Anybody growing good coral in a LED biocube 32?

[JC Slater]

100%?? I have mine just over 50%.

Yup! I started off with blues around 40% and whites around 15% or so when I installed it. Slowly over the course of the next year or so Ive ramped them up to 100% blue and 60% white. Tank has been running since November 2016. I keep Alk stable @ 8.2-8.4 via a doser with 2 part.

You know, it could be a bit strong, but really most of my corals are halfway down the tank except for that green Monti Cap. I had that purple Millipora a couple inches lower behind that green SPS when they were both single stick inch long frags. I ended up moving the purple milli to where its at. Before the base and part of the stalks had some green. Now with it moved up, the purple color has gotten stronger. Some spots were really light, maybe was being somewhat shadowed, but it colored right up. However it did loose the green except for on the bottom of the base and on the backside where it is slightly shaded. But if you look at it, all tips have white growth. Last 4 months or so that thing has exploded with growth. So it probably took it a few weeks for it to acclimate to a bit higher light intensity.

Here is a pic from April 3rd 2017 I found. Helps gauge growth. Thanks!

 

[JC Slater]

100% r u sure?

Yup. Blues come on at 8:30 am. 2.5 hour ramp up to 100%. 2.5 hour ramp down and off at 8:30 pm
Whites come on at 9:30 am. 2.5 hour ramp up to 60%. 2.5 hour ramp down and off at 7:30

I have the 14k kit. Those pics are more torwards the end of the day when lights are ramping down. I take really crappy blue pics with my iPhone. need to bust out the DSLR sometime.

 

[Krzydmnd]

I also run Steve's led pretty high. I'm at 90% blues right now after months of 65%. Once i got up to 90% I noticed my acros brighten right up. I've shaded a few mushrooms at the bottom but so far everything seems to like the higher settings.

 

[jasonrusso]

I also run Steve's led pretty high. I'm at 90% blues right now after months of 65%. Once i got up to 90% I noticed my acros brighten right up. I've shaded a few mushrooms at the bottom but so far everything seems to like the higher settings.

How high up are the acros?

 

[Krzydmnd]

About 5-10 inches deep.

 

[BangedUp]

I’m using the stock LEDs and have euphyllia and trumpets growing, a Birdsnest and Acro top and center slowly growing, and a Chalice coral that’s tripled in size over a couple months. I think using a high quality salt like coral pro with weekly WC, and dosing to keep kH and Ca levels stable helps big time.

Placement of the corals is everything, looking good and nice work

 

[jasonrusso]

About 5-10 inches deep.

You have a red planet as well. I just got one and a pink lemonade. They are way high up. I don't want to burn them.

Why does everyone keep the white so low? Is it bad for the corals or a preference? I don't like the all blue look. I like to see some colors

 

[Postullio]

Whites too high can bleach corals

 

[Krzydmnd]

You have a red planet as well. I just got one and a pink lemonade. They are way high up. I don't want to burn them.

Why does everyone keep the white so low? Is it bad for the corals or a preference? I don't like the all blue look. I like to see some colors

At peak my whites are at 28%. It's a nice visual balance for my personal preference. I believe the picture I posted is under Photography Mode which bumps them both up all of the way.

 

[jasonrusso]

At peak my whites are at 28%. It's a nice visual balance for my personal preference. I believe the picture I posted is under Photography Mode which bumps them both up all of the way.

Right now my whites are at 1200 and my blues are at 2200. I'm slowly ramping up the intensity.

I don't want to burn anything. I had a trachyphyllia that I bleached pretty good. It's under a plate frag that I bought and it is recovering. I think I finally have all the frags I want to start growing out, so I can slowly ramp up the light and they can adjust.

How much per day or week can I raise it?

 

[Postullio]

1 notch they say. But I never had issues doing a couple a day

 

[Krzydmnd]

Probably 3-4 weeks total time, depending on how far you need to go. I went from 65-90 over a 4 week period and didn't have any ill effects. Slower is better.

 

[jasonrusso]

What kind of things should I be looking for when I "jump the shark" on lighting and it gets too intense?

 

[jasonrusso]

+1 for Steve's upgrade. It's as expensive as the tank but so worth it for growth and appearance. I am growing almost all sps in my biocube 32 with Steve's lifts running about 68% blues and 25% whites at peak. I used a seneye meter to get a rough PAR idea, and am at about 400 top and 80 at the bottom. Thus is right in the middle of the tank, those numbers drop significantly moving to the sides.

First pic is Photo Mode on the bluefish controller (I think it maxes blues and whites) and second pic is my mid day setting. Both are completely unedited.

Well, I burned my pink lemonade. It turned pink and then died. My coral guy thinks it is the white channel. He says the Steve's LEDs have too much red and green. My night stalker is also bleaching a bit.

I think I am going to turn the white channel down to 15% (currently at 25%) to see if that helps. Blue is just over 50%.

 

[Krzydmnd]

Well, I burned my pink lemonade. It turned pink and then died. My coral guy thinks it is the white channel. He says the Steve's LEDs have too much red and green. My night stalker is also bleaching a bit.

I think I am going to turn the white channel down to 15% (currently at 25%) to see if that helps. Blue is just over 50%.

Sorry to hear that! I haven't had any issues with my % but I'll be watching

 

[jasonrusso]

Sorry to hear that! I haven't had any issues with my % but I'll be watching

He did say that some are more sensitive than others. I have a red planet that is doing fine.

The PL was at the top of the tank so it was getting the most intense light as well.

 

[Pwelter]

I have Biocube 29 I added Truelumen pros. The kit is pretty inexpensive and will fit under the stock hood. I use the Pro ramp timer.

Are these still working well for you?

 

[Darin]

Are these still working well for you?

They are. I've no problems at all with lights.....everything is growing crazy and corals look very healthy. This is a recent pic of my tank

 

[Slowlane]

Has anyone added just a 12” acitinic reef bright or true lumen led bar to go with the stock lights?
Curious how well it did.. I’m thinking about either this or just ditching the top and gettin a Viparspectra and putting my sb reef lights board I have in it.
Corals I have are doing good with the stock light and keeping the parameters where they should be. It just seems like the lights have to much white and I’m having to keep them on longer than it should be.

I know it’s an old thread but thanks for any replies.

 

[Bridgette Wiltz]

I have the biocube 32g with stock lid. Trying to figure out my lights. In tank I have. 2 hammers, torch, favia, 2 Zoanthids.
LC1 (1200 to 4:00
LC2 (4:00 to 2100)
LC3 (0515 to 2200)
I have the biocube 32g. Stock led.

 

[Bridgette Wiltz]

I have the biocube 32g with stock lid. Trying to figure out my lights. In tank I have. 2 hammers, torch, favia, 2 Zoanthids.
LC1 (1200 to 4:00
LC2 (4:00 to 2100)
LC3 (0515 to 2200)
I have the biocube 32g. Stock led.

 

[Bridgette Wiltz]

I have the biocube 32g with stock lid. Trying to figure out my lights. In tank I have. 2 hammers, torch, favia, 2 Zoanthids.
LC1 (1200 to 4:00
LC2 (4:00 to 2100)
LC3 (0515 to 2200)
I have the biocube 32g. Stock led.
Can someone tell me if this is a favia on top?