It began with a new sump..

[Chrisgarrick]

 

[TanksNStuff]

Looks good Chris! Joe from Apollo recommends to have the fixture about 12" above the water surface.

What do you think of them now that they've been up almost a week?

 

[Chrisgarrick]

Love em. I have em 8 inches above. Was wondering what settings for max power you guys are using. They really are great

 

[TanksNStuff]

The acclimation should depend on what type of lights you had previously. If you had MH lights before, you could probably start out higher, but I was coming from a 4-bulb T5 fixture so I started out with Blues and Whites both at 50% (recommended). If you're coming from no lights at all... I'd say this is a safe starting point.

After 1 week, I went to 75% blues / 60% whites. 2nd week, I went up to 80% blue / 75% whites. 3rd week, I went to 95% blues, 75% whites. At the 4th week (and remaining til this day), I went to 100% blue / 75% whites. As you can see, I prefer a bit more blue because the whites at equal % will wash out a lot of the corals colors IMO.

Also, these are not set to be on at those percentages all day long. My controller is set at a sunrise/sunset feature that will start each light at 10% at the specified time and then slowly ramp up to the "MAX" % at around mid-day... then slowly ramp back down to 10% till the "OFF" time set for each channel. In reality, my tank only sees that "MAX" % for about an hour a day. My blues come on 1.5 hours before the whites and then go off 1.5 hours after the whites.

Hope that makes sense.

 

[Mike S]

I've got the same lights. You'll be very happy with them. I did the same thing as George and started them at about 50% and ramped them up about 5 to 10% per week. I running it at about 95% blue and 75% whites now and probably have them hanging about 10 inches off of the top of my tank.

 

[Chrisgarrick]

Thanks guys. I'm going to start upping the power this weekend. I have the sunrise/sunset setup too. I'm at max for for 4 hours.

 

[redfishbluefish]

Paul how high do you have them off the water?

I’m sorry, for some reason this one slipped by me for a week.


My lights are about 12 ½ inches off the water. Realize I’m trying to light a five foot tank with two lights.

 

[Chrisgarrick]

Here is a picture of the lights. Nice!

Calibrated my ph controller today. What's cool is the probe it came with is working! I found a new one and have it on standby. The calibration fluid makes it easy to test. Waiting for a 1/2 to 1/4 inch quick connect t to set up my calcium reactor.

 

[Chrisgarrick]

 

[mnat]

Are those the panda bangaiis?

Nice pics as well.

 

[Chrisgarrick]

Uh. Which one? The bleached acro and the toadstool I got from trop. The zoos are from Greg in Manasquan Everything else is from the Christmas party .

 

[mnat]

The fish, what type of cardinals are those.

 

[Chrisgarrick]

Orbic cardinals. Got them in freehold on sale and Njreefer discount got me 6 for 50.00.

 

[jgraz]

Nice cardinals Chris. Almost look like Pajamas but different colors. Did you redo the scape?

 

[Chrisgarrick]

Yes. I tried tier it like yours. I'm out with kids. Ill take some pics when I get home

 

[Chrisgarrick]

 

[Chrisgarrick]

I keep the pink altelia cause my clowns have hosted it. And the pulsing Xenia I got as a smashed frag and it has grown into a bush! They are on the left side of the tank. I don't want em coving the other rock.

 

[jgraz]

Looks good. Smart move with the Xenia.

 

[downbeach]

Looks great Chris, really like the lights.

 

[Chrisgarrick]

Thanks. I might move the pink birds nest lower. I started all of the new frags low but after I reset rock I moved it up. See how it makes out tomm. Thanks so much for the frags. They are beautiful.