nyciachef Posted November 5, 2017 Share Posted November 5, 2017 So I am having issues in my tank with low coral growth and dual appearance, also green algae growth. I first lost an sps frag and my lps frags aren’t looking so hot. I have a cheap black box that has been running for about two years, I was thinking, should I swap out LEDS and the driver in that box? Or should I just get two prime hd lights and forget about it. My specs are in line however I don’t have a phosphate test so I am not sure what that is at. Any ideas? Suggestions? General comments? Lol Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PowderBlue Posted November 5, 2017 Share Posted November 5, 2017 So I am having issues in my tank with low coral growth and dual appearance, also green algae growth. I first lost an sps frag and my lps frags aren’t looking so hot. I have a cheap black box that has been running for about two years, I was thinking, should I swap out LEDS and the driver in that box? Or should I just get two prime hd lights and forget about it. My specs are in line however I don’t have a phosphate test so I am not sure what that is at. Any ideas? Suggestions? General comments? Lol Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkWhat are the dimensions? I've run everything from.metal halide to LED and honestly T5 does the best for all around coral types for me but I went back to Primes on my current build. Are the corals bleaching or just melting per say? Bleaching could mean too much intensity. A prime is good for about 20x20 maybe a little bigger, I run 2 on a 30 gallon nuvo fusion and get great coverage. Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Optimusprime3605 Posted November 5, 2017 Share Posted November 5, 2017 Don't much about different lights but I, too, had bad LEDs in my black boxes with probably a terrible spectrum. Saw something on fb from Sbreeflights. They have replacement PCB boards or something rather which, has great spectrum. I ordered 2 replacement boards, $69 each. Swapped out both boards. Took about 15 minutes to swap one out, basically 2 connectors and that's it. Never been happier. Grows my sps with great spectrum, I suppose. So don't throw in the towel with your old black box, just replace the PCB board...but then again, what do I know, I'm just a BASIC reefer. If you do want to get rid of your black box, lmk, I might take it off your hands. HTH Sent from my man cave hoping the Dodgers win the World Series [emoji14] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nyciachef Posted November 5, 2017 Author Share Posted November 5, 2017 Thanks guys my tank is 36x18x20 I believe the depth may be off a little but it’s 60 gallonsSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PowderBlue Posted November 5, 2017 Share Posted November 5, 2017 Thanks guys my tank is 36x18x20 I believe the depth may be off a little but it’s 60 gallonsSent from my iPhone using TapatalkIf you want primes you'd have to buy 2 of them my tank is 36 wide and one definitely wouldn't cut it Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nyciachef Posted November 5, 2017 Author Share Posted November 5, 2017 If you want primes you'd have to buy 2 of them my tank is 36 wide and one definitely wouldn't cut it Sent from my SM-G955U using TapatalkThank you! I was absolutely planning on two of them but I may try the pcb upgrade that was talked about itSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spectra Posted November 6, 2017 Share Posted November 6, 2017 If it was me well........T5s for the win I am old school and loved MH but people complain of the heat......not so bad really. I run T5s and LEDs over my system and growth is great. I had the AI primes but was not a fan of them. People love tem but just not my thing. Maybe look for a used ATI fixture. Good luck in your search and you are going to get a lot of answers on this 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xmas_one Posted November 7, 2017 Share Posted November 7, 2017 I’d be willing to bet a pinky that it isn’t your lighting. Tell us a little more about your tank and water parameters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exodus Posted November 7, 2017 Share Posted November 7, 2017 I think @xmas_one has a point here. What are the Parameters and you really should get a phosphate test. The other thing I'm wondering is what kind of flow is in this tank, over the last year what corals are growing and which ones aren't? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nyciachef Posted November 12, 2017 Author Share Posted November 12, 2017 I think [mention=15900]xmas_one[/mention] has a point here. What are the Parameters and you really should get a phosphate test. The other thing I'm wondering is what kind of flow is in this tank, over the last year what corals are growing and which ones aren't?The tank is fairly new started the cycle in August and populated in October 1.023 salinity, ph 8.2, nitrates 0, water changes weekly, the pictures below are from the 2nd and third week of October right after the frag festThe next set of pictures was taken this morning, I did change out the led board with the sbreeflights mentioned previously in this thread. On the old board there were a dozen browned out LEDS. More Params coming this afternoon. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nyciachef Posted November 12, 2017 Author Share Posted November 12, 2017 I’d be willing to bet a pinky that it isn’t your lighting. Tell us a little more about your tank and water parameters.Thank you I responded below any and all help is appreciatedSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Optimusprime3605 Posted November 12, 2017 Share Posted November 12, 2017 Didn't realize how new your tank is, just a few months... Although, I've had success with the sbreeflights, my tank at that time was already 6 months in. As for yours, I'm thinking more, it's your water/params, at the moment. Sent from my man cave hoping the Dodgers win the World Series [emoji14] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carla Posted November 12, 2017 Share Posted November 12, 2017 IMO, a phosphate test kit really won't do you much good, it will probably show 0, but the phosphates are contained in the algae and won't read out. I think your tank is still cycling and time and patience will win out if you keep up your water changes. You could maybe do 2 water changes a week for a month and see where that gets you? Was the live rock dried rock and did you cure it before it went into the tank? All that bein said, what % are you running your lights at. In my experience, the higher you have the the whites, the more chance of nuisance algae appears. I run mostly blue on my Mars Aquas and have been pretty darn happy with the results. hope this helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nyciachef Posted November 12, 2017 Author Share Posted November 12, 2017 IMO, a phosphate test kit really won't do you much good, it will probably show 0, but the phosphates are contained in the algae and won't read out. I think your tank is still cycling and time and patience will win out if you keep up your water changes. You could maybe do 2 water changes a week for a month and see where that gets you? Was the live rock dried rock and did you cure it before it went into the tank? All that bein said, what % are you running your lights at. In my experience, the higher you have the the whites, the more chance of nuisance algae appears. I run mostly blue on my Mars Aquas and have been pretty darn happy with the results. hope this helpsThank you the tank cycled for quite awhile until all the params came into spec. The live rock was from another tank that I nuked due to majano issues I soaked the rock in vinegar for two days then freshwater with daily changes for two weeks. I run the lights on a long ramp cycle peaking for an hour during the day at 80%white and 100% blues then ramping back down Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carla Posted November 12, 2017 Share Posted November 12, 2017 7 minutes ago, nyciachef said: Thank you the tank cycled for quite awhile until all the params came into spec. The live rock was from another tank that I nuked due to majano issues I soaked the rock in vinegar for two days then freshwater with daily changes for two weeks. I run the lights on a long ramp cycle peaking for an hour during the day at 80%white and 100% blues then ramping back down Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Just my opinion, but try maybe turning the whites down a little. Maybe 50%? Let's see if there is a difference with the algae? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nyciachef Posted November 12, 2017 Author Share Posted November 12, 2017 Just my opinion, but try maybe turning the whites down a little. Maybe 50%? Let's see if there is a difference with the algae?Ok I’ll give it a try. Thank youSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carla Posted November 12, 2017 Share Posted November 12, 2017 Just now, nyciachef said: Ok I’ll give it a try. Thank you Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk This is all a poke and hope idea, because you may not like the looks of the tank with the whites turned down. Alot of people I know running LEDs are primarily blue, and I am only speaking from what has worked for my experiences. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nyciachef Posted November 12, 2017 Author Share Posted November 12, 2017 This is all a poke and hope idea, because you may not like the looks of the tank with the whites turned down. Alot of people I know running LEDs are primarily blue, and I am only speaking from what has worked for my experiences.It doesn’t matter to me I just want my tank to thrive. And experience is all that’s needed.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carla Posted November 12, 2017 Share Posted November 12, 2017 Good luck, and remember, nothing good ever happens fast in a reef tank. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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