Coral Growth

[fishdude]

In terms of coral growth, is it better to run your lights longer or brighter?

After years of using PC lighting I upgraded to LEDs. I hear a lot of people only run the LEDs at 100% for a short period in the day. Any science behind this? 75% for 10 hours or 100% for 7 hours?
Thanks!
-Nick

 

[jdavid]

LEDs can grow corals, but If you want to really grow corals, its all about the metal halides.

Mine are growing fast under 250w 14K

 

[nsconductor]

And there off......

 

[jdavid]

I do have a buyer lined up for my MH/T5 waiting to pull the trigger on LEDs though, so I'm not saying one is better. But I am of the opinion MH grows faster. They each have pros and cons. Like the power bill!!!!

Edit: which one gives "better" colors is just an opinion anyway, so I'll stay away from that (LEDS)

 

[ralph atl]

JDavid;875212 wrote: LEDs can grow corals, but If you want to really grow corals, its all about the metal halides.

Mine are growing fast under 250w 14K

I'm cutting like 12 inches a month......two, 400 watt radiums.....

LED's suck!

 

[jdavid]

So does your power bill lol

 

[ralph atl]

JDavid;875232 wrote: So does your power bill lol

YOU SIR, are correct!

 

[heathlindner25]

mysterybox;875230 wrote: I'm cutting like 12 inches a month......two, 400 watt radiums.....

LED's suck!

12" a month, little hard to believe..lol . I know tanks with 9 -400 watt metal halide radiums and they're coral don't grow that fast..lol are you talking about SPS growth?

 

[jdavid]

I think he meant total (that's added together for you slower people)

 

[rdnelson]

JDavid;875244 wrote: I think he meant total (that's added together for you slower people)

No! Toto was a pop group in the 80s. You kids don't know anything.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jdavid]

Oh gawd

 

[ralph atl]

JDavid;875244 wrote: I think he meant total (that's added together for you slower people)

yes! I'm cutting total from all corals that are growing into each other 6-12 inches every 4-8 weeks....lol.

granted, there are a few months that growth is stunted on the fast growers...

SPS....

 

[heathlindner25]

mysterybox;875254 wrote: yes! I'm cutting total from all corals that are growing into each other 6-12 inches every 4-8 weeks....lol.

granted, there are a few months that growth is stunted on the fast growers...

well that's some really good growth!! ..lol even on the slanted scale of 6" every two months, that's still really good. love to come see it sometime looks like we live in the same town.lol

 

[jdavid]

heathlindner25;875256 wrote: love to come see it sometime

Can't. He's a mystery.

 

[ralph atl]

heathlindner25;875256 wrote: well that's some really good growth!! ..lol even on the slanted scale of 6" every two months, that's still really good.

it might be an exaggeration... "in my mind it seems" kind of thing.....but it's a lot!

Check this last page or 2 out on my build:

 

[shanepike]

Y'all did a great job answering dude's question :tongue:

 

[jdavid]

Oh.. yeah...

Don't run your LEDS at 100%. I don't know anyone with a dimmable fixture that does.

I personally run my lights LESS time. Halides on 4 hours T5's on 6 hours.

Due to algae. But the corals are doing well. I think I heard that a photoperiod only needs to be 4 hours. Maybe Mr. President will comment

 

[jimmystephens]

Mb: ur tank is awesome. Heath is a hater

 

[jdavid]

Jimmy. Text message from Heath incoming "What did you say about me"

Don't cave as fast as I did

 

[jimmystephens]

leds: I run my blues at 90% and whites at 50% good sps growth. Had leds for a year with no issues. I found that only people without leds say leds cant grow sps. While i do agree mh is the "fastest" method. Led color is amazing with no heat and less power consumtion