Led light schedule for new tank

ruppertb · May 16, 2013

Tank info. Standard 180g 24 deep 6 ft wide. 2 reef breeders 32. 3w leds I think thes 99 of them. Schedule can be every hr or every 30min. Tank has just finnished cycling. And I want to set led schedule. I figured I could start up with the brightest intesity I wanted to end with as I can just move corals up to acclimate them. I would like this to be a mainly sps mixed reef with some lps on bottom glass.

Fixtures are 7inches off water. And tank is 24 in deep. I didn't know how long to run lights as they will be dimming through out day and wasn't sure how long to go with leds. I like a more blue look and but can deal with a high noon look for 2 hrs or so. So any help from anyone else running these fixtures or just anyone in general with leds. Wasn't sure how long I could run blues if I was ramping up all day and not just keeping them on full intensity for like 8 hrs. Thansk

Sent from my LGL75C using Reef2Reef Aquarium Forum mobile app

ritter6788 · May 17, 2013

Many mention 3-8 hr photoperiods but I've always been a 12-14 hr guy with the brightest lighting on for about 10 hours a day and ramping up and down for the remainder of the time.

I test my alk almost daily at times and the most hard coral usage and growth occurs for me with a longer photoperiod. Total of 12 hours.

Just me though.

ruppertb · May 17, 2013

So your saying I should ramp up faster and leave them high for like 10hrs?

Sent from my LGL75C using Reef2Reef Aquarium Forum mobile app

ritter6788 · May 17, 2013

Just my experience and my tank. Your mileage may vary. Others run much shorter photoperiods with good results.

Imsosavvy · May 18, 2013

I'm sorry I don't really have much too contribute but I've been wondering the same. Have a rb value coming on Monday and my tank has had far insufficient lighting so far but somehow my corals are alive and actually growing. My light will be the same about 6-7 in. Off the water but my tank is a nano so only 16 in deep about. I think I'm just going to use the dimmers and keep em at like 15% for the first week and work my way up. Are your corals already used to strong lighting? Like mh or something?

ruppertb · May 19, 2013

Atm I don't have anything in the 180g. I have corals under t5 in my fragtank and corals under cree diy leds in a 28g. But no sps under the crees.

Sent from my LGL75C using Reef2Reef Aquarium Forum mobile app