PAR questions

[ahiggins]

Hey everyone!
I finally borrowed a PAR meter and this is what I found: (I run 20K AI prime light)
*at 50% intensity=midtank-150/sand-50
*at 75% intensity=midtank-180/sand-80
*at 100% intensity=midtank-220/sand-100

I plan on having acans midtank and some leptoseris/leptastrea between midtank-sand. What intensity/PAR readings are best for that combination? I have some zoas that will be placed at the tippy top because theyre stretching.
Right now I have some bleaching going on....so everything is running around 10%.
Ive heard there are different PAR readings for growth vs color. Im more concerned with color rather than growth.
Thanks all!

 

[Mandrew]

Interested in the answer as well

 

[RMS18]

Your always better with less light than to much. Corals can adapt to less but die quickly in to much. I have seen lps in 60 and lps in 160. Acclimation is also big key.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Hey everyone!
I finally borrowed a PAR meter and this is what I found: (I run 20K AI prime light)
*at 50% intensity=midtank-150/sand-50
*at 75% intensity=midtank-180/sand-80
*at 100% intensity=midtank-220/sand-100

I plan on having acans midtank and some leptoseris/leptastrea between midtank-sand. What intensity/PAR readings are best for that combination? I have some zoas that will be placed at the tippy top because theyre stretching.
Right now I have some bleaching going on....so everything is running around 10%.
Ive heard there are different PAR readings for growth vs color. Im more concerned with color rather than growth.
Thanks all!

what are you getting on the top of the water at 100% . in the areas closest to the light(im assuming there a hot spot.) how deep is the tank?

Acclimation is also big key.

This.:)

 

[ahiggins]

I didn't test the top because I don't have any coral up there. My tank is 30" deep. AI is about 8 inches above water level.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

leptoseris/leptastrea

low to med as far as I know so 50 to 100.

I have some zoas

depends on the zoa, 100 to 300 I dont believe the stretching thing as far as needing light btw, having large colonies some do actually just grow like that. flow affects that too. more flow less strech. with low light my zoas generally just melted. IME

Right now I have some bleaching going on

on what corals? ime with stonys or sps it can be water acclimation probs. true bleaching(high light low nutrients usually takes a bit of time to show up. IME sofites with too much light usually just shrivel. (my poor shrooms);)

I think the color more than the par number is going to affect color and growth. you can achieve the same par number with different color combinations and intensities of those colors. ie 40% white only is 100 par and so is 100% blue only. The folks I know with lps seem to prefer more blue or a longer blue photo period before the white comes on. leptos are a deeper water coral and do IME seem to prefer a lower bluer light.