How to tell if par is enough..? (Read Below)

[therealraf02]

So let’s say a par meter is out of the equation. Bob places X onto his rock work. A week passes, two weeks pass, and the X (which is an sps coral) has full polyp extension, isn’t bleached, maintains color, etc. So, is it safe to say that the par level at the level Bob placed the frag (let’s say, a 2 inch frag) is adequate just by seeing the frag maintaining its colors, not dying, or in other words, not showing any “negative symptoms” in the first several weeks?
I ask this because I placed a couple “easier to care for” sps into my tank and I’m wondering if I can gauge whether or not the lighting is strong enough or if the coral is actually happy just by looking at color and polyp extension in the first several weeks/month.

 

[fishface NJ]

Possibly but I would give a SPS 4 weeks and then see if it is the same, better or going down hill. Really with LED you need a par meter

 

[HudsonReefer2.0]

I run my led lights at ludicrous and don’t have a par meter. Sry wish I could help. But I do have acro. Hi @fishface NJ

 

[fishface NJ]

Hi @HudsonReefer2.0 !:D

 

[reefpanda]

A wise man once said, “If you don’t see growth tips, it means your SPS is slowly dying”

 

[Dburr1014]

So let’s say a par meter is out of the equation. Bob places X onto his rock work. A week passes, two weeks pass, and the X (which is an sps coral) has full polyp extension, isn’t bleached, maintains color, etc. So, is it safe to say that the par level at the level Bob placed the frag (let’s say, a 2 inch frag) is adequate just by seeing the frag maintaining its colors, not dying, or in other words, not showing any “negative symptoms” in the first several weeks?
I ask this because I placed a couple “easier to care for” sps into my tank and I’m wondering if I can gauge whether or not the lighting is strong enough or if the coral is actually happy just by looking at color and polyp extension in the first several weeks/month.

Sometimes sps take a while to get going.
If it's not going backwards, good.
But, have you tried to push it(slowly)?
If it responds well, not enough par, keep pushing. You may see it color up even more. Stop pushing when you feel comfortable.

 

[Dburr1014]

A wise man once said, “If you don’t see growth tips, it means your SPS is slowly dying”

I have been finding that you may see growth tips on parts of a colony and not other parts. Then they will also switch around. But yes, growth tips somewhere on the colony.

 

[HudsonReefer2.0]

Sometimes sps take a while to get going.
If it's not going backwards, good.
But, have you tried to push it(slowly)?
If it responds well, not enough par, keep pushing. You may see it color up even more. Stop pushing when you feel comfortable.

I have acro that were / still are stuck on stop, for months even a year and then they pop. . Well like a sloth. We are talking about acropora Others adjusted sooner and did their thing earlier .

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

What kind of light do you have on what size tank?