AI Prime HD w/ Acros

[MONTANTK]

I have had numerous tanks in the past but this is my first endeavor with Acros. The tank is 7.4g and I have one AI Prime HD (not 16) about 10 inches from the surface. It’s running at probably 30%. Should I be turning the light up? I’m currently running a 12hr lighting schedule with fairly quick ramp up and ramp down. What is the ideal par for acros?

 

[Gernader]

Acros should be getting around 250 par or higher. I recommend you to rent a par meter to know if you have too much or too low light.

 

[MONTANTK]

Acros should be getting around 250 par or higher. I recommend you to rent a par meter to know if you have too much or too low light.

I think that is something I will look into. I was looking at the par chart on AI’s website but it was kind of difficult to reference since they go off of 36x36 and my tank is 9x15 (rough estimate). At first glance though the Prime did seem like it might be a little weak.

 

[nbooks]

im battling this right now as well. I was greatly under lighting my tank and lost a few frags, at 30% you are also probably in the same boat...ill try and remember to post some schedules ive found tonight. I have a par meter rental coming friday.

 

[Justin Cook]

I run a pair of Prime HDs on my frag tank and the acros grow pretty well. I believe peak is somewhere around 60% and the "acro area" gets PAR ranging from 250-350. I'm running it with a hybrid fixture and since it's a 36" fixture on a 48" tank, the area directly under the HDs get the highest par. Lights are 9" about the water surface and there's around 5" of water over the frags.

 

[MONTANTK]

im battling this right now as well. I was greatly under lighting my tank and lost a few frags, at 30% you are also probably in the same boat...ill try and remember to post some schedules ive found tonight. I have a par meter rental coming friday.

Interesting. About an hour ago I increased the intensity to about 45-50%. Going to see how my zoas and monti respond. I’m going to see if I can borrow a par meter from my LFS. If not I’ll rent one

 

[MONTANTK]

I run a pair of Prime HDs on my frag tank and the acros grow pretty well. I believe peak is somewhere around 60% and the "acro area" gets PAR ranging from 250-350. I'm running it with a hybrid fixture and since it's a 36" fixture on a 48" tank, the area directly under the HDs get the highest par. Lights are 9" about the water surface and there's around 5" of water over the frags.

Good to hear. I just measured and my light is 8.5” from the water surface with about 3” from rock to water surface. I plan on keeping all the acros on the top of my scape. I was going to put a birdsnest or stylo on a lower shelf I had but I think I’m going to try incorporating an orange hammer.

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

I have a prime 16 over a 6g 12”x12” cube side frag tank.

Be careful with the whites on the standard HD’s. I wouldn’t have them any higher than 30. You can crank the blues, v, and Uv and keep the r and g at 10

 

[MONTANTK]

I have a prime 16 over a 6g 12”x12” cube side frag tank.

Be careful with the whites on the standard HD’s. I wouldn’t have them any higher than 30. You can crank the blues, v, and Uv and keep the r and g at 10

Just out of curiosity what’s the issue with the whites above 30? Does the color promote algae growth?

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

Just out of curiosity what’s the issue with the whites above 30? Does the color promote algae growth?

It promotes dead sps, especially if you have them at the top closer to the leds.

 

[nbooks]

I have a prime 16 over a 6g 12”x12” cube side frag tank.

Be careful with the whites on the standard HD’s. I wouldn’t have them any higher than 30. You can crank the blues, v, and Uv and keep the r and g at 10

This was one of the ones i was referring to posting...that schedule made me realize i was waaaay off on intensities.

im using a max of 20% on whites, anything more and i cant get the blue i want. Ive started using the RY channel mostly and then dialing brightness with Blue rather than white.

 

[MONTANTK]

This was one of the ones i was referring to posting...that schedule made me realize i was waaaay off on intensities.

im using a max of 20% on whites, anything more and i cant get the blue i want. Ive started using the RY channel mostly and then dialing brightness with Blue rather than white.

Interesting. I may have to play around with my intensities. I may add a cheap acro as a tester this week

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

This was one of the ones i was referring to posting...that schedule made me realize i was waaaay off on intensities.

im using a max of 20% on whites, anything more and i cant get the blue i want. Ive started using the RY channel mostly and then dialing brightness with Blue rather than white.

Now it’s important to notice my acros are not in the top of the tank. I’m getting about 350 par in the center of the rack and 250 on the outer edges. Par is closer to 500 closer to the surface.

 

[MONTANTK]

Now it’s important to notice my acros are not in the top of the tank. I’m getting about 350 par in the center of the rack and 250 on the outer edges. Par is closer to 500 closer to the surface.

I did notice. If I followed your schedule, or something similar, I would probably dial it back slightly so I don’t bleach my zoas.

 

[nbooks]

Now it’s important to notice my acros are not in the top of the tank. I’m getting about 350 par in the center of the rack and 250 on the outer edges. Par is closer to 500 closer to the surface.

yup i noticed. i have my two acro fragd at th etop of my rock work but thats still about 6-7 inches below surface with an HD mounted 9 inches above water.

I did notice. If I followed your schedule, or something similar, I would probably dial it back slightly so I don’t bleach my zoas.

youd be suprised how much surface movement and depth stamp out the par. so far everything i have on th ebottom is happier, and ive literally doubled the level of my blues over the last 3 weeks.

 

[MONTANTK]

yup i noticed. i have my two acro fragd at th etop of my rock work but thats still about 6-7 inches below surface with an HD mounted 9 inches above water.


youd be suprised how much surface movement and depth stamp out the par. so far everything i have on th ebottom is happier, and ive literally doubled the level of my blues over the last 3 weeks.

I’ve been trying to get more surface agitation. I added a Nero 3 but it doesn’t seem to be doing the trick. Might aim my return higher

 

[Capitol Reef Corals]

Here was my setup with 5 AI Prime HDs over a 4ft Red Sea Reefer 350. I added a T5 hybrid but that was not necessary - I wanted to remove shadowing. I ran most of the blue channels at max, UV at max, whites at 15%, and red/green at 2%. As you can see, I grew SPS very well! Just turn up your Prime and you'll be fine.

 

[PicassoClown04]

What’s up? AI Prime HD growing this beautiful little red planet. Got a Walt Disney and a couple other unknowns goin in my other tank too under AI.

 

[MONTANTK]

Here was my setup with 5 AI Prime HDs over a 4ft Red Sea Reefer 350. I added a T5 hybrid but that was not necessary - I wanted to remove shadowing. I ran most of the blue channels at max, UV at max, whites at 15%, and red/green at 2%. As you can see, I grew SPS very well! Just turn up your Prime and you'll be fine.

Cranking up UV and the Blues seem to be the common approach with the primes. Just changed my schedule this morning so we will see how the zoas and monti respond. Probably going to pick up my first acro today or tomorrow

 

[RVA REEF]

stephen, what light mounts are you using?