MrX
Non-member
Hey All,
Now that my DT is setup and going well I'm starting to tweak the smaller details. I'd like to work on my lighting schedule and make sure I've got the intensity where it should be.
Here's the tank specs in a nutshell:
- 120g 4'x2'x2' (width/depth/height)
- Additional water volume: 100g stock tank sump with about 60g of water, and a 40g breeder, all tied together
- 2x Apollo Reef LED SolarBlast Dimmable fixtures (http://apolloreefled.com/shop/solarblast-dimable/)
- Corals: mix of everything, see my signature below
Right now I have my lighting schedule configured as:
00:00 - 04:00 : No lights
04:00 - 07:00 : Moonlights (two blue leds on each fixture)
07:00 - 11:00 : Sunrise (whites = ramp up over 4 hours from 10% to 40%, blues = ramp up over 4 hours from 10% to 30%)
11:00 - 16:00 : Mid-day (whites = 40% steady, blues = 30% steady)
16:00 - 20:00 : Sunset (whites = ramp down over 4 hours from 40% to 10%, blues = ramp down over 4 hours from 30% to 10%)
20:00 - 00:00 : Moonlights (two blue leds on each fixture)
Things seem to be okay with two exceptions that I'm aware of:
a) Super Red Acan Lord has lost some of the red and is more brownish now [it's at the bottom of the tank]
b) my German Blue Montipora Digitata had/is having issues (see my other thread: http://www.bostonreefers.org/forums...-my-German-Blue-Montipora-Digitata&highlight=)
My parameters are pretty consistent and within acceptable ranges (Alk might be a little low). Today's testing result:
Salinity: 1.0265
pH: 8.0-8.2 API / 8.04 Apex pH Probe
Ammonia: 0
Nitrites: 0
Nitrates: 0
Calcium: 460-480
Carbonate Hardness / Alkalinity: 6.7-7.0dKH / 2.39-2.50meq/L
Magnesium: 1410-1440
I'm on the list for the PAR meter but it's going to be a while yet.
I'm wondering:
- Is 40% white, 30% blue enough?
- Should I have whites brighter, dimmer, or equal to the blues?
- Am I over-doing it on the overall light schedule?
- Guidelines for placement of corals that I have? I know the basic rule of thumb is start at the sand and move up to acclimate. Other suggestions for the pieces I have?
- Anything else I'm not thinking about...?
As always, thanks in advance.
Now that my DT is setup and going well I'm starting to tweak the smaller details. I'd like to work on my lighting schedule and make sure I've got the intensity where it should be.
Here's the tank specs in a nutshell:
- 120g 4'x2'x2' (width/depth/height)
- Additional water volume: 100g stock tank sump with about 60g of water, and a 40g breeder, all tied together
- 2x Apollo Reef LED SolarBlast Dimmable fixtures (http://apolloreefled.com/shop/solarblast-dimable/)
- Corals: mix of everything, see my signature below
Right now I have my lighting schedule configured as:
00:00 - 04:00 : No lights
04:00 - 07:00 : Moonlights (two blue leds on each fixture)
07:00 - 11:00 : Sunrise (whites = ramp up over 4 hours from 10% to 40%, blues = ramp up over 4 hours from 10% to 30%)
11:00 - 16:00 : Mid-day (whites = 40% steady, blues = 30% steady)
16:00 - 20:00 : Sunset (whites = ramp down over 4 hours from 40% to 10%, blues = ramp down over 4 hours from 30% to 10%)
20:00 - 00:00 : Moonlights (two blue leds on each fixture)
Things seem to be okay with two exceptions that I'm aware of:
a) Super Red Acan Lord has lost some of the red and is more brownish now [it's at the bottom of the tank]
b) my German Blue Montipora Digitata had/is having issues (see my other thread: http://www.bostonreefers.org/forums...-my-German-Blue-Montipora-Digitata&highlight=)
My parameters are pretty consistent and within acceptable ranges (Alk might be a little low). Today's testing result:
Salinity: 1.0265
pH: 8.0-8.2 API / 8.04 Apex pH Probe
Ammonia: 0
Nitrites: 0
Nitrates: 0
Calcium: 460-480
Carbonate Hardness / Alkalinity: 6.7-7.0dKH / 2.39-2.50meq/L
Magnesium: 1410-1440
I'm on the list for the PAR meter but it's going to be a while yet.
I'm wondering:
- Is 40% white, 30% blue enough?
- Should I have whites brighter, dimmer, or equal to the blues?
- Am I over-doing it on the overall light schedule?
- Guidelines for placement of corals that I have? I know the basic rule of thumb is start at the sand and move up to acclimate. Other suggestions for the pieces I have?
- Anything else I'm not thinking about...?
As always, thanks in advance.
