Low light

[mnsean]

I have lagoon style tank, only lps and soft corals. 63gal

Currently is reading about 50 to 80 par on bottom 120 ~ 150 par top. Few spots goes up to 180.

My local fish store thinks I need to increase the light to at least 100 at bottom and 2 to 300 on top… if I want any growth… I think that’s a bit too much for LPS and softies.

Any thoughts?

 

[esquare]

You will get all kinds of responses to that question and most of them correct. Most LPS don't require a lot of light and it sounds, to me, like you are in the sweet spot now. This is my Par map and I was running my lights at 40% which put my brightest spot at 110 par I think. I have since changed from AB+ spectrum to CoralLab LPS/Softies at 50% which I think results in lower par, I have to take new readings with the new spectrum. I have been very happy with my growth. It all depends on what you are keeping.

 

[Science/G]

That par map seems fine to me. You can put some sps up top, lps in the middle grounds and corals like chalices on the bottom.

 

[Lavey29]

I was getting numbers like yours with my XR15 lights at 70% and corals struggled. I increased to 100% intensity and my corals took off like a thriving burst of poppeys in spring.

 

[tuscani]

I run AB+ at 75%... I average about 125-200 throughout the tank.

 

[mnsean]

You will get all kinds of responses to that question and most of them correct. Most LPS don't require a lot of light and it sounds, to me, like you are in the sweet spot now. This is my Par map and I was running my lights at 40% which put my brightest spot at 110 par I think. I have since changed from AB+ spectrum to CoralLab LPS/Softies at 50% which I think results in lower par, I have to take new readings with the new spectrum. I have been very happy with my growth. It all depends on what you are keeping.

Amazing!!! Dude!! Your fish room and sump room!! Amazing about how long did that take you to setup and approx cost?

 

[mnsean]

I was getting numbers like yours with my XR15 lights at 70% and corals struggled. I increased to 100% intensity and my corals took off like a thriving burst of poppeys in spring.

What type of corals?

 

[Lavey29]

What type of corals?

Mixed reef with SPS dominant colonies, lots of euphyllia and softs.

 

[esquare]

Amazing!!! Dude!! Your fish room and sump room!! Amazing about how long did that take you to setup and approx cost?

I am consciously avoiding figuring out the cost lol.
I did most of the work over last winter but have had to modify it since.

Thank you for your kind words.