So bummed regarding my lighting

[mdpitts]

I need some help. I need to start this by saying I really need a wubby. The past year has been one constant struggle; I had problem after problem getting my inflatable hot tub set up, now my above ground pool has been 3 weeks of work and I still haven't been able to get in and I'm just discovering that the lights I have on my new tank set up aren't doing much for my corals. Also, money is definitely an issue and adds stress to the whole thing.

I have been getting a 40B set up and had gotten a good deal on TWO Current Orbit Marine LED lights 36"-48" so they cover the whole width of my tank. I thought having two lights would up my par levels so I could make SPS corals happy. Right now I have a little bit of everything in my tank, montipora, birdsnest, chalice, leptoseris, euphyllia, cyphastrea and softies. I don't want to be constrained from getting what catches my eye.

All of the above to ask - is there anything I can do to salvage the situation? Can I add another light to help add par. I have 50W pendant type light and a 30W one as well. Maybe I could hang one of those so it shines down over the rock where my light loving corals are? Or should I try to sell the Orbit Marine ones and go with a Noopsyche? Lighting and placement are rough for me to get the hang of.

And here is a little guy that got the worry started - a Silver Bullet Montipora that is looking pretty dull with no polyp things. I moved it to the tallest rock top.

Here is an image I grabbed on here of someone with the same light on a 40B - remember I doubled up so I have two. This is what made me think I'd be ok with two. I'm kinda dim on knowledge of lighting (get it!).

Remember I'm on a budget.

 

[Reefer Matt]

You can always mount the coral up higher. SPS coral need high flow and light. Magnetic frag racks can help too if rock is filled up. I had problems with those lights too, but some Reefers do have success with them.

 

[Doctorgori]

I had that brand; decent construction/weak par….
I prescribe a AI blade…not a fan of that brand but decent fit for your config…
and perhaps within budget…????

 

[saltytanked]

1-2 viparspectras from Amazon or any black box led and your good.

 

[Oldreefer44]

While you may very well be correct that your lighting is inadequate but I would caution patience. The monti looks normal to me and IMO it normally takes weeks if not months for most SPS to show their true coloration and growth rate. Also, IMO, lighting is often the first thing to be blamed when expectations are not met yet water parameters are far more often the primary issue. Again, you may be correct but would hate to see you invest in more lighting and then see no improvement.

 

[mdpitts]

While you may very well be correct that your lighting is inadequate but I would caution patience. The monti looks normal to me and IMO it normally takes weeks if not months for most SPS to show their true coloration and growth rate. Also, IMO, lighting is often the first thing to be blamed when expectations are not met yet water parameters are far more often the primary issue. Again, you may be correct but would hate to see you invest in more lighting and then see no improvement.

Oh, good! That's a little uplifting. You can probably tell by the algae that I try to keep my lighting on the lighter side. I've heard mixed things about these lights but I like them and I have them so I hope they work out. I'm pretty good about water changes - I really believe in those and it's one of the main reasons I kept with a smaller tank. Thanks for the thoughtful reply.

 

[mdpitts]

1-2 viparspectras from Amazon or any black box led and your good.

Nice. I've heard of the black box - I used to shop a lot on AlieExpress so maybe I should check out prices.

 

[mdpitts]

I had that brand; decent construction/weak par….
I prescribe a AI blade…not a fan of that brand but decent fit for your config…
and perhaps within budget…????

I'll look into those. I'd go nuts if I had the cold hard cash.

 

[mdpitts]

You can always mount the coral up higher. SPS coral need high flow and light. Magnetic frag racks can help too if rock is filled up. I had problems with those lights too, but some Reefers do have success with them.

Great tip!! I did that in my Evo 13.5 with a brain coral who seemed puny on the sand but he's so happy halfway up the wall on his frag rack that I don't have the heart to move him downstairs to the 40b. A frag rack is a great idea because by the time those guys need more room I'll have saved for a better light solution.

 

[Reefer Matt]

Great tip!! I did that in my Evo 13.5 with a brain coral who seemed puny on the sand but he's so happy halfway up the wall on his frag rack that I don't have the heart to move him downstairs to the 40b. A frag rack is a great idea because by the time those guys need more room I'll have saved for a better light solution.

Yup, you don’t have to buy it all at once. I upgrade as I go too.

 

[Daniel@R2R]

Maybe check out @noopsyche lights. Good lights for a budget

 

[FUNGI]

best light for the $$...

Maxspect Razor X 150w LED Lighting Fixture (CLOSEOUT)

Limitless Spectral Combinations to Fit Your Tank’s NeedsEffective Coverage: 40in x 22in | Maximum Coverage: 48in x 26inDimensions: 27.6in x 10.2in x 1.25in (LxWxH) | Suited for tanks: 27in - 37.5in long

store.coralvue.com

 

[Stevorino]

The tank looks pretty new, how long has it been running?

JMO but I think lack of tank maturity is probably a MUCH bigger factor than lighting here. I'd keep the lights as is for now and just let the tank settle in a few more months. Go put your money into the other projects you have.

 

[Reef Puncher]

easy. do this. since your on a budget keep the strips. get a pendant light hung up and put the sps under that spot. the light from the pendant will just add extra light on top of the strips and bump up the par in that small area. acros need like 300+ par. that pendant will provide higher par under just one spot and allow you to keep the LPS in other lower par spots. problem solved. also keep the sps up high for higher par.
I have a strip light for blanket coverage and for lps, and i have a smaller stronger light (radion x15) which is pretty small for my tank, and i put it directly over my acros and sps. you could do the same thing by adding that pendant you mentioned.

 

[Dragen Fiend]

Keep the bar lights, then just add lights in the middle between them for high par penetration with more focus. Noopsyche K7 mini's can help boost those numbers while staying under budget.

 

[mdpitts]

Thanks everybody. Good advice that I can actually do without too much "pain". Last night when I got home I did a nice waterchange and moved some frags around to get them up higher. Tonight I'll get that other light mounted and see how it goes. Thanks so much!!

 

[mdpitts]

The tank looks pretty new, how long has it been running?

JMO but I think lack of tank maturity is probably a MUCH bigger factor than lighting here. I'd keep the lights as is for now and just let the tank settle in a few more months. Go put your money into the other projects you have.

You nailed it - it's only been up since April 1 - fish and frags went in around May 5. I'm testing and water changing weekly. I forget that keeping a reef tank is a patience game. I just don't want to kill anything - my fish tank motto is - no man left behind.

 

[mdpitts]

I just thought of something after reading on here more comments about lighting. Maybe I have my 2 light bars mounted too low?? I figured the closer to the water the better? Am I wrong?

 

[Dragen Fiend]

I just thought of something after reading on here more comments about lighting. Maybe I have my 2 light bars mounted too low?? I figured the closer to the water the better? Am I wrong?

You could lower them. How much of a difference it will make it hard to say without par testing.