Radion G5 XR30 PRO, the //REAL// PAR Numbers

[proxy001]

Hey guys,

For those who have read some of my threads or read some of my questions.
Tank is standard 180G.
Here is a short summary. I upgraded a few things on an established tank, namely changed the lights to 3 Radion Xr30 PRO Gen 5.

I watched the BRS video to get a sense of the PAR reading.
After trials and errors, but mostly errors I have up and got a PAR meter. (The apogee 510, which I think is the reference.)

I was running my lights on AB+ , unmodified schedule (100% intensity on blue channels, 24% I believe on others). SCHEDULE intensity around 40%.
So... at 40%, my PAR numbers were so low, I didn't even map the tank at those levels.
Here is a tank map at 75% schedule intensity (AB+ untouched at 100% on blues)
Lights inside a canopy, 9-10" AWL. pumps on
(I'll post on the database too)
I'm shocked at how low those numbers are when I thought I had way too much light at 40%... @Dana Riddle
Another discovery, very little difference in PAR between top of the tank and bottom.

 

[Spare time]

Keep in mind that par meter lacks sensitivity in the blue spectrum, giving you a lower reading until you reach the yellows

 

[Spare time]

http://www.ke5fx.com/illum/par_meters_and_leds.pdf

From Dana Riddle, " Figure 4. The Apogee quantum sensor underestimates violet/blue and red wavelengths. Apogee advertises their sensor is responsive to light wavelengths in the range of 409nm to 659nm. After Apogee Instruments' website. "

 

[proxy001]

Keep in mind that par meter lacks sensitivity in the blue spectrum, giving you a lower reading until you reach the yellows

My understanding is that the apogee 510 is full spectrum? But I am no expert.
My number may be a bit inaccurate, but There aren't off by 100 % factor.

 

[proxy001]

http://www.ke5fx.com/illum/par_meters_and_leds.pdf

From Dana Riddle, " Figure 4. The Apogee quantum sensor underestimates violet/blue and red wavelengths. Apogee advertises their sensor is responsive to light wavelengths in the range of 409nm to 659nm. After Apogee Instruments' website. "

https://www.apogeeinstruments.com/content/MQ-510-spec-sheet.pdf

 

[Spare time]

My understanding is that the apogee 510 is full spectrum? But I am no expert.
My number may be a bit inaccurate, but There aren't off by 100 % factor.

My understanding is that the apogee 510 is full spectrum? But I am no expert.
My number may be a bit inaccurate, but There aren't off by 100 % factor.

Ah yes I see they said the 510 ranges from 389 to 692nm (compared to 409 and 659nm in the one in Dana's article). However I wonder at what wavelength does the meter reach its peak responsiveness.

 

[Spare time]

Out of curiosity, how are you liking the appearence of your corals under this light compared to other lights.

 

[billwill]

Those look pretty reasonable to me, and will grow SPS no problem. You start cranking those other colors up though (closer to 12K in the program) and you'll get significantly higher PAR and would likely burn corals unless running that spectrum only a few hours a day.

 

[proxy001]

Thank you guys.
After watching the BRS video, I was initially running the light for 2 months at 30-40% and getting really less 100 pr throughout the tank.
But I had the wrong conclusion looking at the corals, I thought they were getting too much light...when it was not enough

 

[proxy001]

Out of curiosity, how are you liking the appearence of your corals under this light compared to other lights.

That's a tough one. I think the AB+ looks fairly natural: not too blue, not too white.
The LPS program is very blue and very fluorescent.
I do like the shimmer at night very much.

 

[proxy001]

Those look pretty reasonable to me, and will grow SPS no problem. You start cranking those other colors up though (closer to 12K in the program) and you'll get significantly higher PAR and would likely burn corals unless running that spectrum only a few hours a day.

I had some bleaching happening on some coral, but I dont think it was the lights.
I bleached some corals placed on the outer edges of the tank when the ones right underneath the lights were fine.
see picture below. The vertical portion of the Monti bleached and not the horizontal one...

 

[Dana Riddle]

http://www.ke5fx.com/illum/par_meters_and_leds.pdf

From Dana Riddle, " Figure 4. The Apogee quantum sensor underestimates violet/blue and red wavelengths. Apogee advertises their sensor is responsive to light wavelengths in the range of 409nm to 659nm. After Apogee Instruments' website. "

Apogee has introduced a PAR sensor with increased sensitivity to LED lights since that article was written. Old sensors are black, those with increased spectral response are silver of blue.

 

[Spare time]

Apogee has introduced a PAR sensor with increased sensitivity to LED lights since that article was written. Old sensors are black, those with increased spectral response are silver or blue.

Ah thank you!

 

[dadnjesse]

I thought your numbers look low compared to mine, I have 3 XR30 Blues on my 120 gallon tank running 70% with all colors at 100%. I'm using the Apogee MQ510 with the silver probe.

 

[proxy001]

I thought your numbers look low compared to mine, I have 3 XR30 Blues on my 120 gallon tank running 70% with all colors at 100%. I'm using the Apogee MQ510 with the silver probe.

how high over water line are your lights? What does your graph intensity show? 70%? Mine is closer do 50% on graph, at 70% schedule intensity

 

[dadnjesse]

Mine are 8" 70% intensity the difference is with the blues everything is at 100% in the AB+ schedule.

 

[proxy001]

Mine are 8" 70% intensity the difference is with the blues everything is at 100% in the AB+ schedule.

when you say 70%, you mean 70% schedule intensity , or your graph shows 70% on the app?

 

[qy7400]

You mentioned in the first post all pumps were on, all pumps should be off when you test IIRC.

 

[Lionfish hunter]

Thank you guys.
After watching the BRS video, I was initially running the light for 2 months at 30-40% and getting really less 100 pr throughout the tank.
But I had the wrong conclusion looking at the corals, I thought they were getting too much light...when it was not enough

I have found brs overestimates par on their tests. Maybe they use tanks that are the perfect size to maximize light bouncing of the glass? My tank is 30” wide and they test on either 18” or 24” tanks. My par is significantly less everywhere when I try to replicate their tests.