Do I need more lights?

DTz · Jul 1, 2024

Hi guys I’m currently running 3x Radion g6 pro 2x g5 blue xr 15 and a 5 feet ai blade grow for my 9x2.5x2.5 feet sps dominated tank.

I’ve recently added 15 mini colonies.
Currently getting 3-400 par(all radions running on 100 pct intensity) on the top part of the rocks ai blade is running at 70 pct intensity. Sand is around 250-300 par. As u can see, my overflow box is on the left and take up quite a big space so I’m running only 1xr30 for that area. Currently getting lower par compared to the part where the ai blade covers.

Question is, will I need more lights ? If yes, how many would u guys recommend?

shakacuz · Jul 1, 2024

is personal preference. by sheer numbers alone, this setup seems just fine if not more than adequate to grow anything. others may say you need more blades, or radions. could probably sell all the lights and get reefi uno pro 2.0's for much less with more output.

Biff0rz · Jul 1, 2024

You have a ton of par, while sps need good par they don't need insane par numbers. They need more spread than anything. But, it seems like you have good coverage to me.

Instead of crunching numbers and such, how are your sps growing? are they coloring nicely? If yes to both...you're good.

vetteguy53081 · Jul 1, 2024

DTz said:
Hi guys I’m currently running 3x Radion g6 pro 2x g5 blue xr 15 and a 5 feet ai blade grow for my 9x2.5x2.5 feet sps dominated tank.

I’ve recently added 15 mini colonies.
Currently getting 3-400 par(all radions running on 100 pct intensity) on the top part of the rocks ai blade is running at 70 pct intensity. Sand is around 250-300 par. As u can see, my overflow box is on the left and take up quite a big space so I’m running only 1xr30 for that area. Currently getting lower par compared to the part where the ai blade covers.

Question is, will I need more lights ? If yes, how many would u guys recommend?

Looks dim and needs a little white but best determined with a PAR meter which I assume you have?

DTz · Jul 1, 2024

vetteguy53081 said:
Looks dim and needs a little white but best determined with a PAR meter which I assume you have?

Picture is not peak lights. Just blues ramping down.

DTz · Jul 1, 2024

Biff0rz said:
You have a ton of par, while sps need good par they don't need insane par numbers. They need more spread than anything. But, it seems like you have good coverage to me.

Instead of crunching numbers and such, how are your sps growing? are they coloring nicely? If yes to both...you're good.

Keep seeing ppl with 8 xr30s on 8-10 feet tanks, curious why they need that many

Biff0rz · Jul 1, 2024

DTz said:
Keep seeing ppl with 8 xr30s on 8-10 feet tanks, curious why they need that many

Mostly spread imo. But again, how are your sps doing currently?

DTz · Jul 1, 2024

Biff0rz said:
Mostly spread imo. But again, how are your sps doing currently?

It’s only been a mth or so, so far all the Bali mariculture sps has held colours. And good polyp extension

Biff0rz · Jul 1, 2024

DTz said:
It’s only been a mth or so, so far all the Bali mariculture sps has held colours. And good polyp extension

I'd give it 3-6mo and evaluate growth/colors and then decide.

MnFish1 · Jul 1, 2024

DTz said:
Hi guys I’m currently running 3x Radion g6 pro 2x g5 blue xr 15 and a 5 feet ai blade grow for my 9x2.5x2.5 feet sps dominated tank.

I’ve recently added 15 mini colonies.
Currently getting 3-400 par(all radions running on 100 pct intensity) on the top part of the rocks ai blade is running at 70 pct intensity. Sand is around 250-300 par. As u can see, my overflow box is on the left and take up quite a big space so I’m running only 1xr30 for that area. Currently getting lower par compared to the part where the ai blade covers.

Question is, will I need more lights ? If yes, how many would u guys recommend?

no you do not need more lights. you need to turn your lights up