LED Intensity

[intarsiabox]

Marko had a thread awhile back showing his 3 Sol's over his 180g and it looked good. I have a 36"x24" tank and have 2 Sol's over it as a single unit of either the Sol's or Radions wouldn't cover the area to my liking. I wanted lots of intensity over the entire square footage of the tank with no dim areas on the edges. My height is 12" above the water line and going through a glass top and run at 60%W, 70%RB & 70%B. It took me about 3 months to build up to this level (I used the amount of algae it produced on the glass to know when to increase the level) and haven't seen any need to go any higher. Corals all seem happy and the tank is very bright and pleasing to my eyes.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by intarsiabox

Marko had a thread awhile back showing his 3 Sol's over his 180g and it looked good.

Ya, I used that as a guide, although he doesn't really have much for coral at this time to see how SPS react.
Dez also uses 3 and has great results, although he did add supplemental strips to fill in the shadows.

[intarsiabox]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

Ya, I used that as a guide, although he doesn't really have much for coral at this time to see how SPS react.
Dez also uses 3 and has great results, although he did add supplemental strips to fill in the shadows.

I think 4 units would eliminate shadows but would personally try 3 and then see if the extra cost is needed or not. My tank is only 20" deep so I can't say if raising the lights a couple inches higher and cranking up the intensity to 100% (over time) would give you the effect you are looking for or not. While I'm sure it'll grow coral just fine, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

[Aquattro]

Ya, for my tank I'll try three, see how it looks. The MH setup is all contained in the canopy, so I can simply put it back while saving for a fourth unit, then try again

[Madreefer]

Your gonna need 4. Biggest mistake I see is people not getting enough of them. Once your corals are used to them, which in my case has taken since Sept you can crank them up to 100%. You just have to be patient as you run in to problems with bleaching and brownout. Since ive started to get closer to the 100% mark i've seen better growth and color. I've copied a lighting schedule off of a member on that other site and it's turned out great.

[Duker]

Originally Posted by Madreefer

Your gonna need 4. Biggest mistake I see is people not getting enough of them. Once your corals are used to them, which in my case has taken since Sept you can crank them up to 100%. You just have to be patient as you run in to problems with bleaching and brownout. Since ive started to get closer to the 100% mark i've seen better growth and color. I've copied a lighting schedule off of a member on that other site and it's turned out great.

Your the first person i've heard running LED's at 100%. A year of getting ur Corals used to it. Wow, but hey ya can't rush it. Feel like sharing ur lighting schedule?? And do u lightning storm ever? And, what led's r u using....cool white, royal blue, blue, uv, red, green? And its the Aqua Illumination Sol? Thanks.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Duker

Your the first person i've heard running LED's at 100%.

A couple are, I think Rich said he was on his setup.

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

Ya, for my tank I'll try three, see how it looks. The MH setup is all contained in the canopy, so I can simply put it back while saving for a fourth unit, then try again

which ones are you looking at?

[Duker]

Great thread Brad, really helpful. So many people are where u are, thinking about it, questioning it, wanting them LED's I'll keep following. :0)

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by StirCrazy

which ones are you looking at?

The AI SOL blues...