Red Sea LED50 questions

[Mohawk Mafia]

Hi All,

 

I have been reading up on the above mentioned light and have some questions. My current settings are Blue & White at 100%  and I don't feel this is best. I have a Zoa in the right left of the tank that opens and has actually reproduced 2 polyps in a week (par is about 92 here). My Duncan I have in the center of the tank and it extends somewhat and has ok coloring (Par is about 102). My real concern is my Leptoseris (PAR is about 98 to 102. They are near each other). They haven't done anything since I placed them Friday. My Sympodium open a tiny bit and is in about 150 PAR. I have a Mushroom (can't recall the name) right of center up off the sand on a small ledge in about 100 PAR. I have the flow at low on the Nero 3 and the return pump I would call medium. 

 

I feel like I should lower the Blue/White based on some things I have read here and there. I am not sure to what levels though. I have included some pictures and todays test results. I am still working on the low Alk (5.88 dkH). I have some some rising Nitrites. Did a 10% water change on Friday, changed filter sock, today I cleaned return pump sump filter. 

 

So what I am looking for is any advice or tips to help me along. If you need more information just let me know.

 

Thanks for everything

 

Ryan

 

[ReefGoat]

You have zero phosphate. That’s not ideal. It appears that you have a par meter. Use that to get where you want and I wouldn’t be too concerned about the percentages the light is set to. If you’re getting the par readings you need. What is your concern about the light being at 100%? Are you concerned about overworking it and burning it up? 
 

you keep running those phosphates at zero and you’re going to have some problems in the near future. 

[Mohawk Mafia]

Thanks RG,

 

I was suspicious of my new tester not reading correctly. I have found out that is only reads to .10 and not lower so I went and double check with a Salifert tester and it came up 0.0 or clear. I have since dosed with Fuel and increased feeding to x3 a day. I'll see if that helps.

 

As for the lights the PARs I'm getting seem to be the areas the corals need to be according to what I have read. Not really worried about it burning up or anything like that, was more trying to confirm lower settings would benefit coral better but have since and the guy at my LFS it is all about the PAR 👍

[ReefGoat]

Fuel by aquavitro? 
 

That alone will not increase your phosphates. Just be careful with the 3x feedings per day. That can cause other problems. With the waste just accumulating in your tank. 
 

when my tanks are low on phosphates I don’t change or disrupt anything. I SLOWLY bring them up day by day by dosing phosphates. Until I can consistently have a steady reading. I like anywhere from .04 to .08. Several companies sell them. I use the Seachem version. 
 

with your nitrates being where they are. It may be tempting to water change to get them down. That’s going to drive your phosphates even further down. That’s another reason why I vote for carefully and meticulously dosing phosphates yourself to get that balance. It allows you to keep doing your water changes and not bottoming out your phosphates. In my current tank I’m phosphate limited for whatever reason. But my nitrates stay anywhere from 12-15. I do water changes to keep them down. But it drives my phosphates lower. I test my phosphates daily for the past month. I’ve gone from having to add like 3 drops daily to only having to add 3 or 4 drops after my weekly water change. They’re starting to steady out. 
 

I never altered my daily feeding for my one fish. I have fed the same amount daily the entire time.