Water Flow and Lighting 水流與光照

Water flow and lighting are the heartbeats of your reef tank. They not only affect coral growth and coloration but also influence feeding, waste removal, and overall health. Mastering these two elements is essential for both SPS and LPS success.

1. Water Flow
Corals rely on water movement to deliver oxygen and nutrients, remove waste, and stimulate polyp expansion. Different corals have different flow preferences:
SPS corals: Prefer strong, turbulent, and random flow to mimic reef currents. Gyre patterns or alternating pump modes work best.
LPS corals: Like moderate flow that gently sways their tentacles without blasting their tissues.
Soft corals: Often thrive in gentle, rhythmic currents, allowing them to pulse naturally.
Pro Tip: Observe your corals’ behavior — fully extended polyps are a good sign that the flow is appropriate. Avoid dead zones where detritus can accumulate.

2. Lighting
Lighting drives photosynthesis in coral symbionts and plays a major role in color development. Key points:
Intensity: SPS often need higher PAR (250–400 µmol/m²/s), while LPS and soft corals thrive at moderate levels (80–150 µmol/m²/s).
Spectrum: A mix of blue and white light supports growth and coloration. Blue light enhances fluorescence, while white light supports overall health.
Timing: Gradual ramp-up and ramp-down schedules simulate natural sunrise and sunset, reducing stress and encouraging polyp extension.

3. Interaction Between Flow and Light
Strong light without adequate flow can cause bleaching in SPS. Too much flow without sufficient light may limit growth. Observing coral behavior under both conditions is critical — polyp extension, color vibrancy, and skeletal growth all indicate whether your setup is balanced.

Pro Tip: Use small adjustments and monitor responses. Flow and light should complement each other, creating an environment where corals can thrive naturally.

水流與光照是珊瑚缸的「心跳」。它們影響珊瑚的成長、顏色，也影響餵食效率、廢物清除與整體健康。掌握這兩者，SPS與LPS才能都穩定成長。

1. 水流
水流能為珊瑚輸送氧氣與養分、清除廢物，並促進觸手張開。不同珊瑚對水流需求不同：
SPS珊瑚： 喜歡強烈、紊流且隨機的水流，模擬礁石環境。交替水流或Gyre模式效果最佳。
LPS珊瑚： 偏好中等水流，能輕柔擺動觸手但不損傷組織。
軟體珊瑚： 多喜歡柔和、有節奏的水流，以便自然脈動。
小建議：
觀察珊瑚行為——觸手完全伸展表示水流合適。避免死角積累有機物。

2. 光照
光照驅動珊瑚體內共生藻的光合作用，也影響顏色表現。重點包括：
光強度： SPS通常需要較高PAR（250–400 µmol/m²/s），LPS與軟珊瑚則適中（80–150 µmol/m²/s）。
光譜： 藍光與白光的組合能促進生長與色彩。藍光增強螢光效果，白光支援整體健康。
光時： 漸進式開關燈（模擬日出日落）能減少壓力，鼓勵觸手伸展。

3. 水流與光的互動
強光但水流不足會讓SPS白化；水流過強但光線不足，則可能限制成長。觀察珊瑚反應很重要——觸手張開、色彩鮮豔、骨骼生長，都能告訴你是否平衡。

小建議：
調整時要小幅度並觀察反應。水流與光照要互相配合，創造珊瑚自然生長的理想環境。