AI update with pics

[mvm]

It's been an up and down battle with these fixtures, but I think I've finally got things going in the right direction. The fixtures have been over the tank since 5-7-11. Here's a fts when they were first put on. The monti in the back is the easiest to tell growth on.

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Now:

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Looking at it now, the encrusting montis have really grown. Probably doubled in size. Appleberry, green w/ red polyps, and sunset. The birdsnest was about the size of a golf ball when I got it 3 months ago. Now it's more like a baseball.
Here's a side shot:

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A lot of my SPS browned out when I turned the light down. I also was lacking on water changes; having a BB didn't help that.

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Look at the monti in the old pic, about 3 months ago:

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[jesse'sgirl]

looks good, what percentages are you running

 

[thanhreef]

Matt, your tank looks great.

 

[mvm]

I just upped them to 95/95/100 for 4 hours per day. I might dail them back if I see any bleaching. I think the adjustability of these lights is part of the problem. With halides, you turn them on and that's it. I'm an impatient person, so I'm always adjusting them. I need to learn to just leave them alone!!

 

[jesse'sgirl]

i know of atleast 5 people that have burnt coral with the AIs because they just threw them on at 100% as soon as they got them. we want led but we have a 6 foot tank and would cost a ton, looks good. keep up the posts with how that percentage is working out

 

[KrisDeitz]

Looks really good Matt!

 

[rdnelson]

Love the tank. Looks great.

 

[budsreef]

Looks good! Can you post your complete lighting schedule?

 

[mvm]

Pretty simple. I'm using my Apex to control them. Nothing elaborate:
Both blues have a ramp time of 120 minutes and max out at 95%
Whites have a ramp time of 150 minutes and max out at 100%
Ramp up at 11:30 and ramp down starting at 9:00 PM, white starting at 8:00.

 

[acroholic]

MvM;700419 wrote: I just upped them to 95/95/100 for 4 hours per day. I might dail them back if I see any bleaching. I think the adjustability of these lights is part of the problem. With halides, you turn them on and that's it. I'm an impatient person, so I'm always adjusting them. I need to learn to just leave them alone!!

I definitely agree with you regarding the dimmability of the AIs. It is a double edge sword, IMO. A nice feature to have, but can lead to browning of the corals if the white component is too low.

I think you will see a big difference after a time with the new higher intensity settings, Matt. As I posted before, one of the things I saw in colorful AI lit SPS reefs was a good chunk of the photoperiod at high, almost even intensity percentages.

 

[mvm]

Looking at the tank today and the corals are looking even better with just a few days of the increased intensity. My red planet is getting the nice deep red/green and my icefire is getting the bright blue tips. I'll post some more pics this weekend. It would be nice if I could take a picture worth a crap!!

 

[ralph atl]

Looking great! Nice to see someone with sps have some success with LED's.
I'm waiting another year.....