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Sunset Monti..too much or too little light?

twiddledog

Non-member
I recentkly switched from MH 3 x 250 Radiums to LEDs. I am having some SPS issues and I am just trying to figure out if I have too much or too little light.

My Sunset Monti is looking like it may be getting too much light..or like I said..too little..it so hard to say.
3 Vegas since Dec 1..currently at under 50% on all colors. SOftys are doing great and some SPS is thriving as well..while others the tips are starting to bleach.
 

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My sunset monti is under AI Sols at 100% for 6 hours daily so I know the coral can take higher intensity eventually. It looks like it is darkening which I find most corals do under LEDs. There are no light pastel sps in my tank. All the colors are darker and more intense. You never know what a coral is going to look like (or turn into) when you bring it home and place it under your lights. Most times it's oohs and ahhhs, but once in a while it's yucko. Don't worry, that particular coral looks fab under LEDs. It will positively glow. Give it some time and as long as it's not bleaching I would slowly increase the intensity.
The most important thing about switching to LEDs is matching the intensity of the previous lighting and slowly increasing from there. When I switched, I took a lux meter and measured the intensity of my halides. When I mounted the Sols, I had to turn them down to 40% to match my old lighting. I spent the next 4-6 months slowly increasing the intensity and duration. Duration is just as important. Peak intensity was only 1 hour long at 40%. The next week I increased the peak intensity to 45%. The following week I increased the duration at peak for 15 minutes. I kept going this way for months all the while looking for signs of stress or bleaching. Eventually I got to where I ramp up daily to 100% for 6 hours. Hope that helps.
 
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