What % for new LEDs?!

ajensen23 · Feb 5, 2013

I just got my Aqua Illumination Nano in the mail today. I will be placing this over my Biocube 29 with the included hang-over bracket (hopefully, if it mounts nice). Just wondering what percent I should start the LED's at, and what interval I should increase it at. I pretty much have all LPS in the tank. I do have the controller btw. Thanks!

NanoNathan · Feb 5, 2013

IMO id start at 30-40 % and ramp up every week until your corals look happy. I run my leds at 80%

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BigAl07 · Feb 6, 2013

Here is how I've done it on the last 2 LED upgrades (first one doesn't count because I bleached all my SPS because I underestimated the intensity of LED).

RSM130D November 2011 - Stock RSM T5's (not our standard T5's but a PC bulb at the 5/8" diameter) upgraded to ModularLED (prototype kit). This was a pretty intense kit and since I was going from a medium intensity bulb I erred on the side of caution and started with an intensity of 20% (white & blues) and slowly worked my way up to around 85% (whites and blues) and then backed off to where I am today. I'm around 65% whites and 75% blues for the High Noon portion of the day.

NanoCube12DX January 2013 - Tank was running my DIY LED from ~5 years ago. This was WAY before you could buy an LED kit... in fact we had trouble finding ANY of the components in North America. Most of them came directly from China. The system was very outdated and needed an overhaul to redo the fans, a switch was bad and I had a couple of solder joints that needed some attention. I decided to go with StevesLED and WOW what an easy install. I started them off at around 50% (Just a guess because it's not on a controller just the dimming knobs) and I'll crank it up a touch every week until I'm up closer to 80%.

I think the key is starting LOWER than you would think you should and slowly working your way up higher. I never adjusted my photo-period for either install and just let the reduced intensity compensate for the light acclimation to LED.

I hope that helps.