Bad idea to turn light intensity up?

[ndz98]

My lights are on for 11 hours and for 5 of the hours it measures out at 40-50k lux on the surface of the water. I've got zoas, Acan, montipora, and a torch coral in my tank. Would it be a bad idea to slowly crank up the intensity or you think where I have at is alright? I've got an sb reef light extreme.

 

[Salty1962]

It depends on why you want to increase your output. If it's for lack of growth then you can slowly bump up and see how your corals react. If it's for color, adjust your frequency output slowly and see how your corals react. What type of lights do you have and at what settings are they now?JMO

 

[ndz98]

It depends on why you want to increase your output. If it's for lack of growth then you can slowly bump up and see how your corals react. If it's for color, adjust your frequency output slowly and see how your corals react. What type of lights do you have and at what settings are they now?JMO

Mainly growth. What do you mean by frequency output exactly? I have a SB Reef Box Extreme. I have them on that schedule with those intensities. Only difference is I have mine on for an hour longer. I have the same intensity from 12-6pm instead of 12-5. Then I just bump everything after that forward an hour.

 

[Salty1962]

When I said frequency, I meant the color of your lights measure in Kelvins. I would slowly bump up the intensity and watch how your corals react.

 

[ndz98]

When I said frequency, I meant the color of your lights measure in Kelvins. I would slowly bump up the intensity and watch how your corals react.

Would that be the number next to where it says nm? Sorry I'm still relatively new to this and still have some learning to do.

 

[alton]

At 40 to 50K Lux 4,000 + Foot candles you are as bright as 400w Metal Halide. Beg, borrow, steal a PAR meter and see how much of that is usable light. On my old 300 I used 250w MH and at the surface I had 2500 foot candles and a PAR reading of 1,800 to 2,000