FarmerTy

Most people have their LEDs too blue for my tastes. At 70 white, 20 blue, it looks pretty close to the 14k Radium I've been running my acros under the last 5 months. The other two bulbs were the cheap plusrite but I wanted to make sure I wasn't missing out on anything with running the cheap bulbs. Final verdict, may be losing some color with the plusrites but again, not enough to pay $60+ per bulb.

Par readings for that distance and intensity give me 400 par just under the water surface, 275 par around mid-tank, and 150 par on the sand. The total height of my tank is 29". I'll aim to slowly ramp it up until I get the same numbers as my MH when the bulbs are new... 700-800 at the tops of the highest acros (3-6" below surface), 400-500 par mid-level, and 200-250 on the sandbed. I'll let the corals dictate those numbers though as I know the par readings can be off with LEDs.

I've had it at 70 whites, 20 blues during the transition. They are roughly 9" off the water and about 35" to the sandbed. They appear very similar in spectrum as my 400-watt MH but just a hair dimmer, mainly because the par values I've set a tad lower while acclimating the corals to LEDs.

Slacker this Jim! [emoji12]

That thing is HUGE!!!

Goals for the next coming weeks are this: 1) Transition the middle MH to LED 2) Measure readings of par values between the two units to make sure there is appropriate coverage in between units 3) Frag up purple stylo and screaming green birds nest colonies. Keep a small colony of each and sell the rest 4) Redo the left side aquascape and glue all remaining homeless acros on the left side 5) Add a school of anthias to the tank and maybe one more tang and call it a day.

I had taken a picture the other day as I was trying to tune the LED spectrum to a visually similar look to the 400-watt MH. I think I'm getting closer. Par readings are very similar as well right now. LED is on the left, middle light is off, and MH is on the right. The corals all have been similarly happy during the transition. I have not noticed any odd changing of coloration or any ticked off looking coral. I know the LED will potentially change the color/look of the acros underneath it but whatever change is already occurring appears very minimal to me. I know it's only been a week or so... so I'm prepared to see more changes down the line as we go.

You've never seen me ball Reburn! [emoji41]

Nice! You already got a piece of that aussie shortcake! Looks awesome!

You should have seen when I lowered the rim to 7'. I looked like Blake Griffin out there!

If that's what I have to do to be able to dunk the ball, I'm game!

Like I said... no problem! If only I had a fish room, I'd be growing 100's of them... each in their own betta-sized tanks.

Too good to be true is my usual stance on those ridiculously colored acros I keep seeing around. I'll order mariculture online and hope that it colors up to something awesome but I'll never order a specific high-end frag unless I've seen it in person. There's just too much chop shop and super saturated up close acro pictures for me to ever bite.

Well then why am I only 5'4"?

Really? I got one in my pico right now, no problem. You must be doing something wrong. [emoji6]

Woohoo! I mean, doh, I live by a nuclear reactor?

How long has the power been out? It's crazy but the power has never been out for more than 15 mins at my place since I bought it in 2009. I wonder if I'm on a special grid, like a hospital grid or something.

Good thing you have that reserve power! Power is still on for me by the Domain.

I think that was the best sandbed treasure pack yet! Going to be hard to outdo that one!

Acro eye candy! Look what I got the great guys at Niko's to special order for me! Aussie shortcake! [emoji7]

Congrats on the new baby sir!

Welcome!

Pshhhh... everyone will get small hints and clues.... maybe a fin there, a tail there....

Kill it with FIRE!!! [emoji12]

Says the man who has two giant tanks in his garage! [emoji23] I'm totally sassing Richard. He built out his garage as a fully functional man-cave/office with insulation and AC. [emoji6]