Can Chinese led black boxes grow sps?

[DrewBrees713]

I got 3 (2 standard size and 1 long)hung about 1.5 ft from the water line on my 120 G mixed reef tank. Got about 6 sps frags about 8” from the top. Is that enough light for growh and color or should i upgrade. Dont have the budget at the moment though.

 

[saltyhog]

To answer the title question, without a doubt. Lot of impressive SPS tanks with black box lights.

How deep is your tank? Why so high off the water? I don't think you will be light limited in your efforts to grow SPS. I'm sure there are folks on here with first hand experience in using these lights for SPS tanks. Hopefully some of them will chime in.

 

[Jason mack]

Yes you can grow sps with these lights no problem ...I had 3 over my 90g about 10-12 inches above water line ...check my build thread for photos (link in my signature). I ran my blues at 75-100% for 10 hrs and my whites at 30 % for 5.5 hrs ....there are so many factors involved in keeping sps like stability ...flow ...nutrients...that all play a part in success.....but yes these lights work great ...

 

[DrewBrees713]

My tank is 18” tall. My LFS have their blackboxes 2 ft above their softies tank.
Whats the max intensity i can crank up my whites to? Right now its at 40 % whites, 100% blues.

 

[Jason mack]

My tank is 18” tall. My LFS have their blackboxes 2 ft above their softies tank.
Whats the max intensity i can crank up my whites to? Right now its at 40 % whites, 100% blues.

Without a par meter it will be hard too tell ..that's your best bet really ....these lights tend to have a hot spot in the middle ..but with your lights being so high above the water line your light spread will be different ...personally I wouldn't, go any higher than 40 % whites as that tends too encourage algea growth ..if you can't get or borrow a par meter too check then I would suggest setting your lights by eye ...with that I mean what is pleasing too your eye ...

 

[DrewBrees713]

Youre absolutely right about spots. 2 of the standard size lights put out shadows eventhough they have mix 90 and 120 degree lens. The long, new version of the black box in the middle doesnt have any shawdow effect.
Thanks

 

[Jason mack]

Youre absolutely right about spots. 2 of the standard size lights put out shadows eventhough they have mix 90 and 120 degree lens. The long, new version of the black box in the middle doesnt have any shawdow effect.
Thanks

I would lower your lights a light ..

 

[DrewBrees713]

Hmmm i was gonna raise it even more :)

 

[dantimdad]

I would remove lenses except for a couple of the whites.

This stops the hot spots and a lot of the shadowing.

I am going to be experimenting with diffusors on mine as well.

 

[Grsfish]

I have one about 12 inches off the top growing sps pretty well for the past year. Blues are on about 60 and whites 15.

 

[DrewBrees713]

Stupid question. How do you remove the lenses? Where can i find a tutorial or video? Nvm i found a video

Grsfish got pics of your tank?

Jason im looking up your build thread. Here’s to a good read :)

 

[dantimdad]

Stupid question. How do you remove the lenses? Where can i find a tutorial or video? Nvm i found a video

Grsfish got pics of your tank?

Jason im looking up your build thread. Here’s to a good read :)

Check out my thread as well.