LED light coral issue

[hueyq]

I just put up a 29 gallon tank 30"18"12" and cree XPG led 9 white 12 blue. Somehow none of my coral showing any sign of life and even the hardy mushroom like it use to. Im not using the lens on the led, and place the coral and mushrooms 12" to 6" from the light with glass cover in between, the light about 4" apart white/blue mix. Can some one tell me what i did wrong.

[WillBattle]

What do the corals look light? What types of light did you have on before you switched to the LED's? If you could post a pic it could be helpful!

[hueyq]

Same light setting with less led on a 14g nano like tank I have some polyps green mushroom and white pulsing xiena. Do I need to use the lens? It is not much distance where I place the coral now from the light

[hueyq]

I'll try send some pic tomorow

[jimsflies]

My guess is they are getting too much light. A lens will make it more intense right under the led because it focuses the light, so don't do that. Do you have a dimmer on your setup? If you don't have a dimmer, can you turn off the blues (or whites) so that only half of the leds are on?

Is the lighting the only change, or did you move to a new tank?

[Tom@HaslettMI]

If you just set up the tank are you sure it's the lighting? If it was "just put up" it may be cycling or the corals simply still be settling into their new spots. It's also possible that one of the water parameters are off (salinity, temp, ect.)? Along with the pics please post some more details on water quality and how long the new tank is up and running.

Tom

[hueyq]

I got several pic but dont know how to load the img. still figuring it out

[jimsflies]

I got several pic but dont know how to load the img. still figuring it out

Here are a couple threads that will hopefully help:

http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/site-issues-feedback/posting-photos-captive-reefs-using-photobucket-tool-17586/

http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/site-issues-feedback/uploading-photos-your-smart-phone-19234/

[binford4000]

It might be best to lower the coral to the bottom of the tank to allow it to acclimate to the leds's.it's a good idea regardless of what light your using to place corals in a low spot and let them acclimate to the new home.did you allow this tank to cycle before adding livestock?

[hueyq]

I just went to a couple pet store and ask them any oppions, they all sound like it's most probable cause is the water itself. I just have the tank setup over a week then transfer all the livestock and coral over. Havent have time to test the water at the store yet but I'll take binford instruction and start at lower level like 12" from the light without the led lens. Thnks for everyone inputs, but another question about the led. Anyone have a good idea what's the best setting for the 30g reef tank with 9white, 12 blue,XPG no lens. How far should the coral be from the light, the mushroom, and the xenia.

---------- Post added at 05:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:26 PM ----------

and how long should i have the light on for the coral.

[hueyq]

led pictures

[binford4000]

Best method to set your lights would be with apar meter

[hueyq]

What's apar meter

[WillBattle]

He ment a par meter, it is used to measure the strength of your lights at different depths of your tank. However, with this tank being a week old, it quite likely has to do with that

I would test for Ammonia / nitrites / nitrates and see where you are at on those, you might be going through a cycle from when you transfered everything from the 14 gal biocube to this tank.

[hueyq]

I'll do that this weekend with sometime off. But
What is the cost effective way without the par meter
Like eyeball or guess estimate. Or from your experience with led

[WillBattle]

Honestly the corals you are talking about ( zoas xenia mushrooms) really don't require high amounts of light, so unless its getting too much light, which from the picture it doesn't look like it ( too me at least ) I would look elsewhere for the problem, I do not think it is the lights

Sent from my PH44100 using Tapatalk

[hueyq]

I know it's the water for now but I never have luck with led since switching to it over a year ago. It s not bloommy like normal reef tank

[Tropical Buff]

Sounds like a combination of both water first and foremost. Keep in mind that LEDS are far more intense it takes less lighting I would do what Binford suggested and raise the lighting and give it some time

[jimsflies]

I think once you take care of your water quality you will see your corals get happy again. I've got a similar diy led fixture on my tank and have been running it since last summer. I keep softies and they are jamming under LEDs. I would never go back to halides now. Check out my tank here (http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/members-reefs/7390-jimsflies-invert-ranch-post142335.html#post142335). I run the blues at 70% and the whites at 30%. The light is about a foot off the water surface.