lighting- 29 biocube

[lhenson]

From what I have read the tank should have 2 hours of blue light into 8 hours of daylight and then 2 more hours of blue light. Does this sound reasonable? I have a peppermint shrimp, clownfish, goby, and crabs. There is some Banyan Tree Leather Coral, Zoanthid, Green Polyps, Mushrooms, Feather dusters, and an Anemone though I can't find it since the move.

[lhenson]

Hoping someone can tell me what I have done wrong. Since I moved this tank the coraline on the back wall has turned white. Most everything I have read online points to lighting. I have scheduled the blue light on at 11am, blue light off and white light on at 1pm, white light off and blue light on at 9pm and then blue light off at 11pm. Is this wrong? Is this too much, too little? Should I run the blue light the entire time even though the white light is on?

Since moving the tank, it has had to adjust to lfs salt water from the previous owners well/salt mix. There are other things that I've had to get under control since moving. The specific gravity and salinity were high which I have since lowered to appropriate levels. The Ph was off the chart low when I got the tank, but I have been buffering to bring up. All other readings are within appropriate levels. Nitrates are zero. Temp stays steady at 78.

Does anyone have an idea what is going on and if my lighting schedule is correct?

[Cliff]

Coraline will also turn white and die when exposed to air, or your cal levels are far to low. As you just moved the tank, I'm guessing it was exposed to air which caused it to die.

When you say blue light, are your referring to a actinic blue or royal blue bulb ?

[lhenson]

It is a Coralife actinic blue 120V 36W

[Cliff]

I would not worry too much about that bulb. IMO, they have a lower amount of useable light as compared to your white bulb.

I would leave it on when your white light is on. It will help to make colors "pop"

[lhenson]

ok thanks. How much of the day should the light be on?

[Cliff]

I have LEDs so I control the intensity of the lights as well. They are on at full power for about 8 hours, with a 1.5 hour build up period before, and a 1.5 hour wind-down period after.

Your lighting plan doesn't sound too bad to me. I would think it would be worth a try.

[lhenson]

Many thanks Cliff! Have a great day!