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12/14/2018, 09:50 AM | #1 |
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90 gallon Light upgrade
Hello I wanted to see if I could get some suggestion on lighting for my 90 gallon tank. I currently have 2 chines LED boxes and my corals aren't getting the growth I would like. I'm thinking of getting two Kessil A160WE lights for my tank.
I have a canopy that the lights will be mounted to from the top. would these light work for me ? I have a mixture of corals. Thanks |
12/14/2018, 02:07 PM | #2 |
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I would argue that the trend with point-source/puck style LEDs is to try to make the light more diffuse to eliminate hot spots directly under the pucks, even out the light and reduce shadowing. Ecotech has pretty clearly been going in this direction. If I were you, I would be concerned that it would be difficult to get nice even lighting with two Kessils. One of the advantages of the black box setups you already have is that the light is more diffuse, although perhaps not as well blended as it would be putting multiple colored LEDs in a puck.
Assuming light is the source of your growth issues, I'd try to put some retrofit t-5s in your hood rather than swapping out your black boxes for Kessils. But, others may disagree. Matt |
12/17/2018, 10:12 AM | #3 |
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mattgumer what color T5 bulbs should I try?
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12/17/2018, 11:01 AM | #4 |
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Chinese black box LEDs have been shown to be able to grow corals just fine..
Maybe your lack of growth is because of other reasons (low nutrient levels maybe). Just saying.. What are your nitrate and phosphate readings? What are your alk/mag/cal readings?
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12/17/2018, 04:04 PM | #5 |
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I run two ATI coral plus and two blue plus on my 180 with some Ecotech Radions turned pretty far down.
Lighting with LEDs can be a guessing game without a par meter. While there are some reasonably 'tried and true' numbers for t-5 and metal halide, it's often tough to guesstimate your par in various areas with LEDs because there are so many kinds and they're so adjustable. If possible, borrow a par meter. Matt |
12/17/2018, 11:54 PM | #6 |
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I would look into ecotech and aqua illuminations lighting
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12/18/2018, 07:22 AM | #7 |
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Led Chinese box .?
I'm know someone knows where these Chinese black box led lights are discussed?
I need one or more for my 120 short tank? Intermediate corals Thanks |
12/18/2018, 08:27 AM | #8 | |
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Quote:
Your sentences didn't make any sense..
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12/18/2018, 02:53 PM | #9 | |
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Quote:
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Natural Reefer Current Tank Info: 600 gallon Carribean Reef System, ETSS Protein Skimmer, 1.5HP Tradewinds Chiller, Reef Breeders Photon V2+ LED Lighting For The Refugium, Mitra LX7206 LED Lights For Display Tank |
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12/19/2018, 01:36 AM | #10 |
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For a 90g tank id get this fixture. Rhey also have ones eith duel switchs if youre one of those people that like to habe half the lights turn off.
And for 4 bulbs id get two sti blue plus and a coral plus and one purple plus. I found this gives a nice bluish pinkish hue and allows you to see fish colors better but also allow coral still glow. Mine grow pretty good with this https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06Y26NSR9...ing=UTF8&psc=1 |
12/19/2018, 09:30 AM | #11 |
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My zooans, Mushrooms, and Blastos are doing ok , My Candy canes are hanging on. My Green Birds Nest, Red Planet, purple digi, tri color corals all slowly died. I moved them around in the tank to see if the light was burning them. I just ordered a Apex PAR meter and will be running some test.
Thanks for the reply Tank Parameters - 10% water change every 2 wks - Temp: 76.5 - pH 7.9-8.1 - Salt 35 - Alk: 7-8 - Cal: 450 - Mag: 1350 - Ammonia: 0 - Nitrite: 0 - Nitrate: 0 - Phosphate: 0 Dosing ALK,CAL, MAG, Iodnie, Fuel, |
12/19/2018, 09:58 AM | #12 |
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Your nitrate and phosphate should not be zero. Try dosing dosing phyto and other concentrated, zooplankton type refrigerated supplements on a daily basis. You should see a big difference in coloring up within two weeks
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12/19/2018, 02:05 PM | #13 | |
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Alk of 7 is at the very low end of acceptable in my opinion, particularly for acros/sps. I think you'd be fine at 7 but, would likely see adverse effects at anything lower. Stability is also key. I might try to shoot for 8.0 and keep the range between something like 7.8-8.2. Some run much higher to try to accelerate growth. I think a par meter is a great investment. I would definitely test in multiple areas and multiple tank levels. I had 3 Ecotech Radions over a standard 180 and bought an Apogee par meter. I was shocked at how different the lighting levels were in different areas of the tank despite appearing to have similar lighting levels to the naked eye. This is what led me to add first two, then ultimately, four t-5s to my setup. In my setup, I had limited room to raise my lights higher above the tank. One way to even out LEDs is to hang them higher. You can also add fixtures of course, running a greater number of fixtures at lower power. In general, i think LED makers underestimate the number of LED fixtures required for nice, even lighting and recommend too low a hanging height. The combination of the two can cause issues with uneven lighting. Matt |
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12/19/2018, 02:44 PM | #14 |
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I agree that the problem is likely lack of nutrients..
They are exactly like fertilizer for your lawn.. Too much and you have a problem.. Too little and you have a problem.. You are in the too little category.. Your corals are starving for nutrients.. Some level of nitrates and phosphates are needed by all marine organisms... Try getting both to be in the measurable sections of your test kits.. Nitrate of 5 and phosphate of .03 or so is typically suitable..
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12/21/2018, 12:56 PM | #15 |
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Thanks everyone for the help, I will work on get the Nitrate and phosphates up. :-)
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12/21/2018, 02:32 PM | #16 |
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2 ecotech Marine g4 work perfect over my 90 gallon tank
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12/22/2018, 02:56 PM | #17 |
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6x 54w ATI sunpower.
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12/23/2018, 05:12 PM | #18 | |
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12/25/2018, 10:20 PM | #19 |
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Test 1 complete with my Apex PAR meter from bottom of the lights to the bottom of tank (with 2" sand bed) 0-145PAR @ 33" ( lights are 10" off the water) Upping the intensity tomorrow by 20%
TEST #1 RightBlue Fallback OFF Set 10 If Time 09:30 to 10:30 Then BSunRise If Time 10:30 to 15:30 Then BSunDay1 If Time 15:30 to 21:00 Then BSunDay2 If Time 21:00 to 23:00 Then BSunSet ------------------------------------------------------ BSunRise Ramp Time 60 Start Intensity 10 End Intensity 40 BSunDay1 Ramp Time 255 Start Intensity 40 End Intensity 75 BSunDay2 Ramp Time 255 Start Intensity 75 End Intensity 40 BSunSet Ramp Time 255 Start Intensity 40 End Intensity 10 ----------------------------------------------------- LefttWhites Fallback OFF Set OFF If Time 10:00 to 10:59 Then WSunRise If Time 11:00 to 15:59 Then WSunDay1 If Time 16:00 to 19:59 Then WSunDay2 If Time 20:00 to 21:00 Then WSunSet WSunRise Ramp Time 60 Start Intensity 10 End Intensity 50 WSunDay1 Ramp Time 255 Start Intensity 50 End Intensity 60 WSunDay2 Ramp Time 255 Start Intensity 60 End Intensity 30 WSunSet Ramp Time 1 Start Intensity 30 End Intensity 10 ---------------------------------------------------- T5 Lights 9:40am -21:00 |
12/26/2018, 05:57 AM | #20 |
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Mike,
A few suggestions. Make changes slowly. Personally, I wouldn’t change intensity more than about 5 percent per week. Actually, I make adjustments at about 1percent a week. If I’m understanding your post, you’re at 145 par at the sand at max intensity. That doesn’t seem bad and makes me wonder about par levels toward the top of the tank, where you’re more likely to put sps. If you measures at just one spot on the bottom, I would measure at other places as well. One of the changes of LEDs, at least puck style lights, is getting even lighting. Your schedule seems like it is constantly ramping. Even if your max lighting level is ‘ideal’, how long are your lights delivering that amount of par? I love the control LEDs give you, but, I think it can be overdone. If I were you, I’d ramp up in the morning and down at night, but, I’d have a solid block of 4-8 hours at your max intensity. Matt |
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