Coral Labs Lighting Explanation

[Ace6090]

Okay, so I have read the Coral Labs paper (link below) and have a question. In the paper their chart, below, only shows PAR up to 300 on their SPS tanks. However, in many of the posts on this forum people have their PAR pushing 600. Can anyone explain the large difference? I am not necessarily looking for the each tank and coral is different and requires different parameters answer. I am trying to understand how Reef Wholesale says they get the best color and growth at 300 PAR where others say you get the best at 500 - 600 PAR. Hoping someone can shed some light on the subject, no pun intended.

http://ecotechmarine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/ReefWholesale_CoralLab.pdf

 

[Bpb]

There’s more to it than that. There are a good number of acropora out there that don’t reach photoinhibition at such low par levels and will actually achieve better color and growth at higher par levels. Unfortunately I don’t have links saved with this data but I’ve seen it in my searching. It’s true many people over light their tanks.

 

[trido]

In a shallow grow tank 300 par is probably perfect. In my 30" tall SPS tank I need 600 par near the surface to have 300 par near the bottom.