LED??

[MizTanks]

I use 2x Blue @460nm for my Lunars. 3hrs from 5pm till 8pm. What if any effect will these have on my corals?

I have an 8hr schedule with Whites @20%max and Blues@30%max by 1pm then ramp down and off at 5pm.

I don't wanna over do it :)

[Tom@HaslettMI]

I think it will mostly depend on the intensity they are being driven. But even if you were running them 100% at 1000mA and you wouldn't be over doing it... IMHO.

Tom

[MizTanks]

They ramp down from 20% I only use them cause I like the look :) Really I'd like to leave them on longer.

[Poseidon]

I doubt those have any real effect except for to your eye.

As for your mains, I would start ramping those up a bit. I was at 70% Blue 40% White for most of the day.

[Pete Polyp]

I have found that giving the tank some total darkness at night promotes feeding response. I use to leave my moonlights on all night, and now I have them completely turn off at midnight. The room gets quite a bit of ambient sunlight, but the main lights don't come on until 10am. I have noticed a slight increase in growth that I chalk up to the increased feeding with total darkness.

[MizTanks]

Poseidon I'm just afraid of burning my corals :) The unit is only 11 1/2" from the surface & 25" from the SB. Which is where everything is sitting ATM.

But I'll increase the intensity a bit :)

[MizTanks]

Either the unit or I are going out the window :( I'm still struggling with finding the proper mix. I cannot figure out if it is the B or W that is causing this brown dusting on my SB & back wall. Or if it even is a light issue at all.
Still cannot get color out of my Birds Nest. To much of what light would cause my red/green Favia & Candy Cane to have a dull washed out look? Which doesn't last as intensity changes-ugh!
I'm really missing the simplicity of my old T5's <sigh>

[Tom@HaslettMI]

I suspect the algae is not being caused by the LEDs. It is more likely either water quality (could be a lack of a trace element or high nutrients) low flow, or lack of biodiversity. I probably sound like a broken record... but I think by starting your reef with dry rock and sand you don't have the necessary ingredients for a diverse and balanced reef.

A reef, in nature or a glass box, is about life. Individuals and species competing for resources. Without diversity those complex interactions don't happen and the few species present will dominate. I would recommend adding a couple pounds of cured but "full of life" live rock. That will seed the tank and with time become balanced.

Tom

Tom

[MizTanks]

I added 2lbs of LR to my fuge. Not enough, or wrong place?

[robandrosco]

Im with Tom on this one. Adding biodiversity in a reef is NEVER a bad thing. You could always ask a fellow reefer for a big cup of sand and trade a couple pieces of rock to him/her.

[pjr]

What LEDs are you using?

[MizTanks]

Reef Radiance LumenTek Pro 180
10231

[binford4000]

I also agree that getting the nitrifying cycle going is critical. I was looking at your bulb lay out. They sure put a lot of whites in the array. I also do not use the moon lights. I don't think there's any benifit in running them but for the reefers enjoyment. Total darkness is needed for coral to feed.if you look at your corals after they've been in the dark for a while you will see the feelers and polyps are out. We feed our tank 1/2 hour before lights out. The algae can be several things at one time. Nitrifying cycle,bio diversity,light cycle and or water quality. I would start with killing the moon light. Light is light and a blackout period will help slow algae growth. I would also increase my water change volume and use bio digest or micro bacteria 7 and feed the bacteria with a carbon source. Like vodka or my favorite bio fuel from britewellaquatic . How much coralline are you getting after the 19 weeks ? Coralline is a good indicator of the health of your water column

[MizTanks]

My tank is totally blacked out from 9pm to 9am. Lunars are for my enjoyment mainly, gives me a chance to watch my Conch cruze around :)
I agree with there being to many whites, but what can I do but keep them turned down? So far, I have 0 coralline growth :( I was thinking about this today actually. It is now 5 months old! I had big time coralline growth at this stage in my 26g.
Tom-I did use 80# of live sand plus dosed an entire bottle of BioPronto Marine by TLF.
But this brown dusting crap on my SB has me stumped. It was getting better then about the same time I dosed Reef Roids it came back with a vengeance!

It costs me $10.00 a pound for LR at the LFS.