Lighting Specs And Corals

[Canadianeh]

What PAR, PAR peak, LUX, LUX Peak on lighting specs?

Does anyone have list of corals with their minimum lighting level requirements?

 

[Friendly]

oooh, this is something I'd like to know too!

 

[kapelan]

merchants usually explain, like this:
--
Care level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful
Coral placement: Low/Medium
Lighting requirement: Medium
Waterflow requirement: Medium
--
Basicaly it does not matter if you have a powerful light:
- if coral needs a lot of light - then put it closer to the light
- zoas, mushrooms... they can stay on the bottom.

 

[Friendly]

that does help a bit kapelan, but if there is a chart or schedule that gives us an idea of the recommended PAR levels at different depths for corals, it would help even more.

 

[EricTMah]

You're better off to just ask as you aquire corals.

Back in the day before everyone was so hung up on par and such. We used to just buy a coral. Start at the lowest part of the tank and slowly move it closer to the light until we saw it begin to not do as well.

Don't get hung up on numbers. This hobby will run you rapid when trying to achieve the "ideal" reef.

Lots of trial and error in this hobby.

Sony Xperia Z3

 

[Friendly]

Back in the day before everyone was so hung up on par and such. We used to just buy a coral. Start at the lowest part of the tank and slowly move it closer to the light until we saw it begin to not do as well.
Sony Xperia Z3

the way I see it, Eric, is that there is so much info/data available that it doesn't need to be, or should not be, trial and error unless you're doing something new and niche that the hobby/industry isn't used to.

having that info at our finger tips will make for a more successful tank, which is our end goal. if we can avoid loss or damage or hurting/harming our livestock, we should make every effort we can to do that. not dong it is a lack of respect for what we're trying to care for.

 

[LIttle Reef Keeper]

General Rule:
Sofites-lower light
Lps-medium light
Sps-hugh light

There are many exceptions, such as acans being a lps, want a little shade, where hammers love light!

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

 

[Canadianeh]

the way I see it, Eric, is that there is so much info/data available that it doesn't need to be, or should not be, trial and error unless you're doing something new and niche that the hobby/industry isn't used to.

having that info at our finger tips will make for a more successful tank, which is our end goal. if we can avoid loss or damage or hurting/harming our livestock, we should make every effort we can to do that. not dong it is a lack of respect for what we're trying to care for.

Well said. Since there are many people that already done their trial and error and many living things died because of it, we are simply wondering if someone might know a table that list PAR requirements for most common corals.
No need to keep repeating trial and error and unnecessary kill living things if many people have done trial and error already. Just need to simply share the findings for newbies

 

[Friendly]

General Rule:
Sofites-lower light
Lps-medium light
Sps-hugh light

There are many exceptions, such as acans being a lps, want a little shade, where hammers love light!

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

that's very true, Zack. eh and I are just looking for some general rules of thumb that can be applied to the hobby.

 

[Canadianeh]

I am going to go with Nanobox Duo M for the lighting. Any Canadian retailers sell Nanobox Duo M LED ?

 

[Nick James]

I would say nothing is absolute as different factors like how clean your water is and the amount of flow comes in to play. There is an article, can't remember if it was advanced aquarist or reefkeeping online magazine that showed some results for some coral.

I found this site as well.

http://www.arcadia-aquatic.com/par-readings/

As Eric stated, until you get a handle on how much light you have, start things low and move them up. Better to brown than to bleach.

 

[Canadianeh]

I would say nothing is absolute as different factors like how clean your water is and the amount of flow comes in to play. There is an article, can't remember if it was advanced aquarist or reefkeeping online magazine that showed some results for some coral.

I found this site as well.

http://www.arcadia-aquatic.com/par-readings/

As Eric stated, until you get a handle on how much light you have, start things low and move them up. Better to brown than to bleach.

that website is helpful! Thank you!

Also, do you know any Canadian retailers sell Nanobox Duo M LED ?

 

[EricTMah]

the way I see it, Eric, is that there is so much info/data available that it doesn't need to be, or should not be, trial and error unless you're doing something new and niche that the hobby/industry isn't used to.

having that info at our finger tips will make for a more successful tank, which is our end goal. if we can avoid loss or damage or hurting/harming our livestock, we should make every effort we can to do that. not dong it is a lack of respect for what we're trying to care for.

That's not my point.

I agree that you should be as informed as you can. But....

Remember that not everything you read online is true. Most is based upon personal experience and trial and error.

My main point is that there is so much info available now and most is false.
If you get caught up trying to achieve the "ideal numbers" that it will make your head spin and also could cause more problems. Rather than being an involved hobbyist that monitor your own tank and look for signs that require further investigation.
Everyone's system is different and some things or numbers may work for one person, but not others.

I've seen tanks that look like the "perfect" reef on paper(and "numbers"). But still fail at every corner.

All the experienced reefers, will tell you. Know your tank and stop chasing numbers.

Sony Xperia Z3

 

[heath]

You're better off to just ask as you aquire corals.

Back in the day before everyone was so hung up on par and such. We used to just buy a coral. Start at the lowest part of the tank and slowly move it closer to the light until we saw it begin to not do as well.

Don't get hung up on numbers. This hobby will run you rapid when trying to achieve the "ideal" reef.

Lots of trial and error in this hobby.

Sony Xperia Z3

AMEN, and what works in one tank doesn't always work in your tank...
the only numbers that you should be concerned about are your water quality numbers... that will kill a tank quicker than poop...

 

[Friendly]

well, I just received a reply for one of the CDN Coralife rep's regarding the lighting provided in the new LED BioCube 16 and 32.

according to a PowerPoint presentation they attached, Central Aquatics has 3 LED BioCube's on the go. One instance of each coral types...soft, LPS and SPS. they have been going for over a year. the presentation says you should successfully grow softies at the bottom with the LPS and SPS dong fine higher up.

 

[Canadianeh]

well, I just received a reply for one of the CDN Coralife rep's regarding the lighting provided in the new LED BioCube 16 and 32.

according to a PowerPoint presentation they attached, Central Aquatics has 3 LED BioCube's on the go. One instance of each coral types...soft, LPS and SPS. they have been going for over a year. the presentation says you should successfully grow softies at the bottom with the LPS and SPS dong fine higher up.

Thanks for letting us know. I think I am going with IM Fusion 25L and Nanobox Duo plus Moon LED system.

 

[Canadianeh]

Thanks for letting us know. I think I am going with IM Fusion 25L and Nanobox Duo plus Moon LED system.

or maybe I need bigger tanks as some members here think bigger tank is "safer" for newbies.

 

[heath]

its a big decision on what size tank to get and I think another thing that you need to ask, What do I want to keep in the tank...fish only, coral or a blend of both and how much time do I want to spend on maintenance ...fish grow and so do corals...I tend to overstock and overfeed...
this hobby is EXTREMELY additive and trust me your plan will change as you get into it...