LED Users help with spectrum

[sixty_reefer]

Hi, I have been using T5’s for most of my reefing years, recently I have moved to leds and am struggling to find out the best setting for an hydra 52 over my mixed reef. Mainly mushrooms and LPS. is there any way to find the spectrum of my current setting or a average priced tool that could do that for me?

 

[Katrina71]

@dantimdad any input here?

 

[Mical]

Your best bet would be rent a par meter. The lowest priced one that works well if you were to buy one is - https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/usb-smart-quantum-par-sensor-apogee.html

BRS also rents them

 

[sixty_reefer]

Your best bet would be rent a par meter. The lowest priced one that works well if you were to buy one is - https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/usb-smart-quantum-par-sensor-apogee.html

BRS also rents them

thanks for the replay mate, I do live abroad and we can get the senye from mates to read par, what I’ve been really struggling with leds since I’ve moved from t5’s is to find the right spectrum. Or It might a be totally silly question and there’s no need for spectrum

 

[Mical]

Before I purchased the above par meter it was trial & error. Try a setting, let it sit a couple of weeks, then make an adjustment etc... I think I was close but not certain. I have Kessil 360wes and found in my tanks (24" deep) ran the color at about 50-60% and intensity between 70-80%
After moving and setting up larger tanks it was time to invest. Long story short I found I was actually close but the par meter helped speed up the process (and advice here on R2R) I think I've found the sweet spot running 70% color & 80% intensity - my tanks are mainly LPS & SPS

 

[AbjectMaelstroM]

So you have 3-4 options as far as spectrum goes.

1. Get your hands on a spectrometer, which unless you can rent one, will run you several thousand dollars.

2. Use something like http://spectra.1023world.net/ and simulate the spectrum on "paper" given know Leds of the fixture.

3. Take a "known" schedule/profile for the fixture, of which there are several floating around the web/provided by AI.

4. Play with sliders until you get the look you desire and your corals like.

Realistically, I would go with 3, as most of the work has been done for you and you don't need to reinvent the wheel. Then, if you really want to, apply a little bit of 4.

 

[sixty_reefer]

So you have 3-4 options as far as spectrum goes.

1. Get your hands on a spectrometer, which unless you can rent one, will run you several thousand dollars.

2. Use something like http://spectra.1023world.net/ and simulate the spectrum on "paper" given know Leds of the fixture.

3. Take a "known" schedule/profile for the fixture, of which there are several floating around the web/provided by AI.

4. Play with sliders until you get the look you desire and your corals like.

Realistically, I would go with 3, as most of the work has been done for you and you don't need to reinvent the wheel. Then, if you really want to, apply a little bit of 4.

Really appreciate the link on option 2, wasn’t aware of it will definitely play a bit with it during the next few days, option 3 was my first choice also but I can’t find any thread on the non hd hydras as my fixture is an old one. Thanks for the help guys this should give me a solid base to carry on.

 

[dantimdad]

So you have 3-4 options as far as spectrum goes.

1. Get your hands on a spectrometer, which unless you can rent one, will run you several thousand dollars.

2. Use something like http://spectra.1023world.net/ and simulate the spectrum on "paper" given know Leds of the fixture.

3. Take a "known" schedule/profile for the fixture, of which there are several floating around the web/provided by AI.

4. Play with sliders until you get the look you desire and your corals like.

Realistically, I would go with 3, as most of the work has been done for you and you don't need to reinvent the wheel. Then, if you really want to, apply a little bit of 4.

this is very good advice. I say #3 and tweak.