Lighting

Light is life.

Most of the corals we keep derive a large part of their energy from symbiosis with algae, which carry out photosynthesis. This is why the right lighting is one of the biggest factors in maintaining a healthy and colorful reef when caring for stony corals.

New Straton Pro Schedule

The Straton Pro has a very powerful UV channel. I have noticed in my breeding that the corals have an easier time when I reduce this channel. This was already part of the schedule that you can currently find as a preset of Tom's corals on the lamps. In the meantime, I have adjusted the course of the day and developed a new setting with which I can tease out more 'pop' in the colors of my corals. The light colors have remained the same, but the intensity and lighting duration have been adjusted. Instead of 70%, the new schedule illuminates with 85% intensity, but with a shorter lighting duration and an attached blue light phase. A bit US-style and back to the roots - but it works very well for me!

Tom's Coral Straton Pro Schedule from 2024

Light setup SPS breeding tanks:

The 6m long breeding system in the Görzwerk has 18 Straton Pro 153 as lighting.

I run the lamps with an output of 85% above my breeding system. Here, however, the distance to the water surface is approx. 50 cm so that I can work underneath. At home, you probably have a smaller distance. This means that the light reaches your animals in a more concentrated way. Long story short: Please don't start with 85% power when you try out my schedule, but use 40-50% first and then carefully work your way up.

ATI Straton is also available at TinyReef!

SPS show pool BOLUS lighting setup:

The pool runs with a lighting sequence based on the Bolus system.
A mix of 6x Radion G5 Blue + 2x Radion G5 Pro hangs above the tank. Please note that this schedule will only work for you if you have both lamps above the tank.
Toms Corals BOLUS Radion G5 Blue + G5 Pro Schedule
Ecotech Radions are available from TinyReef!

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... on to the corals

Lighting setup at home: Radion G4 + T5

The oldest of my systems has been running since 2016 with a combination of 6 Radion G4 Pro and two 4x 80W T5 Sunpower.

I use a combination of T5 and LED lighting for my corals. The LEDs provide the necessary light intensity for coloration of the animals. And T5 minimizes self-shading and compensates for weaknesses in the LED spectrum.

A mix of Radion G4 Pro and ATI Sunpowers hangs above my system. The SPS color optimally here. The acropores are in zones with 250-550PAR (measured with Seneye).

The spectrum and lighting duration are based on Fauna Marin's lighting recommendations for the US-style system. However, my daylight phase with 10k light temperature and 8h daylight and 4h blue light is longer and more neutral than recommended by Fauna Marin.

My settings

For those who want to know exactly.

I light my main pool with two ATI Sunpower with 4x 80W T5 and six Radon G4 Pro.

The following tubes are used per Sunpower:

  • 2x 80W ATI Coral Plus 
  • 2x 80W ATI Blue Plus

The T5s run from 11:00-18:00. 

Here you can see the settings of the Radions:

Daylight spectrum
Blue Spectrum

You can download the schedule of the Radions here.
Use at your own risk!

Alternatively, you can download the schedules as a ZIP file here.

Tom's Coral Radion Schedule