How do you tell if SPS is getting too much or not enough light?

[twiddledog]

I recentlky switched to LEDs and I am acclimatiin but I am noticing a difference in my Montipora which is becoming dull looking and my SPS which are getting white tips. I think the White tips maybe something different from a lighting issue which I will post seperately.

 

[Dalesreef]

What are you running for leds when I switched last year I burt a lot of my sps and I only had my leds at 35 present id dim them down and only go up a little bit a week

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[twiddledog]

I am running AI Vegas I started with a 70% reduction beginning of December and now down to 40% reduction. I kept my T5s from previous setup that included Radiums so currently runing the T5s and LEDs

 

[Dalesreef]

I have Ai sol blues and I changed out the
degree lenses the ones that come with the lights aim almost straight down and any sps that it right below will get burnt
Howhigh do you have the lights above the tank?
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[Privateer]

I'd be interested so see an answer to the title question as well. I have one SPS (superman digi) that does not seem to be doing very well and am wondering if it's not getting enough light. I just don't know what the symptoms are for lack of light (or too much light). The wierd thing is that my one other SPS (monti cap) seems to be doing just fine and they are right next to each other.

 

[pesto]

I have my AI Sol Superblues 12" above the water surface. I started them at 35% intensity and raised them 5% to 10% per week for 14 weeks. They are now at 97% intensity at their most bright. I have never had any issue with loss of color, burnt or damaged corals. My original lights were 8 bulb T5's. This is all about patience and timing. Too quick with intensity = damaged/burnt corals.

I have an Excel based program I developed that I can share with you. PM me your email address if you want to use it.

 

[twiddledog]

My units are 5 inches above water line per AI support. I have 3 on a 6'x2'x2' tank plus 4 T5 bulbs.

 

[stingythingy45]

Check your water temp. just in case.
LEDs will will throw a lot less heat then halides.

 

[twiddledog]

Water temp is a steady 78.

 

[Dalesreef]

My ai sol blues are 10 " above the water and my tank is 34" tall if you sps is close to the top of the water id say there getting to much light ( burning) you should raise the lights up or lower the coral

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[jamesdong009]

I don't have experience with LEDs but your issues also sound like it could be alkalinity swings.

 

[pesto]

I am sure that is too low. You should ask Justin at AI again. Your light spread is too narrow at that height. I have three on a 90 gallon.

My units are 5 inches above water line per AI support. I have 3 on a 6'x2'x2' tank plus 4 T5 bulbs.

 

[twiddledog]

I spoke to AI..they said the vegas have lenses and optimum height is 4 - 5 inches from water and you will get a 24" spread.

 

[Ellabug]

White tips are often a sign of growth, not bleaching, as is a white ring around monti's. The dulling in color of your monti is likley related to a change in the lighting spectrum from your old set up to your new lights. What ratio of white to blue do you have running on your Vegas, at what percent, and for how long each day? What are your other parameters (nitrate, phosphate, alk, calc, mag, pH, salinity)?

 

[dz6t]

Can you post a photo of the "white tips" of SPS?

 

[twiddledog]

A little history..I switched from MH\T5 to LED\T5 beginning of December. Before that September- October I was fighting a algae\dino problem with hydrogen peroxide dosing and elevated alk. Things looked a lot better after dosing and dinos are gone.
What I am noticing now is some tips of SPS are getting algae on most SPS pictured.
The Blue Acro pictured tips are white with no algae since LEDs.
The green monti which looked incredible is now wasting away with algae growing as the color recedes which stated before the LEDs.
My red monti is beginning to loose color.
Softies, frogspawn and hammer flourishing.


PH has always been high avg 8.4- 8.6 since I started tank (moved from 72gal) beginning of May.
Phosphates - .02
Nitrate - 10
Nitrite .5
Alk 9.8
Calc 420

Current light settings all blues are about 80% and white on 60% at peak but on 50% acclimation schedule, peak from 11 - 9 then dim. T5s are on 11 - 8.