Figuring out Lighting without PAR meter

[Ernie C]

Is there any general way to find good settings without a PAR meter. Have three AI 26 HD hydras over a reefer 350. 70 gallon display. I’ve tried some of the AI signature lighting setting available online but they are all so different. Tank came with two but I added a third. How long between changes in settings could you expect to see effects of the change?

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

How many watts per fixture? I have 2 hydra 52 HD’s 16” over 50 gallon cube using the BRS ab+ Radion conversion with a little less white. Each fixture is set to 90 watts.

I’m getting 450 at the top of my rocks and 225-250 on the sand. I’m not a fan of those respiration peaks because the spectrum changes over and over. I’ve had incredible growth and color with my schedule. The most important factor is find what you like and don’t change the spectrum. You can adjust the total intensity 1 watt per week or so but don’t change the spectrum.

 

[Ernie C]

I'm not a fan of those peaks either, but one of my LFS guys said it was better but i'm starting to doubt that. I think they are at 58watts each at the moment, I've just been worried i'd bleach stuff if i went to high on the settings. I think i originally set up the BRS Radion settings. I might have the profile saved. If i were to load that back in, would i just sett the acclimation to like 50% and slowly decrease it? I love all these features and spectrum settings, but remember a time when it was just on or off. lol

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

It looks like your sps and other corals are responding well to your settings and I think you have plenty of light. You’re probably in the 350-400 range at the top and 175-200 on the bottom.
If you like the way it looks then don’t mess with it. If you want to turn them up you can put 2 fingers vertically on the graph from the mobile app and spread them apart the increase the entire schedule a little at a time. 1 watt per week or so