Algae Browning Discussion

[Cdavis66]

When people are referring to a coral browning out due to low lighting conditions for the coral; is that referencing the coral with blue lighting?

My Duncan is brownish with white lighting but bright yellow with blue lighting. Want to get the correct information before raising lighting. I have been running a shorter photoperiod in my tank to manage the algae in it. (about 5 hours max bright and a half hour each direction for ramp.) Been at this lighting for about 2 weeks now and going to gradually lengthen the photo period. The Duncan seems to be about the same color as when I bought it 2 months ago.

Here are some picture with and without blue lighting:

 

[MoshJosh]

Both spectrum and intensity can affect the coloration of the coral. Running high intensity in the wrong spectrums is not ideal and running low intensity in the right spectrums is not ideal either.

What light are you running? Knowing that people here can probably help more with settings and such.

 

[Wave Whisperer]

What lights are you running there? Duncans are not light intensive corals, if you have decent par at where it's at, you'll be ok. For LPS or softies, you'll have to be more worried on bleaching rather then browning. Too strong a light and they might have the chance to bleach or lose their colours. It's normal for corals to flouresce under blues and look brownish under whites(they are brown coloured animals afterall.Lol!) As you can see from your zoas and your torch there.

The term browning usually at most times refers specifically to SPS i.e acros whereby there's an issue with nutrients or lighting.

IMO, your softies and LPS are looking fine. Polyps extensions are good, they look happy! Perhaps, others who are more experienced might chime in as well.

 

[Cdavis66]

Thank you both!

I'm using a Hipargero 100W light
Approximately 12 inches above water level
my intensities are:

• 14000k Cool White: 0%
• 450-460nm Royal Blue: 70%
• 430-470nm Violet Blue: 50%
• 410-420nm Violet: 65%
• 3000k-6500k Warm White: 2%

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Also here are the readings from someone else that did a par reading on this light:

Settings:

• 14000k Cool White: 3%
• 450-460nm Royal Blue: 80%
• 430-470nm Violet Blue: 80%
• 410-420nm Violet: 80%
• 3000k-6500k Warm White: 1%

Light set 10" above water:
(Distance below water level)

• 2" = 435 Par
• 4" = 385 Par
• 6" = 325 Par
• 8" = 275 Par
• 10" = 235 Par
• 12" = 210 Par
• 14" = 178 Par

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Based on some guessing math with ratios I think I'm somewhere around:

• 2" = 257 Par
• 4" = 228 Par
• 6" = 192 Par
• 8" = 163 Par
• 10" = 139 Par
• 12" = 124 Par
• 14" = 105 Par

I should rent a par meter but it is difficult living over an hour away from my nearest lfs.