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Lighting

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by jstngates, Jun 5, 2012.

  1. Jun 5, 2012 #1
    jstngates Toledo Iowa

    jstngates Experienced Reefkeeper

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    Ok guys I set my tank up almost 4 years ago with just a coralife pc and ran it for about a year.  Everything that I had grew great!!  I then went to t5 for about a yr and a half and my softies and monti cap grew like crazy.  After that I went with the coralife mh 150 with hamleton bulbs.  That was ok but more color I think.  So 3 months ago I switched to AI Leds blue and was very hesitant on this.  From day one just had a bad feeling.  I also switched to ro water.  Slowing my hard corals went downhill and bleached.  Cant say I had it set too highonly about 50 percent.  Last week I had lost about half my corals and my acans are loosing color so I uped the lighting to 100 percent and everything has stayed the same.  Tonight I switched back to mh to test my theory on leds not working and will give it about a week.  The whole time my green acro never opened up with the leds.  My zoas never expanded so guess I need to try something.  Anyone have suggestions?  All my perameters have been in line the whole time.
     
  2. Jun 5, 2012 #2
    erayk1 Coralville, IA

    erayk1 Well-Known ReefKeeper Board of Directors Leadership Team GIRS Member

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    I would not blame the LEDs. I have had mine for over a year with nothing but growth and more growth. I would test everything else again...
     
  3. Jun 6, 2012 #3
    Andy The Reef Guy

    Andy The Reef Guy Inactive User

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    yeah I love my LED's no problems here. I've found that a lot of people have seemed to have this problem, particularly with the AI fixtures. I don't know if its user error or if there's just something about the wavelegnth and combination of LED's they use. Elliot and I both have used DIY LED set ups and we both have seen major improvements in colors and great growth. Did you start out your LED switch with reduced intensity? Keep them dimmed around 40-50 percent for no more than a 12 hour day cycle for at least a month I would recommend. Even now, after 3 months of LED's on my tank I'm only running my blue channels at 80% and my white channels at 60%. You should also see about borrowing one of the PAR meters and adjust things accordingly, had you previously taken par readings on your PC's/T5's/or MH's? at 100% on my LED's 96 of them all together on my 120 2:1 Blue:white I'm getting 1100-1200 PAR just beneath the surface of the water! Those are INSANE numbers, my 250watt MH's only put out about 600 PAR beneath the surface.
     
  4. Jun 6, 2012 #4
    jstngates Toledo Iowa

    jstngates Experienced Reefkeeper

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    yeah i started at 40-50 for 2 months and now increased them wih no results. My alk is in check. Calcium is in check. 0 nitrates right now. Supplement strotium and iodine too. All is the same as before except ro water.
     
  5. Jun 6, 2012 #5
    Andy The Reef Guy

    Andy The Reef Guy Inactive User

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    Have you checked the PAR comparatively? that would be a good place to start i think
     
  6. Jun 6, 2012 #6
    mthomp

    mthomp Inactive User

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    Its really weird because based on what you are telling us none of it make sense. Have you checked the tds of your rodi water? Also as Andy said check the PAR. A those lights give out much more light then you think and from the sounds of it too much light really seems like your issue. I will say that since my switch to AI lights from 2 150 watt MH my coral have never seemed better. I am getting more growth and great color.

    A good example of how string they are is the mapping of my tanks par. http://www.greateriowareefsociety.org/Community/DiscussionForums/tabid/78/aft/27220/Default.aspx

    This was taken while the lights were at their max intensity which I only have them set at for 3 hours out of their 9 hour cycle.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 26, 2015
  7. Jun 6, 2012 #7
    Andy The Reef Guy

    Andy The Reef Guy Inactive User

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    Mh's 2x250 20k
    [​IMG]
    LED's @ 100%
    [​IMG]
     
  8. Jun 6, 2012 #8
    Brandon9400

    Brandon9400

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    I have good results with my AI's as well, good luck tracking the issue down. this may be a dumb question but what is that black thing in the top right, some kind of algae scraper?
     
  9. Jun 6, 2012 #9
    mthomp

    mthomp Inactive User

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    http://www.ivsportal.com/
     
  10. Jun 6, 2012 #10
    jstngates Toledo Iowa

    jstngates Experienced Reefkeeper

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    Ok then if its not the lights is it the ro unit? As I said I switched to ro at the same time. I bought the unit used and it was 6 months old but with new everything. I live out in the country and when I used tap water all was good.
     
  11. Jun 7, 2012 #11
    mthomp

    mthomp Inactive User

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    Have you checked the tds
     
  12. Jun 7, 2012 #12
    mthomp

    mthomp Inactive User

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    And before you rule out lights get a par reading
     

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