Just got the AI blade

[mike_mania]

40 gallon breeder
Just cycled
Dry live rock
Live sand
Seachem Tidal 75 HOB
Aquamaxx HOB protein skimmer

Just got the AI Blade 30”. No livestock until tomorrow. Any suggestions on settings? I’m looking for soft corals eventually, mainly Zoas. Probably gonna go with damsels to start off with. Looking for time, intensity etc to get started. Thanks!!

 

[TX_REEF]

40 gallon breeder
Just cycled
Dry live rock
Live sand
Seachem Tidal 75 HOB
Aquamaxx HOB protein skimmer

Just got the AI Blade 30”. No livestock until tomorrow. Any suggestions on settings? I’m looking for soft corals eventually, mainly Zoas. Probably gonna go with damsels to start off with. Looking for time, intensity etc to get started. Thanks!!

Not sure about blade settings, but I strongly urge you not to start with damsels. They’re very aggressive in defending their territory, best to add them last (or not at all)

 

[mike_mania]

Not sure about blade settings, but I strongly urge you not to start with damsels. They’re very aggressive in defending their territory, best to add them last (or not at all)

What do you suggest?

 

[John_Sav]

Look up David Saxby settings, it's a great preset for the blade. I tweaked the white settings down to 10% and the overall intensity to 30%, my corals are happy.

 

[SaltySqueeble]

I checked Saxbys setting, but only see AI Prime lighting. Not sure what all those zig zags are about…This is what I use on my blade. I have softies and LPS. It rests on my 20in tank. I ramp up for three hrs to 35%, then white slowly ramps down all day. Then, 4:30 ramp down for 4hr. I get amazing colors in the evening. Its worked for me for a year. May not be perfect.

 

[mike_mania]

Do you have the glow or grow? These are my settings.

 

[lil sumpin]

I was underwhelmed with just a grow so I got a glow as well. Am running both at about 35% over my nano cube on Saxby's settings as well

 

[TX_REEF]

What do you suggest?

Recommend you decide the full list of fish on your wish list, and from there we can help you choose the best order of stocking

 

[SaltySqueeble]

I was underwhelmed with just a grow so I got a glow as well. Am running both at about 35% over my nano cube on Saxby's settings as well

So your blues zig zag up and down for the peak hrs? Is that whats best for corals? constant stimulation….

 

[Roatan Reef]

Not sure about blade settings, but I strongly urge you not to start with damsels. They’re very aggressive in defending their territory, best to add them last (or not at all)

1000000%
They are buttholes, you will have to tear your tank and liverock apart just to remove them. That's a No for me Dog..and I had to do this...just for 1 butthole surfer damsel!

 

[Roatan Reef]

40 gallon breeder
Just cycled
Dry live rock
Live sand
Seachem Tidal 75 HOB
Aquamaxx HOB protein skimmer

Just got the AI Blade 30”. No livestock until tomorrow. Any suggestions on settings? I’m looking for soft corals eventually, mainly Zoas. Probably gonna go with damsels to start off with. Looking for time, intensity etc to get started. Thanks!!

Glow or Grow??

 

[mike_mania]

glow

 

[SaltySqueeble]

glow

Mine is grow.

 

[lil sumpin]

So your blues zig zag up and down for the peak hrs? Is that whats best for corals? constant stimulation….

Yes, I dont wanna high beam my corals for 6-8 hours straight. I'm not a fan of the plateau light schedule.

 

[SaltySqueeble]

Yes, I dont wanna high beam my corals for 6-8 hours straight. I'm not a fan of the plateau light schedule.

well shoot. I would have to agree. I guess I’m out dated.

 

[SaltySqueeble]

I only high beam for 4ish, to sound better. But like your style.

 

[lil sumpin]

For decades people have used T5s and MH on just timers, no ramping at all and it definitely does the job. The zigzaging just seems a little more ‘natural’ to me as naive as that sounds

 

[ready2get86d]

I have been running blades for a while now. Just bump your blues and violets up to max then adjust white to where its visually appealing. If you’re just running one you’ll need the PAR. I have 2 (grow and glow) over my 20 gal on max settings and all of my corals love it. Everything max but the white, thats at about 60% rn. The white fills out the spectrum, so if you were to have any as a single light i would have the grow. The glow is a great additive light as a supplement to other lighting to make corals pop. But it doesn't have the right spectrum to be used stand alone.