PAR measurement reposity for various lights/fixtures

[madweazl]

I'm sure there are almost limitless variables but thought it might be handy for people looking to purchase or transition to a different light setup. If not, feel free to delete the post.

Notes:
1) Location 3 is centered under one light right to left but not front to back (approx 4" behind the center line front to back).
2) Locations 6 is very close to the center of the tank (left to right and front to back).
3) The lights are centered over the tank front to back and 15" apart (7.5" left and right of center).
4) The lights are mounted 5" above the water line.
5) There is a bit of light spillage on all viewing sides of the aquarium so the lights could be mounted closer to the water to increase PAR values without losing coverage.
6) PAR values were measured on our local clubs Apogee MQ-500 with full spectrum sensor using a correction factor of 1.32.
7) Standard 75g Marineland aquarium 48"x18"x21" (LxWxH).
8) Two Kessil A360WE running 65% color.
9) MP40s set to feed mode while measurements were taken.
10) Return from sump remained on but has fairly low flow and doesn't agitate water surface much.

PS. Can somebody edit my typo on repository...

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Cool Idea!

#mods, this might be a pretty handy thing as a sticky...

 

[madweazl]

I should have measured the H80 on the refugium while I was at it but already sent the meter back

Not sure if we could change the edit behavior of the first post but I'd be willing to add links to specific lights within the thread as it grew so you could skip right to the fixtures you were after.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I should have measured the H80 on the refugium while I was at it but already sent the meter back

Not sure if we could change the edit behavior of the first post but I'd be willing to add links to specific lights within the thread as it grew so you could skip right to the fixtures you were after.

If its stickied, other folks can add ther own fixtures and readings.

 

[madweazl]

If its stickied, other folks can add ther own fixtures and readings.

Right but if it grows, it will become hard to navigate over time and find what you're after so a hyperlink from the first post could be helpful. Just tossing ideas out there

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Right but if it grows, it will become hard to navigate over time and find what you're after so a hyperlink from the first post could be helpful. Just tossing ideas out there

lol...me no mod, me only pawn in game of reef..

 

[Scurvy]

Maybe one master moderator for people to submit entries to?? I think this would be a phenomenal tool!

 

[madweazl]

Added a pair of T5s a while back and updated the results. I wasnt able to measure locations 1 and 2 because of how the T5s are mounted in my hood and locations 10 and 11 weren't measured last time.

Notes:
1) Location 3 is centered under one light right to left but not front to back (approx 4" behind the center line front to back).
2) Locations 6 is very close to the center of the tank (left to right and front to back).
3) The lights are centered over the tank front to back and 15" apart (7.5" left and right of center).
4) The lights are mounted 5" above the water line.
5) There is a bit of light spillage on all viewing sides of the aquarium so the lights could be mounted closer to the water to increase PAR values without losing coverage.
6) PAR values were measured on our local clubs Apogee MQ-500 with full spectrum sensor using an immersion correction factor of 1.32.
7) Standard 75g Marineland aquarium 48"x18"x21" (LxWxH).
8) Two Kessil A360WE with two 54w T5s on LET retrofit (Blue+/Coral+)
9) MP40s set to feed mode while measurements were taken.
10) Return from sump remained on but has fairly low flow and doesn't agitate water surface much.
11) Kessil H80 mounted 8" above refugium produced 132 PAR just under the surface directly under the light.

 

[drtrash]

Great work, always wondered about added par of supplemental t5. Been running my kessil 700 at 47% with 2-t5 and was worried i was low in par

 

[AcanthurusRex]

I duplicated these results using an Apogee SQ-520 on my tank, RSR525 with 2 AP700s. The diffusion lens reduces PAR by 30-40%.

OK folks, going to put out some preliminary data for 2 Ap700s vs 4 360WE.
Just changed setup yesterday and today starting playing with lights.

4 Kesill 360s mounted 6.5" off water.
Tank 525XL RS 59"x22x22
Sand 17.5 below water so lights 24" from sand bed.
Apogee SQ-520

360WE's I ran at 67% intensity and 35% color.

At 4" below water 210
At 7" below water 180
At 11.5" below water 129
At 15" below water 112
At Sand Bed 72

360WE's tested at 100% Intensity and 50% Color(35% Color)
At 5" below water 251(210)
At 10" below water 168(145)
Sand Bed 139(124)


Kessil AP700 Data

First things first. For initial test I had the AP700s 7.5" off water. I ended up moving them up to 9" in final test. I had a little less "hot spots" and slightly more even coverage. The coverage overall was much more even and further reaching then the 360s. My game plan was to find an intensity that would match my current settings. Kessil to kessil and same PAR should keep things happy. In order for me to have similar color and PAR value I had to run the Kessil AP700s at 36% intensity, that's right about half. So for anyone who says the AP700s are 2 360WEs , no , not even close.

I only tested 20,30,40, and 100% intensity for now. Wanted to find similar and test max. All tests were done at Ocean blue. No red or green. My final ending at 36% was at color number 3 (If Ocean Blue is 1 and Sky blue is 9), with 15% red. This is my peak run for now. I ramp up and down before and after this.

Ocean Blue 40% Intensity (360s at 67% and color 35%)
At 4" below water 235(210)
At 7" below water 180(180)
At 11.5" below water 140(129)
At 15" below water 125(112)
At Sand Bed 130(72)

For some reason the AP700s penetrate much better.

Ocean Blue 100% intensity.
At 4" below water 482
At 7" below water 371
At 11.5" below water 279 (off to left edge)
At 15" below water 254 (off to edge)
At Sand Bed 17.5" below water 278 (under light)
At Sand Bed RF 237,RR 168, LF 198, LR 165

Now I have lots of rock work so corners are a little sketchy.

For 9 selectable colors on AP700 with #1 being ocean blue and #9 being Sky blue. This is to show PAR reading with same intensity with different spectrum.

#1 (Ocean Blue) 116
#2 122
#3 137
#4 138
#5 137
#6 137
#7 134
#8 117
#9(Sky Blue) 111



I will get some more data in the next week as I get time.

 

[madweazl]

There is a diffusion lens for the AP700? Why would it need one?

 

[madweazl]

Tested the Aquatic Life Hybrid with two Kessil A360WEs today. The two additional T5s produced a 21% increase in PAR (averaged across the nine data points in common with the LET fixture). All things are not equal as the tank has been torn down and moved since the last set of measurements were run with the LET retrofit. The layout is roughly the same, however. The fixture is also mounted an inch higher which certainly made a difference.

Notes:
1) Location 3 is centered under one light right to left but not front to back (even with top of rocks on the back side of these two corals).
2) Locations 6 is very close to the center of the tank left to right (a couple inches closer to the front glass front to back).
3) The Kessils are centered over the tank front to back and 18.5" apart (9.25" left and right of center).
4) The fixture is mounted 6" above the water line.
5) There is a bit of light spillage on all viewing sides of the aquarium so the lights could be mounted closer to the water to increase PAR values without losing coverage.
6) PAR values were measured on our local clubs Apogee MQ-500 with full spectrum sensor using an immersion correction factor of 1.32.
7) Standard 75g Marineland aquarium 48"x18"x21" (LxWxH).
8) Two Kessil A360WE (60% color) with four 54w T5s in a 48" Aquatic Life Hybrid fixture (2 Blue+, 1 AquaBlue Special, and 1 Purple+)
9) 16" side rails mounted on the Aquatic Life to narrow the unit 2" from how it ships.
10) MP40s set to feed mode while measurements were taken.
11) Return from sump remained on but has fairly low flow and doesn't agitate water surface much.
12) Hybrid column represents the Aquatic Life fixture with only the T5 on.
13) LET column represents past results of the LET T5 retrofit kit for comparison.
14) The LET retrofit had two 54w T5s (1 Blue+ and 1 Coral+ at the time).

 

[CindyKz]

Older post but very helpful thank you for taking the time to post. I am setting up a 180gal, starting with 4 Kessil A360s and hoping to add the Aquatic Life Hybrid before too long.

 

[siggy]

I"ll update this with my new tank w/3 xr15's and hybrid as soon as its running, @madweazl a standard exel or google spread sheet would make this universal, BTW I planed on doing this with my new toy I have my Hybrid split into two banks so I currently only run 2 360's and one set of t5's (1 front_1 back)

 

[madweazl]

Was bored this afternoon so I tossed four A360WEs over the 150g and took some measurements with a Seneye. The Kessils are mounted 9" off the water and 12" on center; the tank is a standard 150g measuring 60x24x24. Kessils were set (manually) to 50% color and 100% intensity. The sand bed sits an average of 18" below the water surface (water level is approximately 2" lower than if were running normally). I'd expect a 100 PAR increase across the board if the lights were hung 5" off the water. Pumps were turned off while the measurements were being taken. The water is still fairly cloudy (was filled approx 24 hours ago).

 

[madweazl]

Notes:
1) Standard 150g 60x24x24
2) Kessils manually set to 50% color
3) Three A360WEs and one A360X (far left)
4) ATI T5s (front to back) Blue+, AquaBlue Special, Purple+, AquaBlue Special, Blue+, Blue+
5) Measurements taken with Seneye
6) Kessils mounted 8" above water line
7) T5s mounted 8.5" above water line