Setting Up a FluvalSmart SEA Nano

[DaringDiabetic]

Hi all!
I just recently upgraded my light to the FluvalSmart Sea Nano for my 5 gallon pico reef,
I’ve got some LPS guys and one SPS,
And I’m excited about the new possibilities with the light, I’m just seeing some new algae growth and some of the corals are shrinking back, and I’m pretty sure the light is too intense.
So, my question would be,
What intensity and spectrum should I be using?
If I’m using the automatic setting, what time parameters should I be using?
Any help would be appreciated!


These were the automatic settings for the light, which is what it’s on now.

 

[Ron Reefman]

It looks like you have them on for 9 hours? That's a good time frame.

If you can, I'd dial the reds back to a VERY low number. It grows algae and there is red spectrum in the white light.

With that light (weak leds for shallow tanks (good for your 5g) I think 100% blue is OK but I'd cut the white back to 30% or 40%.

The blue is used by the zooxanthellae (algae) that lives inside the coral polyps and does the photosynthesis that then helps feed the coral. The coral uses blue as well, but it also needs some of the other spectrum to do other internal processes.

I try to run my midday light at a 3:1 ratio, so I'm at 90% blue and 30% white.