Finding optimal lighting levels

[Jimmyb819]

So I understand what happens when light levels are too high (bleaching) and I've learned to keep my Kessils turned a lot farther down then I would have thought. I also have a long acclimation period. But I don't really know what to look for if my lighting is too low, or how to find the perfect level.

What happens when there isn't enough light?

How do you find the perfect levels? Keep going up slowly until you see bleaching and then back off?

 

[MrDJeep123]

Some corals will stretch, if you will. And others will bleach.

Start off at the lowest setting possible for LEDS and slowly increase the brightness output. With the Kessil, the controller will do this for you as it has an acclimation setting you can use. Very nice feature.
With t-5s and metal halides that method would be slowly increase the time exposed to whatever time schedule you want.