I have mine on 12hrs a day, and I am having brown corals, I dont think its bright enough.

I lights are on 8 hours

1 24"
2 2-250w hqi 10" off water
3 giessmen
4 sps
5 zeo and carbon

Photo period is 6 hours, better health now than when I was running a longer photo period.

30" tank depth
2x 54W T5's -- 2x 250W DE 14k Phoenix bulbs
Lumenmax 3 reflectors
LOTs of SPS w/some LPS
Carbon (passively)

When I ran my 400w MH 12 hours, I had brown coral too. Now at 6 hours, I have colored corals.

Oh I might try that then, my understanding was that all zooxanthellae is brown, and when there is not enough light the coral makes more zooxanthellae and thus the coral goes brown. That said - if there is even less light then the zooxanthellae dies and the coral starts to bleach and die.

So now I'm not sure what to do - lol

I will tell you exactly what to do.

1 - Reduce your photo period by 1 hour every other day until you reach 5-7 hours. I would suggest you start your photo period in the late afternoon and thus you will have your viewing time in the evening when you are home. Your actinics could come on about three ours before your main lights come on and then a couple hours afterwards.

Just my opinion of course!

Ian

I'll give it a go.

I keep my photoperiod at 10 hours, up from 9 hours before
1- 24"
2- 4x54w Tek T5 and 2x39w Hagen Glo T5 (5 hours)
SPS and LPS (lower down)

I run carbon and phospate remover and change it around 6-8 weeks

Doh didn't see this befor I voted. I voted for 12 hours, but realy it is about 7 hours for the MH the rest was all actinic.

Steve

I would also recommend that you take time lapse photos, over the course of say a month or two. Then you can physically look at the photos and see how much coloring up your stuff is doing.

Although remember, some corals really are just brown...:lol: However, I hope that is not the case for you. :mrgreen: