Too much or too little light?

mv123 · 09/27/2014, 06:42 AM

hi all,

I have a 90 gallon newish reef that is lit by 24 Cree-XPe LEds, 12 are blue and 12 white. I am currently running these all at 50%, and my RBTA, frogspawn, and Bubble coral all seem to be doing well. I would like to add some SPS to the tank soon, but I am having a hard time figuring out what to do with the lights. Should I start ramping up the intensity?

The lights are about 2.5 inches from the water surface, and 20 inches from the gravel. There is a glass water shield over them.

I don't have access to a par meter, so I really don't know how much actual light is getting down to the rocks. I am worried about burning my corals if I crank up the lighting, but on the other hand don't want them to struggle.

Any suggestions from Cree LEd users with SPs tanks?

Thanks!

saltyair · 09/27/2014, 06:56 AM

First 2.5 inches from the water is to close - should be 6 to 12 inches off the water, it will give you a better spread of light.
How stable are your alk, cal and mag?

mv123 · 09/27/2014, 07:16 AM

Height over the tank is not really subject to change because the lights are in an Elos Aquatop which sits on the tank top and has glass lids on the front and back. Great because it keeps my wrasses from jumping to the floor, but maybe not ideal for lighting.

Water parameters are fine and stable. I have lots of experience with SPS in previous tanks, but those were all running either Metal Halide or VHOs (I know, VHOs, I'm dating myself!)

thanks

mv123 · 09/27/2014, 05:37 PM

Bump, any led owners have any thoughts?

mv123 · 09/28/2014, 09:08 PM

Bump again...anyone? :-(

scubadan206 · 10/01/2014, 11:07 AM

I have seen Radion users bump up to 100%. Radion's use Cree LED's. Again, most or all would be set at 8 inch plus height. LED's have a laser beam like effect at too close a distance. The light NEEDS to be dispersed. [Kessil does this well.] You would probably burn out the very close corals, and starve out the lower corals at the same time. That's one of the secrets of using LED's IMO.
Find a way to elevate them, and you can probably acclimate your corals to any intensity you want to run.

Daniel.

09/27/2014, 06:42 AM	#1
mv123 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 88	Too much or too little light? hi all, I have a 90 gallon newish reef that is lit by 24 Cree-XPe LEds, 12 are blue and 12 white. I am currently running these all at 50%, and my RBTA, frogspawn, and Bubble coral all seem to be doing well. I would like to add some SPS to the tank soon, but I am having a hard time figuring out what to do with the lights. Should I start ramping up the intensity? The lights are about 2.5 inches from the water surface, and 20 inches from the gravel. There is a glass water shield over them. I don't have access to a par meter, so I really don't know how much actual light is getting down to the rocks. I am worried about burning my corals if I crank up the lighting, but on the other hand don't want them to struggle. Any suggestions from Cree LEd users with SPs tanks? Thanks!

09/27/2014, 06:56 AM	#2
saltyair Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Ontario canada Posts: 871	First 2.5 inches from the water is to close - should be 6 to 12 inches off the water, it will give you a better spread of light. How stable are your alk, cal and mag? __________________ Johnny you know what to do, you know what to do. Bye for now - Eric the actor R.I.P Current Tank Info: 180 gal

09/27/2014, 07:16 AM	#3
mv123 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 88	Height over the tank is not really subject to change because the lights are in an Elos Aquatop which sits on the tank top and has glass lids on the front and back. Great because it keeps my wrasses from jumping to the floor, but maybe not ideal for lighting. Water parameters are fine and stable. I have lots of experience with SPS in previous tanks, but those were all running either Metal Halide or VHOs (I know, VHOs, I'm dating myself!) thanks

09/27/2014, 05:37 PM	#4
mv123 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 88	Bump, any led owners have any thoughts?

09/28/2014, 09:08 PM	#5
mv123 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 88	Bump again...anyone? :-(

10/01/2014, 11:07 AM	#6
scubadan206 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Kenosha WI Posts: 985	I have seen Radion users bump up to 100%. Radion's use Cree LED's. Again, most or all would be set at 8 inch plus height. LED's have a laser beam like effect at too close a distance. The light NEEDS to be dispersed. [Kessil does this well.] You would probably burn out the very close corals, and starve out the lower corals at the same time. That's one of the secrets of using LED's IMO. Find a way to elevate them, and you can probably acclimate your corals to any intensity you want to run. Daniel.