Should I turn up my leds?

[xxkenny90xx]

Hey guys I need some advice with my lighting. My fixture (reefbreeders photon 48) is about 6 years old and I think it has lost some of its par. It's currently on a 12hr ramp up/down schedule (including moonlighting) with 4 hrs of peak lighting (100% blues, 60% whites). I know 4 hrs isn't much but the ramp up has about 8 hrs of significant lighting. I'm seeing some corals stretching for light in the top, middle, and bottom of my tank and I'm also not too happy with the overall brightness of the tank (the black box I put on the end over the frag rack is brighter even though it's on a lower setting). I should note that not all my corals are stretching, most seem fine. I'm thinking about turning up the whites but I feel like they're already at a very high setting and I don't really want more white light. Or maybe I should increase how long my peak lighting is on? The fixture does have one bulb burnt out. Another option I've been considering is some supplemental lighting but I'm not sure what to look at. My tank is 60"x18"x24". What do you all think?

Get a par meter is the obvious answer and I will eventually but I'm trying not to order anything these days due to the virus.

 

[Brad Waddell Wrath's Reef]

Might be time for some new lights

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Might be time for some new lights

I should've known this wasn't an issue a couple thousand bucks couldn't solve... I'm still growing sps at the bottom of my tank so I'm doubtful it's that bad. Do leds lose that much par to become obsolete after 5 or 6 years?

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Another thing I'm thinking about is pulling the lenses off of just the rear row of bulbs to help light the corals towards the back of the tank (which are also at the top of the tank). That would solve a small part of my issue. Anybody done anything like that before?

 

[Brad Waddell Wrath's Reef]

Those Black box lights usually only last 5 to 6 years from what I know.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Ya that sounds about right. I'm not sure if this is considered a black box or not. It's that same style but this was a top of the line light when I bought it (not one of those cheap Chinese ones).

Anyways, what is it that makes them last 5 or 6 years? Is it usually a burnt out bulb or driver type of issue or are they talking about a loss of par?

 

[Brad Waddell Wrath's Reef]

Can be a number of things, all of the above that you mentioned. I'm sure you can find some used lights that will not cost you an arm and a leg. AI makes great lights and not crazy $$$.

 

[Scubasteve11]

No help around your LED question but love the tank!

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Ok thanks for the advice Wrath. I hate it but your probably right. I'll start looking at what's around for lighting these days starting with the ai lights!

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Thanks Steve!