Lumen Bright lights...Do I have too much lighting? Help!!!

Bofa · 09/23/2008, 01:39 PM

my tank size is 4x2x30in tall

my lights are 400 Watt 12k Reeflux single ended bulbs

Coralvue electronic ballast

Large Lumen Bright reflectors 20in x 20in x 9 in

bulb is 16in from water

I have noticed with these lights my corals haven't been doing as well. My Caps and Montis need to be placed at the bottom of the tank or they start to turn white. Also I have noticed my corals not growing as well. I have notice some black burning at the tips of the sps. I have had these lights for a year and it seems like my 250 watts were doing a lot better....

Are Reeflux bulbs any good? Maybe it's the bulb? Should I use a 20k instead so it's less bright? Is 400watt too much for the tank??? Should I use my old system

My old system is an all in one 2 -250 watt double ended bulbs 10k with 4 56 watt pc lights and moon lights

....if possible I would like to make the 400watt light system I have now work.

Thanks for your help

reefsafe · 09/23/2008, 01:51 PM

Did you acclimate your corals to the new light with a reduced photo period?

TheReefKeeper · 09/23/2008, 01:55 PM

What kind of ballasts are you using? I had similar effects. I just posted this in the sps keepers forum. Read what I did and see the results. If you don't have dimmable ballests cut back photo period or move stuff down or do both.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1476809

reefsafe · 09/23/2008, 02:04 PM

also check out this thread

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...&pagenumber=28

JRaquatics · 09/23/2008, 02:53 PM

Why did you go with 400watters? You nearly doubled your light output if not more going with 400watter and upgrading the reflectors to Lumen Brights. What is your photo period? with your setup I would not run them any more than 6-7 hours. Are your ballast dimmable? I know many Reeflux 12k users including myself that are getting outstanding results in color and growth.

Bofa · 09/23/2008, 04:25 PM

My photo period is 6 hours.

2009 UL approved Coralvue electronic ballast

They are not dimmable

What should I do???

Bofa · 09/23/2008, 04:27 PM

On the other light system I have icecap 250 watt ballasts...should I use these on the lumen Bright or get 20k bulbs for the 400 watts?

scrapz · 09/23/2008, 04:34 PM

acclimate your corals, reduce your lighting period and ramp up each week. reeflux 12k are friggin par machines.
i just switched from 250 to 400, reduced photoperiod from 8hours to 4 hours. ramping up 15 mins every 2 days.

Bofa · 09/23/2008, 05:13 PM

I have been running the 400 watts for 10 months now....do I need to reduce the photo time... 6 hours is too much?

09/23/2008, 01:39 PM	#1
Bofa Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 215	Lumen Bright lights...Do I have too much lighting? Help!!! my tank size is 4x2x30in tall my lights are 400 Watt 12k Reeflux single ended bulbs Coralvue electronic ballast Large Lumen Bright reflectors 20in x 20in x 9 in bulb is 16in from water I have noticed with these lights my corals haven't been doing as well. My Caps and Montis need to be placed at the bottom of the tank or they start to turn white. Also I have noticed my corals not growing as well. I have notice some black burning at the tips of the sps. I have had these lights for a year and it seems like my 250 watts were doing a lot better.... Are Reeflux bulbs any good? Maybe it's the bulb? Should I use a 20k instead so it's less bright? Is 400watt too much for the tank??? Should I use my old system My old system is an all in one 2 -250 watt double ended bulbs 10k with 4 56 watt pc lights and moon lights ....if possible I would like to make the 400watt light system I have now work. Thanks for your help

09/23/2008, 01:51 PM	#2
reefsafe Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Arvada, CO Posts: 2,332	Did you acclimate your corals to the new light with a reduced photo period? __________________ Is there such thing as a big enough tank? Tank build: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1969509 Current Tank Info: 360 Gallon AGE tank, Radion lighting, mp60 pumps and lots of equipment

09/23/2008, 02:04 PM	#4
reefsafe Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Arvada, CO Posts: 2,332	also check out this thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...&pagenumber=28 __________________ Is there such thing as a big enough tank? Tank build: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1969509 Current Tank Info: 360 Gallon AGE tank, Radion lighting, mp60 pumps and lots of equipment

09/23/2008, 01:55 PM	#3
TheReefKeeper Aquaholic Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Somewhere Posts: 800	What kind of ballasts are you using? I had similar effects. I just posted this in the sps keepers forum. Read what I did and see the results. If you don't have dimmable ballests cut back photo period or move stuff down or do both. http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1476809

09/23/2008, 02:53 PM	#5
JRaquatics Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: On RC Posts: 3,609	Why did you go with 400watters? You nearly doubled your light output if not more going with 400watter and upgrading the reflectors to Lumen Brights. What is your photo period? with your setup I would not run them any more than 6-7 hours. Are your ballast dimmable? I know many Reeflux 12k users including myself that are getting outstanding results in color and growth.

09/23/2008, 04:25 PM	#6
Bofa Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 215	My photo period is 6 hours. 2009 UL approved Coralvue electronic ballast They are not dimmable What should I do???

09/23/2008, 04:27 PM	#7
Bofa Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 215	On the other light system I have icecap 250 watt ballasts...should I use these on the lumen Bright or get 20k bulbs for the 400 watts?

09/23/2008, 04:34 PM	#8
scrapz Saturation+100 Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 3,555	acclimate your corals, reduce your lighting period and ramp up each week. reeflux 12k are friggin par machines. i just switched from 250 to 400, reduced photoperiod from 8hours to 4 hours. ramping up 15 mins every 2 days.

09/23/2008, 05:13 PM	#9
Bofa Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 215	I have been running the 400 watts for 10 months now....do I need to reduce the photo time... 6 hours is too much?