Disappointing PAR from 250MH.

[X-37B]

Reflectors make a huge difference in how light is distributed throughout your system.
There is no real way to tell without a par meter, regardless of the number.
I ran forever without one and just recently am setting up a system with a 400 watt MH. All other systems are led and for me without a par meter to adjust the spread you would just be guessing.
I have tested 5 reflectors and the spread and numbers are interesting.
I have digital, m135, and M59 ballasts.
All air measurements since sytem has no water yet.
I purchased a new Reefbrite reflector to use. Along the way I picked up several different used and new relectors.
All simulate 17" depth and 14" from surface to lamp.
Par directly under bulb.
Running digital ballast and 20k Radium & 10k Ushio
Par #'s
Reefbrite-20k, 136 10k 147
Lunem bright-20k, 440 10k 530
Lumen max-20k-360
Old grow reflector 20k,180
New grow reflector 20k 175

I will test all once I have water but the Lumenbright gives more light across the 36" cube than all others.
250 on the edge vs 100 or less with the others.

The difference in the numbers can be seen visually.

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

love the scape