AP700 lighting schedule for SPS?

USMC 4 LIFE · Feb 11, 2018

I’m interested in seeing what AP700 users run their intensity at and at how high they have it mounted from the water line.

I’m about to add SPS corals in a couple of weeks and I’m trying to get a general ideal of where it should be.

bif24701 · Feb 11, 2018

This is mine, lights are about ~9” high. I have two lights on a 72” 180g display.

What is your current intensity? Since I run my lights high sometimes if I have new additions then I’ll tune the lights down and place the frags on the bottom for a month or more to adjust.

How does your set up look like?

USMC 4 LIFE · Feb 11, 2018

My light sits 6.5” above the water line and it’s on a 48” 90g.

My intensity maxes out at 40% right now but plan on changing that to ~75% once the SPS frags are in.

I only plan on having a few SPS so my only concern is providing adequate lighting right under the light for these corals. I’m not putting SPS on the edges.

The corals will also sit about ~9” under the water.

bif24701 · Feb 11, 2018

You will get better spread and coverage if you raised the light up 2-3” off the water with losing intensity/PAR. In fact you gain PAR over a larger area of the display.

Since you are at 40% now once the SPS are out of QT or ready to be put in the display slowly ramp the light up 5% intensity every 7 days. If you don’t see any significant bleaching keep going until you reach 70% or the amount of light you want.

The key here is go slow and let the corals adapt. Beside to keep a detectable amount of nutrients and feed.

USMC 4 LIFE · Feb 11, 2018

I’m aware of getting a better spread and coverage area if I raised the light, but wouldn’t I be losing significant par at ~12” under the water which in turn will require me to run the lights at a higher percentage to make up for that lost? Or am I wrong lol.

What park should I am for acropora SPS. ~250?

madweazl · Feb 11, 2018

I believe Dana Riddle did some testing over his 120g(?) and found that 9" above the water on preset two provided the best PAR/PUR for a tank of similar dimensions. From there you could focus on intensity and for what it's worth, I'd leave it at 40% and see how things go (dont get in the mindset of having to blast the SPS).

USMC 4 LIFE · Feb 11, 2018

I’ll set it at 9” then. Thanks

bif24701 · Feb 11, 2018

USMC 4 LIFE said:
I’m aware of getting a better spread and coverage area if I raised the light, but wouldn’t I be losing significant par at ~12” under the water which in turn will require me to run the lights at a higher percentage to make up for that lost? Or am I wrong lol.

What park should I am for acropora SPS. ~250?

No. I was also surprised but I’ve measured it out. You still have room to go with your intensity. Spread is also important. It will get the light in between and a round coral.

USMC 4 LIFE · Feb 11, 2018

So what kind of par do you think I can achieve with the light mounted at 9” above the water line, at 75% intensity, and at 9-12” deep? Capable to sustain acros?

bif24701 · Feb 12, 2018

USMC 4 LIFE said:
So what kind of par do you think I can achieve with the light mounted at 9” above the water line, at 75% intensity, and at 9-12” deep? Capable to sustain acros?

Yes I am certain it can. You can easily reach 300+, I’m not sure you will need 75%. These light are powerful and far more likely to kill, even acros not properly acclimated, that not provide enough light. It’s not going to be any kind of problem to House acros in a 36” area centered to the light all the way to the Sand bed. Most all my acros are 12”+ under and my lights are 9” high. This is completely independent of any overlap of my two lights, the center is partially block out by a ugly glass center brace. Yes my program today is at 90% but only because I’ve acclimated really well, have plenty of nutrients and trying to squeeze out the last bit of color from a few acros. I’ve been running the lights at 70% max for two years to great effect and verified PAR number via PMK and my APEX.