Do my corals need less light?

[Chris H Reef]

Hey all,

I have a variety of Zoas, a Xenia, gsp, Kenya tree, leather mushroom, and hammer coral in my 75 gal tank.

They’re doing pretty well but they aren’t reaching out quite as far as they were in the fish store (I’ve had them in my tank now for months). My nutrients are good, I perform water changes and dose K and A elements daily. Could they not be reaching as far because my lights are turned up too strong?

My hammer coral looked like it was bleaching so for a week so I tried increasing the lighting intensity. Nothing happened to the hammer but the leather stopped reaching out until I lessened the lights back down.

My though it maybe if I lower the lights even more the corals might reach out more? What’s everyone’s thoughts?

Unfortunately I don’t know PAR, I’m just adjusting and seeing how my corals react.

 

[Sdoutreefer]

How long have they been in your tank? Were the coral ever fully extended?

 

[Chris H Reef]

How long have they been in your tank? Were the coral ever fully extended?

they’ve been in there for probably 2-4 months depending on the coral.

Yes, they looked like they extended further when I bough them at.

They all look healthy (except for the hammer) I just wonder if they could reach like they did at the fish store if I lower the light intensity.

 

[Sdoutreefer]

What lights are you running and at what intensity? What does 'good nutrients' mean?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

What type of lighting and intensity? Pics of the corals will help too.

Coral bleaching happens overnight or over 2 days, not over a week. Lets find out whats going on with your coral. Can you share the tank parameters.

 

[Chris H Reef]

What type of lighting and intensity? Pics of the corals will help too.

Coral bleaching happens overnight or over 2 days, not over a week. Let’s find out whats going on with your coral. Can you share the tank parameters.

1.026 sal
Ph: 8.2
Nitrate: 10
Nitrite: 0
Ammonia: 0

I have 2 150w Nicrew reef tank lights running at 45% white and 65% blue for about 9 hours a day.

 

[Chris H Reef]

1.026 sal
Ph: 8.2
Nitrate: 10
Nitrite: 0
Ammonia: 0

I have 2 150w Nicrew reef tank lights running at 45% white and 65% blue for about 9 hours a day.

It’s hard to get good pics hahaha. Here’s a few of them under white light

 

[Chris H Reef]

What lights are you running and at what intensity? What does 'good nutrients' mean?

Sorry I meant good parameters.

I’m running 2 nicrew 150w reef lights at 45% white and 65% blue for about 9 hours.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

IMO those are good lights for that size tank, and I think you have them at a good intensity. Personally I don't think the lights are too bright. But IDK, lets see what others say.

How is the flow? I see a huge low-flow spot behind your hammer with algae growing on the sand. Leathers especially like flow.

 

[Lavey29]

Decrease white increase blue

 

[Chris H Reef]

IMO those are good lights for that size tank, and I think you have them at a good intensity. Personally I don't think the lights are too bright. But IDK, lets see what others say.

How is the flow? I see a huge low-flow spot behind your hammer with algae growing on the sand. Leathers especially like flow.

I have 2 power heads in there (can’t remember the gpm) but I do see what you’re saying, neither of them are hitting the mushroom or hammer directly.

 

[Chris H Reef]

@Lavey29 and @Mr. Mojo Rising do you think there’s a downside to messing with my lights?

I want to try lowering the white and upping the blue but am worried it could shock my corals.

 

[Chris H Reef]

@Lavey29 and @Mr. Mojo Rising do you think there’s a downside to messing with my lights?

I want to try lowering the white and upping the blue but am worried it could shock my corals.

I set them to 25% white and 75% blue. I’ll run them like this for a few days and monitor the corals.

 

[Chris H Reef]

Thanks both of you for the help! Changing my lights seemed to make my corals happier and plus they look much more vibrant under the blues!