AI Blades.. intensity?

[tdubs]

I know the PAR on these can be pretty high. I have 2 "Glow" and 1 "Grow" lights. Mostly LPS with a few SPS, Monti at the top of the scale. What intensity should I be going for.. I am afraid 60% will burn them up, maybe 40%?

 

[Tangdora]

Unfortunately. There is no set answers may want to rent a par meter. Depends on may factors like tank depth and rock height. Currently running my blades around 60% but they are also paired with g6s

 

[rtparty]

What size tank and what size Blades?

 

[tdubs]

That might help. It is a Biocube 32, using the standard mounts, so it only sits about an inch above the water, about 22" from the light to the sand. 12" Blades

 

[BriDroid]

I used to run a 12” Grow and a 12” Glow over my old 11 cube. I had them about 6-7” above the water running the Saxby schedule at full power. I had issues getting more than 225-250 par at the top of my rocks. I struggled with acros and montis. Stylos were fine though.

 

[tdubs]

I guess it is time to get a PAR meter, or rent one... Observation, everything is looking good at the top, but not seeing a lot of growth anywhere, even down low, it's there but painstakingly slow

 

[slingfox]

The coral look healthy so they are probably already getting the light they need. If you want to experiment then a par meter is a great way to dial things in.

I like to blast my coral with light personally. I have run both LPS and SPS dominant ranks with AI Blades (2 grow + 1 glow). I have a 24 in tall tank and never felt in danger of too much light on coral when running the Blades sometimes as high as 90% intensity. I have subsequently switched to ATI Straton X and those put out insanity level of par which makes it very challenging to position lower light loving coral. No such challenges with the Blades.

 

[rtparty]

I run 2 Grow and 1 Glow over my 25g. They are mounted 8-9” above the water. These are my settings:

Zero problems with SPS. I held them in this tank for months and all grew considerably