To Enhance Old with New or Not. That is the question!

Rex

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Question: *Since the Cannons are such old tech and ONLY white and blue, should I add something like a Hydra 26HD on either side of the middle set or A1 Primes, to mix in more diverse lighting?

I am new to getting serious about a reef, vs having fish and dead coral. Except for aptasia and mushrooms, they did well in past years.
To the lighting, I have 3 blue and 3 white Old Ecoxotic Cannon 100s. and two 5' Hamilton Actunics 420nm across the front. Measured PAR, very low so dropped Cannons 3" and will slowly increase lighting over several months. I love the "Look" this combination gives, but concerned that I might need to add more of the spectrum for the corals.

Just to give you an idea of PAR, this is what I got across the top, 3" deep with Blue 70%, White 40% and Actunics 100%, (not dimmable). This was my 1st time so probably off a bit. The middle has 2' wide glass support. My concern probably is more with PUR, if I understand the terminology correctly.

Across the back
x - 90 - 100 - 80 - Mid 90 - 95 - 88 - 50 - x
Middle
124 - 150 - 165 - 160 - Mid 112 - 145 - 150 - 144 - 90
Front
80 - 90 - 109 - 93 - Mid 95 - 95 - 102 - 85 - 52

Bottom 1/3 of tank across front corals ran from about 100 down to 70 on the floor.
Thank you for any guidance!
(Also posting this with my local group)

Lighting 7-1-20.jpg DT 7-1-20.jpg
 

Graffiti Spot

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I have seen friends grow bueatiful acropora colonies from just two types of white and blue LEDs. Also seen the acropora spawn in one of these systems. I don’t think you have to have any other leds to the mix but maybe just make sure spread and par is right.
 

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