*Reef Breeders Photon v2 and T5 installation, testing, and review*

[jason2459]

Channel 6 Violet 16 Semi LED 3watt 420nm (Check out that PUR!)
Photon v2 30% channel 5 violet only by Jason, on Flickr

Photon v2 30% channel 5 violet only by Jason, on Flickr


My Conclusion:
I have to say the Seneye was right there shoulder to shoulder with the Apogee. Both were live readings so constantly changing but well with in 10 of each other and criss crossing. The Seneye also has the edge here in that it also provides the LUX, Spectral range, and PUR. I was skeptical on if the Spectral Range and PUR was accurate but after going through the individual channels I'm feeling pretty comfy with at least the Spectral Ranges. The latest firmware update and the Seneye really make for one heck of a good value for a light meter! I give the edge here to the Seneye for value and features!

 

[jason2459]

That's why I'd like to know what,if any, PUR vs PAR reading you get just using the green led which based on the info provided, should be very close to zero PUR and still have a much higher PAR level. That is, more than the 2/3 to 3/4 percentage you are getting for PUR vs PAR over all spectrum.

Great questions and opens up for more analysis.

The Green Channel has low PUR. Comparing the Green vs. Red is good as both are 3watt LEDs and only 2 LEDs per cluster.

Red channel had the highest PUR which makes sense since the RB's are supposed to be 660nm which is right smack on the Chlorphyl B's line.

Channel 1 Deep Red @30% I read a PAR of 7 and a PUR of 93%.
Channel 2 520nm Green @ 30% I read a PAR of 7 as well but a PUR of 33%

Which the Carotenoid green in the PUR graph above has a bit of green at 500nm with a steep drop off. So, 520 green wouldn't hit that so well so makes sense the PUR is so low.

And the Kelvin reading actually fills in some information that backs this up as well.


The White channel which I find yellow had a kelvin reading of 4500 but showed a wider spectrum with a larger amount in the blue green nm and into the yellow/red then the green only. So, it's PUR was a higher % then the green channel with a PUR 56% because it has more wavelengths closer to that 500nm peak but also has a wider range of a full spectrum allowing it to not be green in color. But the fact it includes more toward that blue/green spectrum then the green shows in the PUR and Kelvin reading.

Great questions and as I analyze the readings I'm finding it makes more and more sense.

Edit corrected

 

[jason2459]

FYI here's the RAW data for PUR and time schedule

 

[camaroerik21]

What par are the BTA'S under?

 

[jason2459]

What par are the BTA'S under?

Shoot, I have like a ton of PAR measurements and most all are from before I bumped up my LED intensities and modified the spectrum a bit. I will get some current ones.

But at mimium as of my old measurements at peak times with the T5's on was about a PAR of 245 mid way down the tank which is about where my Anemones start and go up from there. There's a couple just below that but the majority is from that level up. Again I need to remeasure the PAR. I'll see what I can do in the next couple days.

 

[jason2459]

What par are the BTA'S under?

Ok, got my peak of the day 4pm lighting schedule measurements all around the BTAs. Side to side is all the same.

The bottom where that clown fish is and the bubble tip is sticking out of the cave is right around 200.

The row of bubble tips above that about 220.

Just above that about midway up the tank about 260.

3/4 the way up the bubble tips about 280s

The top bubble tips about 300.

Keep in mind I have NO idea if thats ideal and if anyone has any input on that and if it should be higher or lower please chime in here. I can say my bubbletips colors are really coming back now with these new lights and I love seeing them glow at night.

 

[jason2459]

My one branching sps that survived a big Alk spike last year is now coloring up after going very pale with my previous lights.

 

[jason2459]

Oh and if anyone can ID what kind that is by those horrible pictures I wouldn't mind knowing.

As well as this thing. It's green is coming back too. No idea what it is. The polyp extensions have always been white.

 

[jason2459]

Been almost 2 months now since moving to the Photon v2s and T5 strips down the middle and I couldn't be happier so far. I haven't modified my lighting schedule at all from what I last posted above.

It seems everything really likes it. Even the fish. 10pm is still my favorite look and feel. Very relaxing and seems to have put all my mated fish into a frisky mood too. My clown pair, anthia trio, and chromis pair all go into mating rituals.

My corals seem to ve really taking off. My one really pale green sps of some kind has gown and much greener now. My fiji leather is getting very yellow and also seems to have grown. And my one coral I have no idea what it is has been very slow to encrust until now and taking off.

 

[reeferfoxx]

@jason2459 Just got the Seneye Reef Monitor. I didn't see anything about PUR. Is it incorporated into the PAR measurement?

 

[jason2459]

If you're looking at the seneye.me it's not there yet and hope it will be soon. If you're using the local client you need to upgrade to v2. If you're using the sws it will supposedly update automatically and need a couple restarts.

 

[reeferfoxx]

If you're looking at the seneye.me it's not there yet and hope it will be soon. If you're using the local client you need to upgrade to v2. If you're using the sws it will supposedly update automatically and need a couple restarts.

Ok, I'm just using the local client V2. Maybe its on a different screen? All I see pertaining to light is Kelvin, PAR, and Lux?

 

[reeferfoxx]

Oops! Yes, I found it! It's in the settings. Sorry.

Any suggestions on PAR or PUR targets for SPS mixed?

 

[jason2459]

Oops! Yes, I found it! It's in the settings. Sorry.

Any suggestions on PAR or PUR targets for SPS mixed?

Sorry, I'm clueless on lighting requirements. I'm learning as I go here myself.

I did just bump up today most all channels from 11am to 9pm. 9am, 10am, 10pm, and 11pm were not changed.

Reds up 1%
Green didn't touch
Cool blue, white, royal blue, and violet up 2%
I'll keep it there for a couple months again to see any reactions.

 

[hart24601]

Looking great! I have to say, to me your lighting is about perfect, T5 in the middle with LEDs covering the entire surface angled slightly. The only thing I would like to see would be some near 400nm LEDs on there, but that's pretty minor. Awesome job.

 

[jason2459]

Looking great! I have to say, to me your lighting is about perfect, T5 in the middle with LEDs covering the entire surface angled slightly. The only thing I would like to see would be some near 400nm LEDs on there, but that's pretty minor. Awesome job.

Thanks, I've been extremely happy with the setup. And being ran at low percentages should help increase their life. They run very cool.

I'm actually glad there are not the deep violet leds in place. Those tend to burn out much quicker. I get a good amount of that spectrum from my T5s especially being a blue+ and True actinic combo. Also get the green in there with those so barely have the green channels turned on. The warm white gives enough red too but I do like the 660nm peak that the Photons have. I may play with what kind of reaction turning those up higher gives. But thats down the road and not sure how I can truly quantify it other then not seeing a negative reaction.

 

[hart24601]

I missed you were running actinic T5, that will do it!

I don't know the current state of near UV leds, in my AI lights the 400nm appeared totally fine after a year plus, but I had violets in rapid LED custom light burn out very quickly. I suspect the quality of the UV/near UV diodes varies considerably even within the same manufacturer like SemiLED.

I think playing around with colors will only really be for the viewing benefit and any impact on the reef will be minimal compared to chemistry.

 

[jason2459]

I would hope a higher end fixture uses better LEDs and lens to handle the increasing amount of UV. There are some good deep violet leds out there but are more expensive.

The green seems much more about the viewing. The Red though that the Photon uses does hit the chlorophyll peak at 660nm so it will be interesting. If anything algae and my Tangs will be happy.

 

[Mark Gray]

Following

 

[killerkukoo]

im excited to see this thread. I have a 6' 180 tank. though right now I only have 2 32" v2 on it. your right about the shadowing. my braces cause much shadowing. im running my reds and green channel at 18 my blue peaks at 68, white peaks at 28, teal is 60 or 70(cant remember for sure) and violet at 100. I have been slowling working up to these settings. I am ordering a 2 bulb t5 retrofit next week and plan to put one on front and back of my lights to help the shadows. but after reading this I may just have to see if I can talk the wife into another set and mimic yours. I however do not have a meter as of yet to test par/pur. I just watch my corals. I have been very bummed about the shadows but now I have hope! thank you. btw my lights are 11" up. as high as I can and still use the legs.