Are my PAR Readings okay??

grimreefer001 · Feb 25, 2023

I’m running a Radion XR30 at 70% intensity. Any suggestions or tips on increasing the intensity level more or not? Wondering if this will effect how long the light will last itself. Attached are my light setting I have the Par readings by each coral in my tank

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mike550 · Feb 25, 2023

@grimreefer001 I think your PAR readings are fine. Nice coral placement for PAR readings.

grimreefer001 · Feb 25, 2023

mike550 said:
@grimreefer001 I think your PAR readings are fine. Nice coral placement for PAR readings.

Thank you, I’m just not sure if my sps in the middle is enough par for them. Considering I read the millipora require 4-500 par and tenuis require about the same

Lavey29 · Feb 25, 2023

Numbers seem pretty decent. What size tank? Spread seems a little narrow and focused in middle zone. Have you tried diffuser to get more balanced spread and eliminate Hotspot? Other then that seems fine primarily for LPS. Nice scape design too.

grimreefer001 · Feb 25, 2023

Lavey29 said:
Numbers seem pretty decent. What size tank? Spread seems a little narrow and focused in middle zone. Have you tried diffuser to get more balanced spread and eliminate Hotspot? Other then that seems fine primarily for LPS. Nice scape design too.

55 gallon tank. 36 long by 18 by 20. I just started looking into the diffusers but it’ll lower par I thought. Appreciate it!

Spare time · Feb 25, 2023

Seems fine but the center is a bit hot

Lavey29 · Feb 25, 2023

grimreefer001 said:
55 gallon tank. 36 long by 18 by 20. I just started looking into the diffusers but it’ll lower par I thought. Appreciate it!

That pretty wide for a single 30. My tank is 36 wide also but I run 2 XR15s gen 5 at 100% intensity on AB plus program. I run diffusers which cut 15 to 20 off my par which is negligible to me. Diffusers give me balanced spread with no hotspots.

Uncle99 · Feb 25, 2023

The bottom seems hot to me, I like to think in terms of top, middle and bottom, so 300, 200,100 ish.
This milli is at 175.
I think 4-500 would burn that one.

grimreefer001 · Feb 25, 2023

Lavey29 said:
That pretty wide for a single 30. My tank is 36 wide also but I run 2 XR15s gen 5 at 100% intensity on AB plus program. I run diffusers which cut 15 to 20 off my par which is negligible to me. Diffusers give me balanced spread with no hotspots.

Yeah I’ve thought about it too and wish I went with two xr15’s but I’m stuck with this now unfortunately

grimreefer001 · Feb 25, 2023

Lavey29 said:
That pretty wide for a single 30. My tank is 36 wide also but I run 2 XR15s gen 5 at 100% intensity on AB plus program. I run diffusers which cut 15 to 20 off my par which is negligible to me. Diffusers give me balanced spread with no hotspots.

What kind of par do you get with the 2 15’s?

Lavey29 · Feb 25, 2023

grimreefer001 said:
What kind of par do you get with the 2 15’s?

XR15s are terrible with par. I started at 50% and things went down hill . I raised to 70% and thought I had good light par then. I finally got a par meter and was shocked at how low the par was all over the tank. I am at 100% now and get 350 at my top rocks few inches below the surface. I get 175 to 250 mid tank and 75 to 150 at the bottom. I tested with and without diffusers but get much more even spread with diffusers.

Your XR30 light is much more powerful though so depending on your coral choices you can make it work with one light but won't have many SPS coral spots.

grimreefer001 · Feb 25, 2023

Uncle99 said:
The bottom seems hot to me, I like to think in terms of top, middle and bottom, so 300, 200,100 ish.
This milli is at 175.
I think 4-500 would burn that one.

Why is my bottom still so hot?

grimreefer001 · Feb 25, 2023

Lavey29 said:
XR15s are terrible with par. I started at 50% and things went down hill . I raised to 70% and thought I had good light par then. I finally got a par meter and was shocked at how low the par was all over the tank. I am at 100% now and get 350 at my top rocks few inches below the surface. I get 175 to 250 mid tank and 75 to 150 at the bottom. I tested with and without diffusers but get much more even spread with diffusers.

Your XR30 light is much more powerful though so depending on your coral choices you can make it work with one light but won't have many SPS coral spots.

Yeah I’d like to just have sps in the middle of my tank preferably

Lavey29 · Feb 25, 2023

grimreefer001 said:
Yeah I’d like to just have sps in the middle of my tank preferably

That's kind of how I set mine up too. I tell you though when I finally got my par dialed in the whole tank came alive with growth so you are smart to focus on this as a critical aspect for your reef.