Lighting Recommendations for Shallow Tank

[Oceanic6]

I have a deep blue 30 gallon rimless shallow tank. The dimensions are 24L X 24W X 12T. The water level stops around an inch from the rim of the aquarium. I have had it running now for about 4 months. Most of my LPS corals and palys/zoas (blubble, palys, blastos, hammer, duncan, scoly and richordea) are showing good growth and extensions. However, the color in my palys look washed out. The skirt on my blue hornets are a light brownish yellow color and my candy apple reds don't look as vibrant as they did in my old tank. What I am most concerned about are my Acans. They have not been looking too good. The color is dull and they don't open much anymore. All my parameters are looking good and I haven't missed a water change in 4 months, so I don't believe it's the water.

 

 

I am running a 4 bulb T5 fixture (1 purple, 2 blue, 1 white) and it is hung about 1.5 feet from the water. I was thinking about trying something else in a couple months and was wondering if anyone could provide me with some recommendations. Since it is a shallow tank, I probably wouldn't want to have my lighting too intense. Would a MH/T5/LED fixture be a suitable option, or would that be overkill?

[epleeds]

the lighting you have is fine. I think it might be a little to high, but i would be more concerned with the water quality if the acans are not opening up. have you tested all your parameters? if everything normal?

 

I am running a 4x24 sunpower on the same size system and all my colors are great. Check the parameters and let us know.

[Supreme Reefs]

Time to bring it down just a tad if they are starting to look dull.

[zygote2k]

I think your lighting is fine- it might be a tad high, but that shouldn't cause the corals to look washed out or acans to do poorly.

Do you feed your LPS? If not, why?

[Coral Hind]

Photo-period?

Water parameters?

 

 

[Oceanic6]

the lighting you have is fine. I think it might be a little to high, but i would be more concerned with the water quality if the acans are not opening up. have you tested all your parameters? if everything normal?

 

I am running a 4x24 sunpower on the same size system and all my colors are great. Check the parameters and let us know.

 

My parameters are looking good. How high up are your lights from your tank?

[Oceanic6]

I think your lighting is fine- it might be a tad high, but that shouldn't cause the corals to look washed out or acans to do poorly.

Do you feed your LPS? If not, why?

 

Yes, I feed them. I feed them LPS pellets and some of the mysis that I feed my fish about every 2-3 days.

[Oceanic6]

Photo-period?

Water parameters?

 

 

 

 

Parameters look ok. I run my lights 8 hours a day.

[Oceanic6]

Time to bring it down just a tad if they are starting to look dull.

 

What's up Ben! I just lowered them about 6" using those hooks that came with the fixture. We'll see if that helps.