Current USA Orbit Marine LED x2 & PAR

[mr.lordacan]

I have a 40G breeder with a mix of soft corals (GSP, Zoas), LPS corals (acans, bubble, torch), and a mushroom. I’ve been using the Current USA Orbit Marine for a few months, and it seems to be doing right by my corals. Well, long story short - I put in a protein skimmer to help keep my tank in check (have a couple fish) and had to place it in the skimmer compartment of my AIO, resulting in having to move my LEDs to the back, causing a lot of shadowing.

i bought a second light (same, Current USA Orbit Marine) and adjusted the LEDs R,G,B lights to 50% power for each, instead of having 1 light at 100% intensity.

does anyone knowledgeable about LEDs know if PAR works like this? (If 1 light at 100% intensity = 2 lights at 50% intensity)? My current plan is to just monitor and adjust as necessary.

in the meantime, there’s far less shadows and everything pops a little more. Brightness looks the same as it used too, just less shadows when watching my fish swim.

thanks in advance for taking the time read through all this!

 

[Spare time]

The intensity should roughly double in the areas where the lights intersect and remain the same where they don't.


If you can rent a par meter, that would be great. Current has the par readings on their website of a single and double light (which I assume uses the double light bracket). These are assuming you have all channels at 100%

 

[mr.lordacan]

The intensity should roughly double in the areas where the lights intersect and remain the same where they don't.


If you can rent a par meter, that would be great. Current has the par readings on their website of a single and double light (which I assume uses the double light bracket). These are assuming you have all channels at 100%

Thanks, I took a look at those. I guess I just wasn’t sure how PAR is effected as % intensity is decreased (if it’s a linear correlation or not). Ultimately I’ll just gauge how my tanks responding and adjust accordingly! That’s nice part is I now am able to slowly increase PAR in my tank!

 

[Spare time]

Thanks, I took a look at those. I guess I just wasn’t sure how PAR is effected as % intensity is decreased (if it’s a linear correlation or not). Ultimately I’ll just gauge how my tanks responding and adjust accordingly! That’s nice part is I now am able to slowly increase PAR in my tank!

It should just be directly related to % output. Unless there is some physics I am missing. I believe I remember one person on here mentioning it not being linear at one point, but it isn't something I'd stress about.

 

[mr.lordacan]

Want to bump this old thread with a question. Why do current USA orbit marine LED settings recommend 100% power on red and green LEDs when I see most light settings (albeit on better products) running red/greens at 5-15% or even at 0%?

 

[Spare time]

Want to bump this old thread with a question. Why do current USA orbit marine LED settings recommend 100% power on red and green LEDs when I see most light settings (albeit on better products) running red/greens at 5-15% or even at 0%?

Probably because the lights are so weak.