Reef Crystals so this should come up)
Phosphate - 0
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 0 (I'm testing 0, but thee green algae makes me thing there some)

Kmiller035 · 09/16/2019, 06:51 PM

I had a gsp mat that grew and covered a rock over the course of 3 or 4 months but I never saw it open. Weirdest thing and then all of a sudden it started opening nice and long strands. My parameters were consistent. Have no idea what caused it.

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Jason82 · 09/16/2019, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kmiller035

I had a gsp mat that grew and covered a rock over the course of 3 or 4 months but I never saw it open. Weirdest thing and then all of a sudden it started opening nice and long strands. My parameters were consistent. Have no idea what caused it.

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wow! Okay, I guess I'll quit worrying about it.

Thornbreaker · 09/17/2019, 07:36 PM

I run my Mars aquas about 8" from surface water, with blues at about 45%. Whites are no more than 15% when on. Torch and blasto are pretty happy. Both are on low rocks in the tank. Added a maze coral couple weeks ago and it seems to be happy too.

I've kept the lights that low because just about every time I go higher or leave whites on too much I get algae blooms.

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Kmiller035 · 09/17/2019, 07:40 PM

Find a local fish group and see if they have a PAR meter that they lend around. Quick and easy way to measure the light in all corners and depths.

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Jason82 · 09/17/2019, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thornbreaker

I run my Mars aquas about 8" from surface water, with blues at about 45%. Whites are no more than 15% when on. Torch and blasto are pretty happy. Both are on low rocks in the tank. Added a maze coral couple weeks ago and it seems to be happy too.

I've kept the lights that low because just about every time I go higher or leave whites on too much I get algae blooms.

Sent from my SM-G965U1 using Tapatalk

This is good information and matches a LFS who is also running them. I think he actually runs the whites down to 10%. Thank you.

Uncle99 · 09/19/2019, 12:22 PM

Blues channel 100%
White 20%

Set em, and never touch again unless corals look PO

Jason82 · 09/23/2019, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle99

Blues channel 100%

White 20%

Set em, and never touch again unless corals look PO

Thanks. This is what I was looking for.

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09/16/2019, 04:54 PM	#1
Jason82 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 48	Black Box LED settings I’m curious what light settings everyone is having success with if you are using Chinese Black Box LED’s. I added a GSP (first coral) to new tank 8 days ago. It still has not opened up. I’m worried that possibly I’m running these lights too bright. My set up is WiFi and uses the aquarium light app. So the white and blue channel are set up in values from 0 - 255. The lights ramp up and down throughout the day with the brightest setting at white = 100, blue = 200 and night blue at 255 (moon light). So whites are running at 39%, blues are running at 78%, and moon light is at 100%. I know there are a number of you using these lights. Looking forward to you answers. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

09/16/2019, 05:30 PM	#8
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Id suggest holding off on corals for a bit...looks like your tank is brand new and not even through the ugly stages yet..... As to your lights with the height that you have them your settings are probably fine...maybe a bright by a bit.. __________________ Who me?

09/16/2019, 05:40 PM	#10
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	It is not uncommon for corals to take some time to adapt to a new tank.. What are your water parameters? __________________ Who me?

09/17/2019, 07:36 PM	#14
Thornbreaker Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Posts: 334	I run my Mars aquas about 8" from surface water, with blues at about 45%. Whites are no more than 15% when on. Torch and blasto are pretty happy. Both are on low rocks in the tank. Added a maze coral couple weeks ago and it seems to be happy too. I've kept the lights that low because just about every time I go higher or leave whites on too much I get algae blooms. Sent from my SM-G965U1 using Tapatalk __________________ SC Aquariums - 150 Gallon 5'x2'x2'; Trigger Elite 36 Sump; Mars Aqua Lights 150 lbs reefcleaner rock, SCA 302 Skimmer Current Stock: Foxface lo, 2 clowns, royal gramma, 2 spot bristletooth tang, fir

09/16/2019, 04:57 PM	#2
Kmiller035 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 36	I use the presets for the seasons on mine. Have you tried those yet? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

09/16/2019, 04:59 PM	#3
Jason82 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 48	I looked at them, but have not used them.

09/16/2019, 05:00 PM	#4
Kmiller035 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 36	Left mine on the spring setting and grew sps, lps, everything. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

09/16/2019, 05:03 PM	#5
Jason82 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 48	I just played with them again. They are not bad, but I was looking for more control and the ability to mimic the sun from morning too evening.

09/16/2019, 05:04 PM	#6
Kmiller035 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 36	I ran a custom setting for a while too. Never went over 200 in whites. Had 3 fixtures over 180 gallons Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

09/16/2019, 05:05 PM	#7
Jason82 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 48	Tank looks good. thanks for sharing your photo. Gives me hope!

09/16/2019, 05:37 PM	#9
Jason82 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 48	Yes, I'm just now starting to grow some Coraline. Added the Icecap 3k yesterday. As you can see, I started to get some hair algae started. It is receding at the moment. The GSP was a small $10 frag. Any idea, why it will not open up?

09/16/2019, 05:48 PM	#11
Jason82 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 48	Salinity - 1.027 PH - 8 Temp - 77 Mag - 1500 Alkalinity - 9 dkH Calcium - 340 (Ive been using Instant ocean, so every time I do a water change, I loose here. Just replaced it with Reef Crystals so this should come up) Phosphate - 0 Ammonia - 0 Nitrite - 0 Nitrate - 0 (I'm testing 0, but thee green algae makes me thing there some)

09/16/2019, 06:51 PM	#12
Kmiller035 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 36	I had a gsp mat that grew and covered a rock over the course of 3 or 4 months but I never saw it open. Weirdest thing and then all of a sudden it started opening nice and long strands. My parameters were consistent. Have no idea what caused it. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

09/17/2019, 07:40 PM	#15
Kmiller035 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 36	Find a local fish group and see if they have a PAR meter that they lend around. Quick and easy way to measure the light in all corners and depths. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

09/19/2019, 12:22 PM	#17
Uncle99 Crab Free Zone Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,906	Blues channel 100% White 20% Set em, and never touch again unless corals look PO