Alkalinity, flow and par

[Flippers4pups]

I haven't seen much on the forms about this subject and the study that Dana Riddle did on the relationship of these on coral health/growth.

What is your take on this subject?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I was there. LOVED IT!

I think the oddest observation I can make is, I have seen tanks, as was the norm in the day, that run Par in the thousands. And corals here on r2r that are suffering under 350 Par when all others are thriving, but only respond to those much higher pars.
I do think for reefers it better to know what why and how the coral takes up Alk, and stop trying to chase bigger better alk numbers.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Here's the new article.
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2016/9/aafeature

 

[Flippers4pups]

I agree. Depending on the type of coral, it's location and distance from a light source is key. So is water parameters. Acclimation to all of these in our systems can be difficult and has a lot to do with what the coral was use to before we placed them in our system. Stability is key as well during acclimation and long term.

The eye can tell us intuitively, based on experience, what is needed to adjust for coral health. Higher, lower, less light, more or less flow..... backed by tests.

Truly a crap shoot sometimes.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Truly a crap shoot sometimes.

Secret of reefing.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Yes it is and now it's time for me to rub my reefing crystal ball and do some water tests! Lol

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Yes it is and now it's time for me to rub my reefing crystal ball and do some water tests! Lol

yea, I stuck my finger in mine a bit ago. It's fine.
I think the salinity is a bit low. Didnt taste right.

 

[TheEngineer]

Awesome presentation! Would love to see how this varies based on coral type. For example, do zoas follow a similar curve?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Awesome presentation! Would love to see how this varies based on coral type. For example, do zoas follow a similar curve?

in theory yes. this was the convo after the talk w Riddle and Bingman. unfortunately everyone(dana Bingman etc) realised what time it was and ran to the next talk.
my though that was and kinda confirmed was yea, most folks have their flow too low for softies. Still reading on it though.

 

[JaimeAdams]

I watched the video and I read the forums. My concern is based on only a single species being studied. I know there are certain acros that people talk about needing 600+PAR to be true to color. The alkalinity and water flow aside. Do all coral max out around 200 PAR?

 

[ksc]

The study was done on a porites which is like a "sun dome". I would've liked to see some testing on a typical sps colony which shades itself. An established eflo or tabling acro might get 600 par on top, but more than 50% of the coral would be getting much less.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I watched the video and I read the forums. My concern is based on only a single species being studied. I know there are certain acros that people talk about needing 600+PAR to be true to color. The alkalinity and water flow aside. Do all coral max out around 200 PAR?

350

The study was done on a porites which is like a "sun dome". I would've liked to see some testing on a typical sps colony which shades itself. An established eflo or tabling acro might get 600 par on top, but more than 50% of the coral would be getting much less.

he's basing the research on the zooox not the coral type. and yea we know some corals get wayyy more in the wild. and yea that was a bit of the discussion after the talk. If you look at different examples of tanks in person and on the net both methods work. thats weird. Diesels has some thet are absolutely at the 250 350 par range and close to spot on just above natural sea water and are stunning. A friend of mine has them 6 to 14 in below several 400w MH and yea stunning too.
the other point of the after talk was it is a single data point. thats science. its to be further studied by others, and to be questioned.
Now look at the talk again too. color is inverse of growth. the mechanism of growth is best at the 350 mark w the alk flow etc . higher light causes better pigmentation.