PAR measurements and your thoughts

[Daniel 123]

Hi guys,

I recently have gotten my hands on an apogee sq420 light meter. I took some measurements of the tank at different points. Please tell me what you think or the direction I should proceed to get better measurements or if my results are ok.

Light fixture is a 4 bulb T5 ..two 10k bulbs two actinics , also a reef brite LED tech light 48" white blue leds.
T5 bulbs 5 months old. Appox 2" beneath T5 fixture a reading of 580PAR. Approx 2" beneath reef brite LED fixture reading of 270PAR.

The top 210PAR measurement is approx. 12" deep from light fixtures. The total tank depth is 30" Fixtures are about 3.5"from water surface.

 

[Adam G]

I am not big on super high PAR. I shoot for about 375 at the top of my tank and 200 at the sand. I know a lot of folks are North of 600PAR at the top of their tanks and get some great colors on their SPS.

Obviously you are growing corals at the light levels you currently have. I think you would find you will get better growth and coloration if you could bump that up a bit. There are a million ways to do that all of which would include more lights. I wonder if you could find a nice eight bulb T-5 fixture used. That should bring your PAR up into the range I am taking about.

Your tank looks great by the way.

 

[Mono]

You don't mention how long your bulbs a have been running but they definitely diminish sgnificantly over time.

 

[Daniel 123]

I am not big on super high PAR. I shoot for about 375 at the top of my tank and 200 at the sand. I know a lot of folks are North of 600PAR at the top of their tanks and get some great colors on their SPS.

Obviously you are growing corals at the light levels you currently have. I think you would find you will get better growth and coloration if you could bump that up a bit. There are a million ways to do that all of which would include more lights. I wonder if you could find a nice eight bulb T-5 fixture used. That should bring your PAR up into the range I am taking about.

Your tank looks great by the way.

Hi Adam,
I am a bit embarrassed but the 4 large sps colonies were purchased, my dad and I have been keeping them alive, the frag rack are our growing sps corals so to speak. So interms of growing corals I cant say I have. Im sorry.
That is a lot of par you mentioned. Would I gain par swapping out an actinic bulb for another 10k, coral plus, or blue plus bulb? I did not realize Par should be that high, infact the bonzai garf in the tank has browned some since I received it as a deep purple, which I though is from too much light. In any case Ill start checking FS threads and see what other options are out there.

Mono, bulbs are about 5 months old

 

[Retro Reefer]

Can you please post your Par measurements and lighting info in our Par Database.. thanks!

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/r2r-par-database.538894/

 

[Adam G]

Hi Adam,
I am a bit embarrassed but the 4 large sps colonies were purchased, my dad and I have been keeping them alive, the frag rack are our growing sps corals so to speak. So interms of growing corals I cant say I have. Im sorry.
That is a lot of par you mentioned. Would I gain par swapping out an actinic bulb for another 10k, coral plus, or blue plus bulb? I did not realize Par should be that high, infact the bonzai garf in the tank has browned some since I received it as a deep purple, which I though is from too much light. In any case Ill start checking FS threads and see what other options are out there.

Mono, bulbs are about 5 months old

You may squeeze a small amount of PAR switching to all daylight bulbs but not enough to make it worth while. I think you really need to find a used eight bulb fixture. That should get you right to the PAr numbers you need. You often times can find them dirt cheap on local craigslist sites or local reef forums. Ideally you will want a fan cooled fixture with good reflectors like an ATI but if you find a deal on something a little less high end that is better than trying to keep those colonies alive at sub 200 par levels.