H380 hanging height?

Danh Ngo · Oct 19, 2018

I’m using a H380 hanging at 9” above water surface, fuge is about 12x12. What height should I set it at?

Crabs McJones · Oct 19, 2018

Danh Ngo said:
I’m using a H380 hanging at 9” above water surface, fuge is about 12x12. What height should I set it at?

Ideally, a foot or more. Most stands cannot accommodate that though. Macro algae can adapt to s bunch of different intensities. I have my H380 about 8 inches off the waters surface and my chaeto grows like crazy

Danh Ngo · Oct 19, 2018

Crabs Mcjones said:
Ideally, a foot or more. Most stands cannot accommodate that though. Macro algae can adapt to s bunch of different intensities. I have my H380 about 8 inches off the waters surface and my chaeto grows like crazy

I can raise it up a bit but not too much. I will slowly increase the photoperiod maybe?

Crabs McJones · Oct 19, 2018

Danh Ngo said:
I can raise it up a bit but not too much. I will slowly increase the photoperiod maybe?

Yes, short photo periods, increase weekly/bi weekly. Right now I have mine on from 10pm to 6 am started out at an hour a night and ramped it up

AlgaeBarn · Oct 28, 2018

Agreed on the shorter photo periods. You can add some egg crate over the top of the sump to diffuse the light more. Once the macroalgae adjusts to the light intensity, you can increase it.

Danh Ngo · Oct 28, 2018

Crabs Mcjones said:
Yes, short photo periods, increase weekly/bi weekly. Right now I have mine on from 10pm to 6 am started out at an hour a night and ramped it up

I tried with 6 hours daily which was working well, Lfs where I got the chaeto used the same light and long photoperiod, so it did not take long for me to acclimate with the light :D

hart24601 · Nov 17, 2018

I have noticed most of the issues with the 380 beast are probably due to the algae getting physically too hot vs bleaching in the sense of coral. You can feel the heat on the surface of the algae. I can’t run my 380 very high, so I do a 2-3hr on 2-3hr off cycle during the day for a total of 12on 12off roughly. The off times are to let the algae cool down. This seeems to be working as more than a few hours on it get cooked, turns white and dies.